Rescued Just in Time: A True Owl Rescue Story of Apollo and Striker

It started with a phone call and ended with two tiny owl hearts still beating.

The San Diego Wildlife Research Institute had a panicked homeowner on the line—voice cracking, unsure what to do. So they called our Fairy Owlet Mother, Stacey. And true to form, she didn’t hesitate. She leapt into action.

This is the story of Apollo and Striker—two baby barn owls who nearly didn’t make it. And the urgent owl rescue that reminded us all what it means to show up, speak out, and step in for wildlife when every second counts.

It was a wild animal rescue that came down to perfect timing, the right people, and a whole lot of heart.

A Cry for Help

It was June 2nd. Our Fairy Owlet Mother Stacey was in her usual whirlwind—owl rescues, camera check-ins, winged chaos—when the phone rang.

On the line? The Wildlife Research Institute—one of our beloved partners (and one of the places your owl-shirt proceeds help support). They had a homeowner on the line who was in tears. WRI gently asked, “Can we pass you through to Stacey?”

Stacey picked up. She still remembers the voice on the other end:

“The mom’s not bringing them food,” the woman said. “I don’t know what to do.”

The homeowners had an owl nest box on their property and cameras installed in their nest box so they could see what was going on and what they saw broke their hearts: three baby owlets, slowly starving. One had already passed.

That left Apollo and Striker. Fragile and dangerously hungry.

The plan was to keep them in their nest and start supplement feeding. 

“If at all possible, you never want to take them out of their nest,” Stacey explains. “Unless both their parents are gone—or they’re dying.”

So, our Fairy Owlet Mother jumped into coaching mode. Over the phone, she walked the homeowners through Owl Feeding 101: get frozen mice from the pet shop, prep them safely, start supplementing.

And that was just the beginning.

For the next two weeks, Stacey stayed in touch with the homeowners sending pictures back and forth and monitoring the owls. 

But Then—The Mother Disappears

Just when things seemed to stabilize, nature threw another curveball.

The mother owl disappeared. 

And since the dad had already vanished long before, that left the two little owlets orphaned with no parents. 

Stacey and the homeowner continued to monitor and feed the owls. But after days had passed and still no sign of mom, it was clear: it was time to intervene. 

Stacey reached out to her mentor for guidance.

“I talked to my mentor,” she said. “He told me, ‘You have to go. They won’t make it without her.’”

The homeowners were distraught. They wanted to help, but they couldn’t reach the box themselves as they were facing physical limitations. 

So Stacey called in a friend—and the creative director here at Ramona Barn Owls—to help. 

“Pauline, I need you. Bring the tripod.”

The Great Owlet Extraction

By now, you probably know Stacey doesn’t just rescue owls—she rescues them with grit, grace, and a dash of rockstar energy. (Even while nursing a concussion and rocking two black eyes. But that’s a tale for another time.)

The nest box was low, but the terrain was not so friendly. Perched on steep steps, wedged into a slope, and teetering just enough to make things interesting.

But they braced the ladder three ways, and up Stacey went.

One soft owlet. Then another.

Into the carrier they went. And off to Project Wildlife they drove—forty minutes in the car with two wide-eyed, but very chill passengers.

“They didn’t make a peep,” Stacey remembers. “People think owlets are loud in the car—but nope. You put them in a dark box, and they go quiet. They’re just fuzzy little passengers.”

The Diagnosis: Mites (Ew)

At the center, Apollo and Striker were examined and tagged. Turns out, they were physically in good shape—just covered in mites.

“I was like, thank goodness I tied my hair back,” Stacey laughs.

But despite the unwelcome parasite party, the babies were safe. Fed. Warm. Saved.

“They would have died,” Stacey says. “If we hadn’t stepped in when we did, they would have absolutely died.”

Apollo and Striker: Calm, Quiet, and Fuzzy

So what were Apollo and Striker like?

In a word: serene.

“They were very calm,” Stacey says. “I think because the homeowners were talking to them through the doorbell cam all the time. Like, comforting them.”

And while Stacey isn’t officially recommending owl chats as a rescue strategy, there is something kind of magical about it.

“They were just so quiet. Little fluffballs. Not a sound the entire drive. But when they got examined? Oh yeah. Screaming their fluffy little heads off.”

Not Just Another Rescue

What made this owl rescue stand out?

“I was so involved,” Stacey says. “Usually it’s a couple of texts, a few pictures. This one was weeks of constant contact. We practically co-parented those babies together.”

And it wasn’t just emotional.

“This was my first live nest extraction,” she adds. “You don’t do that unless you have to. It’s actually illegal to disturb an active nest unless the babies are abandoned. Usually I’m putting owls back in the box. I’ve never had to take owls out before. So I had to get approval. Guidance. Everything.”

They had tried everything to keep Apollo and Striker in their nest. But after four days without their mother, it was clear—intervening was the only option.

What made it even more meaningful was the amount of information they could share with the rescue center. Thanks to two weeks of camera footage, daily updates, and close monitoring, Apollo and Striker arrived with a rare level of background—something most orphaned wildlife never get.

From Rescue to Release

The homeowners were beyond grateful. They still call and check in on Apollo and Striker—because when you bring owlets to a licensed rescue, you get a number so you can check in on them.

As for Apollo and Striker—they’re thriving at the wildlife center. Growing strong, loud, and fluffier by the day. 

They were born May 23rd and May 25th, 2025, so they’ll likely be ready for release in early August. Just around two months after hatching.

They won’t be released right at the original site (gated community + too many houses = not ideal), but they’ll return to the general area they came from. A familiar slice of wild San Diego skies.

And the best part?

They should be able to fledge successfully.

The Takeaway

So what can we all take away from this owl rescue?

First: OBSERVE.

“Don’t just jump in,” Stacey says. “Watch. Use cameras if you have them.” 

She explains how the sky is divided by time—hawks rule the daylight, owls rule the night.

“Go out right at dusk or right when the morning comes. That time is like a shift change when the hawks go home and the owls come out.” Stacey says. “Grab a glass of wine, go outside and just observe.” (Don’t have to tell us twice.)

Sometimes, it’s best to observe for a few days before taking action. What looks like an abandoned baby might just be a fledgling with a watchful parent nearby.

But if you do have to intervene, do it the right way. With guidance. With care. With someone who knows what they’re doing.

Second: never underestimate what a few people can do.

Two retired homeowners with a doorbell cam, a rescue fairy with a ladder, and our team member Pauline, with a tripod to document it all.

That’s what saved Apollo and Striker.

Barn Owl Rescue FAQ: What We Learned from Apollo and Striker

Want to Help?

If this story tugged your heartstrings, and you want to help support more owl rescues like this here’s what you can do:

• Pay attention to your surroundings — avoid rodenticides and consider adding an owl box to support local wildlife.
• Shop Ramona Barn Owl clothing — the profits fund rescue missions just like this.
• Share the story — awareness saves lives.
• Watch the livestream — meet the owls, follow their journeys, and fall in love.

The more we notice, the more we care—and the more owls get their second chance.