A barn owl rescued from a Bunnings store after nine days in confinement sadly died of starvation 30 minutes later.
The bird died shortly after being found safe at the retail giant’s Tarneit store in Melbourne’s west last Thursday.
Nigel’s Animal Rescue owner Nigel Williamson was called to the store to capture and release the animal.
After capturing the bird in his net and assessing it, the rescuer rushed the owl to a specialist wildlife rehabilitator, Nalini, at Boobook Wildlife Shelter.
Animal rescuer Nigel Williamson with the barn owl he rescued from a Bunnings in Melbourne. Tragically, the bird died of starvation not long after being rescued
The barn owl turned out to be 50 percent below its normal weight. Mr Williamson said every second counts when an animal is trapped
“Nalini called an hour and a half later and said it was over,” he said.
“It was less than 50 percent of his normal body weight.”
The animal rescuer, who has successfully rescued three other owls from warehouses around Melbourne in recent weeks, believed the owl should have survived.
‘It certainly should have been saved earlier. “I blame the wildlife industry for this,” he said.
“If it’s a captured animal, every second is critical to its survival.”
Mr Williamson told Daily Mail Australia that Bunnings called the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), who instructed the store to call Wildlife Victoria on May 9.
According to Mr Williamson, Wildlife Victoria told Bunnings they could not send anyone to help and that the store would have to find a professional animal catcher.
Wildlife Victoria then called the store every day to get “an update” on the bird’s welfare, according to Mr Williamson.
“Bunnings did everything right and immediately called for help which no one offered them, nor could they give them the name of anyone who could help save the owl,” he said.
When shoppers spotted the owl and posted about it on social media, Mr Williamson’s name was ‘all over it’ and dozens of people advised him to save it.
No one was available to save the owl until Mr. Williamson was recommended for the job
Shoppers noticed the owl and posted about it on social media
Bunnings called him immediately and provided a scissor lift and an operator to help capture the bird.
As the lift cannot be used around shoppers for safety reasons, the rescue started at 9pm, but by then the bird had already moved.
“The owl was in the perfect position for 30 minutes but had flown away when the rescuer went to show the drone operator where it was,” said Williamson.
‘I then had four people and staff search the store. The owl had flown to a lower rack.’
After calling for his nets, Mr Williamson said all it took was one ‘swoosh’ and the bird was caught.
The passionate wildlife rescuer said two key things need to happen so this doesn’t happen again.
“There needs to be more collaboration within the wildlife industry, where organizations can network with specialists and other animal rescuers,” he said.
“The second is that automatic skylights should be introduced in all warehouses across the country.
‘This is when a skylight can be operated with a button to let trapped birds out. We also need them in shopping centers.
“Take a perch with food and water and then open it so they fly out.”
The owl was rescued by Mr Williamson after it was moved to a lower rack in the store
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Wildlife Victoria for comment.
After the bird was spotted by shoppers, Wildlife Victoria said Yahoo last week that rescuing mobile birds was ‘difficult’ because they often fly away from rescuers and equipment.
“In these situations it is common for Wildlife Victoria to recommend a paid animal rescue organization,” a Wildlife Victoria spokesperson said.
‘The high ceilings at Bunnings combined with the number of people in the store will make this a particularly challenging case.’
Bunnings regional manager Barb Mclatchie told Daily Mail Australia the store was “saddened” by the owl.
“We thank our store team in Tarneit for their work in contacting a range of wildlife organizations over several days and following their guidance,” she said.
Daily Mail Australia understands the Bunnings store called every day and was never advised to leave food for the owl, but they did leave water for the bird.