A brave rescuer has saved an owl after the nighttime predator got tangled in a soccer net.
Footage shows Dave Larson carefully snipping the strings from around the fearsome bird of prey using household scissors, to release its wings, neck and talons, before it flaps away to safety.
His wife Sue filmed the rescue mission for the bird, believed to be a Great Horned owl, at the family home in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.
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Brave rescuer Dave Larson carefully snipped the soccer net that had entangled this owl in Oak Creek, Wisconsin
Video shows Dave cutting the soccer net line by line, which gradually releases the owl’s body from the unsuspecting trap.
The bird occasionally takes a swipe at its rescuer, who is wearing gloves, with its beak and flaps in a desperate attempt to get away.
As the nocturnal animal is cut free, it lies motionless before suddenly beating its wings and fluttering away.
Sue, thrilled to have let the majestic predator go, said: ‘We were very nervous knowing how strong and sharp his beak was – which he kept snapping to scare us.
‘He also kept stretching his claws out every time we got close to him.
Dave, who was wearing gloves, carefully cut away the string as the owl occasionally took swipes at him with its sharp beak or flapped its wings
The owl was suspended in the air when they first found it. The strings were gradually cut before, with a flap of its wings, the bird flew away
‘We were able to feel a little more at ease when the owl eventually realized we weren’t trying to hurt him, and he seemed to relax and let us cut him free.
‘As soon as he flew away, there was instant relief of the situation. “But, it was more happiness at knowing he was alright, and being able to see him fly and move without injury.’
It was filmed on September 27, and shared online by their son Travis.