Photos: Owl gets new wings, flies free after being found encased in concrete in 2025

KANAB, Utah (ABC4) — A great-horned owl that fell into a concrete mixer in 2025 and was found nearly completely covered in dried concrete has received new wings and flown to freedom after more than six months of care.

The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab has been home to the owl since a good Samaritan discovered him in a concrete mixer nearly 80 miles away. The owl required new feathers to maintain his ability of “silent flight,” a necessary skill in the wild.

While the owl was at the sanctuary, the care team waited for him to “molt,” a process that would have naturally replaced the damaged feathers. However, the owl’s spring molt did not go as it should have.

This led the Wild Friends team at the sanctuary to learn a procedure that they had never done before: imping, the process of using donor feathers and adhesive to replace the damaged feathers. The donated feathers for this owl came from a great horned owl of similar size that had passed away.

(Courtesy: Best Friends Animal Society)

To prepare for the surgery, which took place on May 1, the Wild Friends team kept track of the owl’s feather patterns. 

“We looked at his feathers every few weeks so we knew which ones would have to be done, snipping damaged shafts in advance,” said Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Supervisor Bart Richwalski.

During the procedure, 10 of the primary feathers on the owl’s right wing were replaced, and one of the secondary feathers was replaced.

“The first few feathers were extremely nerve-wracking, but as we got into the groove, the imping became more comfortable, and everything went smoothly,” Richwalski said. 

After a successful imping, the best practice is to reintegrate the animal into the wild as soon as possible. The team kept a watchful eye on the owl in the aviary as he healed, and then released him into the wild.

(Courtesy: Best Friends Animal Society)

“I don’t know that my heart was beating until I saw him leave. I was beside myself, knowing that after all this time, he was healthy and back in the wild,” he said. “It was such a good feeling.” 

The owl’s journey has touched the community and members at every level of the Best Friends organization.

“Best Friends Animal Society believes that every animal has intrinsic value and the care that our team took with this owl really reflects that belief,” said Judah Battista, Chief Sanctuary Officer, Best Friends Animal Society. “I’m so proud of the Wild Friends team for their incredibly hard work to get this owl to freedom.” 

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