Rare White Screech Owl Rescued in Florida

Rare White Screech Owlet Rescued in Florida

White Screech Owl - not albino

An unusual and interesting news story for Eastern Screech Owl lovers out of southwest Florida where a hiker found a white owlet in Charlotte County last month and brought it to the Peace River Wildlife Center. Our Florida Screech Owlets fledged during the first week of May so this must have been a very small, vulnerable and dependent owlet when found. The thinking is it was abandoned because it was white. If it remained in the wild it would also have very little chance of survival for more than a few days without the Eastern Screech Owls innate and amazing ability to camouflage themselves from predators. It would also draw attention to its siblings and the nesting area. I don't see how this little owlet will ever be able to be returned to the wild. It is not an albino owl but leucistic - probably one in a million chance.

The good folks at  Peace River Wildlife Center are taking care of the white owlet and are holding a contest to name the white owl. You can donate $1 per vote to pick between five names. The name that gets the most donations will be bestowed on the little one!.