ST. PAUL, Minn. — In a heartbreaking turn of events, one of the two rescued owls has passed away while the other continues to receive treatment at a wildlife rehabilitation facility in Minnesota. The incident gained widespread attention after Annabell Whelan, a local woman, intervened in the owls’ plight.

According to a post from Wildwoods Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Duluth, the snowy owl retrieved by Whelan was found to have sustained severe injuries, including a broken wing and leg, alongside internal trauma. The center announced the unfortunate decision to euthanize the owl, citing that its injuries were too extensive to allow for recovery, and flying again would not be possible for the majestic creature. “The gentlest course for the injured bird was to ensure it had a peaceful passing,” the center explained in their communication.

The second owl, a great gray owl, was also in critical condition with broken bones and significant damage to its wing. Although the situation remains serious, veterinarians at The Raptor Center in St. Paul are working diligently to provide the best care possible in hopes of recovery for this owl.

Whelan, who works as a guest experience manager at the Lake Superior Zoo, initially discovered the injured great gray owl on the ground in Two Harbors. After carefully wrapping it in a blanket, she transported it in a dog crate to Wildwoods for immediate assistance. Later that same day, while out with her boyfriend’s family in Duluth, Whelan crossed paths with another injured owl — a snowy owl that had suffered a collision with a vehicle and was ensnared in the grille. Since Wildwoods was closed for the day, Whelan took the snowy owl home to care for it until she could deliver it for treatment.

Both owls were ultimately transferred to The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota, where they would receive specialized care in the hope of recovery.