Rescued Baby Great Horned Owl Gets Put Back in a Tree-and Everybody's Cheering
Spotting a baby animal all alone can be stressful, especially when it's a tiny 36-day-old Great Horned Owl with no sign of its mom nearby. TikToker @whiskeyandlace shared a heartwarming video showing rescue workers returning the rescued baby owl named Tootsie to a tree after caring for her for several days. But because the original nest she fell from couldn't be found, the rescuers had to get creative.
Using a wicker laundry basket covered with pine branches, they built Tootsie a brand-new makeshift nest to live in. What happened next had everyone cheering as the little owl safely settled back where she belonged, high up in the trees.
@whiskeyandlace Pray for Tootsie the baby Grey Horned Owl! It fell out of its nest and got separated from its mama. The rescue team is hoping the mom and/or dad will return to be there for Tootsie. Stay tuned for daily updates! #owlsoftiktok#babyowl#owlrescue#owl
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Now, everybody is waiting and hoping that one of her parents finds her. @whiskeyandlace has been posting update videos of Tootsie since she was rehomed, and we're all invested in her story now.
Everybody also loved the creative nest. Commenter @AnneMarie described it perfectly when she shared: "Best creative use for a laundry basket, and it's giving Big Bird vibes," along with a picture of Big Bird in his nest on Sesame Street.
Related: Rescued Baby Owls Try to Be Intimidating, but They're Too Cute for It to Work
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Why Do Baby Owls Fall Out of the Nest?
Turns out, it's actually pretty common for baby Great Horned Owls to end up on the ground beneath their nests, and wildlife rescuers often use "basket nests" to help reunite them with their parents.
As fledglings, young owls often start climbing and exploring outside the nest before they fully develop the flight feathers and strength needed to fly well. According to the Chintimini Wildlife Center, Great Horned owlets, as well as other owlets, can end up on the ground for several reasons. Some fall from branches while venturing away from the nest, while others may be blown out during storms or lose their nests entirely if they fall apart.
The wildlife center explains that timing is critical when re-nesting baby owls. "In our experience, the key to most successful re-nestings is getting the owlet back up the tree as soon as possible," they share. If the baby remains missing for too long, the adult owls may leave the area altogether. Because of that, rescuers try to return young owls to elevated nests within 24 hours whenever possible to give them the best chance of reconnecting with and being cared for by their parents.
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This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 8:00 AM.