Couple finds stoned owl in Christmas tree

NBC 2 ^ | 12/15/05 | NBC 2

[Pikamax]

SARASOTA— The Pelican Man's Bird Sanctuary in Sarasota is getting ready to release one buzzed bird back out into the wild. Vets at the sanctuary have been caring for a screech owl that was found acting a little odd.

A couple purchased a Christmas tree and had it in the house for five days before decorating it. That's when the couple discovered a tiny screech owl in the tree.

The couple called the sanctuary's rescue squad.

But the story wasn't very interesting until Melissa Dolinsky began assessing the owl's health.

"I kept smelling him and smelling him going, 'What is that odor?'"

She thought it smelled like marijuana.

"Just kind of laying there as happy as could be," said Dolinsky.

They examined the owl looked in his eyes and determined the owl was stoned.

"Absolutely a first for me. I've never had any owl or any other winged creature for that matter come in high? Absolutely a first," said Jeff Dering of Pelican Man's Bird Sanctuary

In true holiday timing, the December guest has generated some much needed attention for the struggling sanctuary.

The sanctuary named the owl Cheech the Screetch.

The staff set Cheech free Thursday afternoon into the trees along bradenton beach.

[NoCmpromiz]

thought you were in bed, anyway.

He would be if he had to pay for his own electricity....

[King Prout]

ah. if you are heading OUT out, ask Chylde if she wishes to go along

unless she's playing VampirePiggiesV, in which case... leave her be

[King Prout]

"potted owl" got me :)

[NoCmpromiz]

See here.

[GOPJ]

The owl says: "Dude, I am higher than Jesus right now."

Then added, "you got any munchies?"

[King Prout]

ooo!

[Gordongekko909]

Now the environmentalists will have to demand an end to marijuana growing.

When frozen pigs come flying out of hell.

[paulat]

"Dude...where's Cheech?"

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

This story is either bogus, or someone is not telling the entire story. Screech owls do not eat vegetation of any kind. If the little guy was stoned, he would have had to be breathing in the smoke, since he would not have ingested marijuana on his own ... so perhaps the owners of the Christmas tree were having a little pre-holiday toke?

[Danette]

See what you get when you buy a "holiday" tree instead of a Christmas tree?

[phantomworker]

See #49 LOL!

[NoCmpromiz]

If he doesn't go to bed soon, his portable lumpskin will sit on his keyboard....

[King Prout]

ok, you are both NYFReepers... you know each other IRL, no?

[King Prout]

or the owl ingested a rodent which had ingested a fair quantity of cannabis/seeds

[NoCmpromiz]

you know each other IRL, no?

I've heard some malicious rumors to that affect... Ask him if he knows anything about this:

[NoCmpromiz]

a rodent which had ingested a fair quantity of cannabis/seeds

In other words, a stoned rat, just your basic Democrat...

[King Prout]

"wooo... I think there was something wrong with that Hippie...woohoohoa!"

[NoCmpromiz]

Hippie...

You would bring them up.... Woodstock is but a mere stoned throw away....

[King Prout]

if I *ate* some Hippies, I'd almost certainly bring them up - my stomach is very sensitive to contaminants and spoilage

[NoCmpromiz]

if I *ate* some Hippies

Water buffalo is tastier.....

and measureably cleaner...