Firefighters Rescue Owl Trapped in Pigeon Net in Lower Galilee

Firefighters in the Lower Galilee settlement of Hoshaya rescued an owl trapped in a pigeon net on Thursday morning. The bird of prey, active mainly at night, was exposed to the sun and unable to free itself, raising concerns about dehydration and rapid deterioration of its condition. The incident was reported to the Fire and Rescue Services' 102 emergency line, prompting a team from the Nof HaGalil station to respond immediately.

During the rescue operation, the fire crew coordinated with the Nature and Parks Authority, which was alerted to provide further assistance. The firefighters carefully freed the owl to avoid further harm and handed it over to the Nature and Parks Authority for ongoing care. At the wildlife rehabilitation center, the owl received fluids and medical treatment.

Sergeant Major Raoud Bibar, the team commander, described the urgency: "When we arrived, the owl was trapped and exposed to the sun, unable to free itself. We understood it was a race against time, as every minute in the sun could endanger it." He added, "We acted quickly and carefully until we freed it and transferred it to the Nature and Parks Authority. It is gratifying that the joint operation ended with its rescue."