Owl Swoops Down Arlington Chimney To Act As Christmas Tree Topper

ARLINGTON, VA — An Arlington family had an unusual holiday visitor recently, when a large Barred Owl emerged from their chimney and decided to act as an impromptu Christmas tree topper. (See video at the bottom of this story.)

Unsure whether the bird was just doing recon for Santa or looking for Harry Potter, the family recognized that having a wild animal in their home was problematic, so they called the Animal Welfare League of Arlington for help.

Sgt. Spencer Murray of the Community Animal Response Team responded to the family’s call. After letting the owl fly around and tire himself out, Murray was able to grab the bird with a net and release him safely outside.

Chelsea Jones, AWLA’s senior communications specialist, told Patch on Monday that getting calls about squirrels in someone’s garage or raccoons in an attic aren’t out of the ordinary. But, a barred owl playing Christmas star was somewhat unusual.

“The family that called us actually did the perfect thing,” she said. “They didn't panic. They stayed calm. They gave us a call, and we were able to remove the animal safely. The worst thing you can do is panic, because it upsets the animal and makes the situation a lot more stressful.”

The animal group recommends that before winter begins, homeowners be sure to cap their chimneys and check their homes for any unintended entry points that could allow wild animals to get inside, Jones said.

As AWLA winds down its fundraising for 2024, Arlington residents are invited to contribute to the Wildlife Resource Center to ensure animal rehabilitation experts are available to assist with the rescue and care of the county’s wildlife.

Although the Arlington Animal Shelter is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday for the Christmas holiday, residents can call 703-931-9241 to request help for any wildlife-related emergency.