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Act of Valor: Injured Owl Returns Home After Power Plant Rescue
Sometimes lending a hand means looking out for more than just people – and that’s exactly what two APS employees experienced recently when they discovered a barn owl in need of help.
Vernon Bounds and Cindy Tuma work at the Palo Verde Generating Station west of Phoenix, where their days often begin with routine inspections of the infrastructure that generates and supplies safe and reliable nuclear energy to millions of homes and businesses.
One day, something out of the ordinary caught Vernon’s eye. A barn owl was stuck dangling in a precarious position after apparently getting its leg caught on some netting.
Palo Verde’s generating units are protected by pest deterrent netting, designed to help keep equipment safe from the damage that critters can cause. In this case, however, the owl got stuck while flying near the equipment. After spotting the bird, Vernon sprang into action and called in support from Cindy to plan a rescue.
“I looked up and noticed the owl was struggling to fly away. We were there at the right place and the right time to help bring this beautiful bird down!” Vernon said.
The duo was able to safely reach the owl and carefully cut away the netting to free its leg. They gently placed the owl in a box lined with a towel, giving it a quiet, comfortable space to rest.
The team then worked with Liberty Wildlife, a nonprofit organization and long-time APS partner, dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife.
In just one week, the experts at Liberty Wildlife determined the bird was healthy enough to return to its natural habitat. With support from APS’s natural resources team, Cindy and Vernon were reunited with the owl – affectionately named “Valor” for its display of courage – and were given the honor of helping to release it back to the wild.
“The adrenaline, the joy – it’s a moment I’ll never forget,” said Cindy. “Being part of helping this bird fly home meant everything to me.”
Because owls are nocturnal, the group gathered at sunset to watch as the bird took flight, returning once again to the open skies.
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