Oh, owly night!
A Virginia family had an unexpected holiday visitor recently when an owl flew down their chimney and promptly found a picturesque place to rest.
“This beautiful Barred Owl decided to play Santa and drop in—literally—through the chimney of a local home, and declared himself the newest star on top of their Christmas tree,” the Animal Welfare League of Arlington wrote Thursday on social media , adding that the feathered guest had “knocked the old star over to make room for himself” on the tree.
Some people have a star or an angel atop their Christmas tree. Others have a live owl.
The nonprofit, which provides animal services in Arlington County, shared two photos of the owl on the tree, as well as a video showing the bird of prey flying around the room as children in the home laugh. The video also shows the owl flying free outside after being caught in a net by animal control Sgt. Spencer Murray.
Following the stint inside, the owl was “uninjured and totally healthy,” Chelsea Jones, a spokesperson for the organization, told HuffPost via Facebook.