A live horned owl in a predicament received a helping hand from Santa Barbara County Fire Department personnel in Orcutt.

County firefighters responded to assist Animal Control personnel at approximately 9:30 a.m. Sunday on the 1000 block of Amethyst Drive, off South Bradley Road, Capt. Scott Safechuck said. 

The live bird was lodged in the front grill of a vehicle whose owner noticed the unusual accessory Sunday morning.

“Firefighters carefully cut away portions of the grill, and after approximately 30 minutes, the owl was successfully removed,” Safechuck said.

Safechuck said it wasn’t known when the owl became trapped but it may have happened a day earlier.

The owl sustained injuries and was transported by the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network to Goleta for evaluation and possible treatment, Safechuck said. 

While most of their calls involve human patients, county firefighters sometimes wind up helping four-legged and feathered friends. 

Past rescue calls have included a camel, barn owl, bat and plenty of dogs.