The owl in question was spotted near the Chautauqua Christian Academy, 200 Hunt Road, and by all accounts the bird of prey was disheveled.

“This morning my wife Regina was walking our dog and spotted an owl trapped in the netting behind the soccer nets at the Chautauqua Christian Academy. The owl was badly tangled in the netting and both his neck and talons were caught up,” said Joe Gerace, executive director of the Jamestown Housing Authority. “I phoned the Sheriff’s office who dispatched the Ellicott Police.”

“Officers Daniel Cotter and Kris Gustafson responded to the call for assistance at 7:20 a.m.,” said Ellicott Police Sgt. Daniel Ingrao.

Ingrao said that while the officers are not really trained to deal with distressed birds, patrol car units do carry personal protective equipment typical for unique situations like this.

Ellicott Police officers Daniel Cotter and Kris Gustafson work to remove netting caught around what appeared to be a great horned owl caught in a soccer net near the Chautauqua Christian Academy on Tuesday. Officers were eventually able to free the bird. Photo by Joe Gerace

Gerace said that he provided a blanket to cover the bird to help keep it calm, and the Ellicott officers worked for more than 30 minutes -meticulously cutting the netting from its neck and legs- to untangle the owl.

After the owl was freed, it appeared to recuperate a little before flying off.

“The owl was exhausted but eventually was able to fly into the treetops. Great job by Ellicott PD,” Gerace said.