Why did burrowing owls board a cruise ship from Miami?

It is unclear why the owls boarded the ship, but they may have been attracted by the ship's greenery or disoriented by the port's urban environment.

Where were the owls kept after arriving in Spain?

The owls were kept in quarantine at the Cites wildlife rescue center in Murcia, Spain, following their discovery on the cruise ship.

When will the stray owls return to Florida?

The burrowing owls are expected to be returned to Florida by air as soon as mid-January, after their quarantine period.

Home / Environment / Stowaway Owls' European Vacation Ends

Stowaway Owls' European Vacation Ends

13 Dec

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Summary

Two threatened burrowing owls accidentally boarded a cruise ship from Miami.
They spent months quarantined at a wildlife rescue center in Spain.
The owls will be returned to a familiar urban environment in Florida.

Two burrowing owls, a threatened species in Florida, stowed away on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship departing from Miami earlier this year. The mating pair was discovered by crew members in the ship's Central Park area during its voyage to Cartagena, Spain. Spanish officials took custody of the owls upon docking, and they have since been housed at a wildlife rescue center in Murcia.

Since the spring, the owls have been in quarantine as arrangements were made for their repatriation. Biologists suggest the owls may have been attracted to the ship's greenery or disoriented by the urban environment of the port. Their return journey to the U.S. is scheduled for mid-January.

Upon arrival in Florida, the owls will undergo assessment and a re-assimilation period at a federal agriculture department facility. They are expected to be released into another urban area in Florida, providing a familiar environment. Their airfare back home is being funded by the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida.