A family in Kentucky had the most festive Christmas surprise when they discovered a yuletide owl had taken up residence in their Christmas tree. As if the stress of decorating your home for the holidays wasn’t enough, you now have to worry about the possibility of a whole other species joining your celebrations.
The owl, believed to be a juvenile Screech Owl, was first spotted by the family’s 10-year-old daughter and was said to be “nestled deep” in the tree. It’s unknown how the owl managed to get into the home undetected, but some suspect it could be a new tactic of Santa’s to spy on who’s been naughty or nice.
Animal control was called to the scene to safely remove the bird from the family’s home, but the owl had other plans. It quickly became clear that the owl had taken a liking to the family’s choice of decor and was not going to leave without a fight. The family reportedly tried to lure the bird out of the tree with birdseed, but the owl didn’t take the bait. This owl was not interested in leaving its luxurious accommodations, let alone trading them for a few measly seeds.
Eventually, the family decided to leave the bird to hoot and holler amongst their twinkling Christmas lights, which raised both ethical and practical questions. Is it fair to subject a wild animal to the stress of being in a human’s home? Will the owl become a Christmas decoration staple in the family’s home? Will it be sent a stocking with its name on it next year? These are all valid questions that no one seems to have the answers to.
It’s not the first time an owl has made an uninvited appearance in a home during the holiday season. Last year, a family in California rescued an owl found stuck in their Christmas lights. Is it possible that these birds have a secret affinity for Christmas decor that we’re only just discovering?
As we continue to decorate our homes for the holidays, it’s important to not only double-check that all of our lights work but to also be on the lookout for any unwanted guests. Who knows what animals might try to crash our eggnog-filled parties?
In the meantime, the owl remains in the family’s tree, cozying up to the rest of their ornaments. Let’s hope it doesn’t try to start its own version of the Twelve Days of Christmas and invite all of its bird friends over for a wild party. We can only imagine what kind of party favors a group of birds would bring to such an event.
