In a world where wildlife stories do not always have happy endings, this one does.
After more than a year abroad, two Florida burrowing owls are finally back where they belong in the Sunshine State. With the help of a unique international partnership, including support from our Foundation, these small but resilient birds made an incredible journey home.
Their story began in February 2025, when the owls, since lovingly named Benito and Concho, unknowingly boarded a cruise ship departing from Miami. By the time they were discovered, the ship was already crossing the Atlantic, bound for Cartagena, Spain.
Far from home, the owls were taken in by wildlife officials in Spain. They were first cared for at the El Valle Wildlife Recovery Center near Cartagena, where they began recovering. A few months later, they were transferred to the Foundation for Research in Ethology and Biodiversity near Madrid, a specialized rescue center that could help prepare them for the long journey back to the United States.
Situations like this are uncommon, and successful returns are even rarer. Wild animals sometimes end up in the wrong place as accidental stowaways or through illegal wildlife trade, but most are never able to return to their native habitats. Repatriation requires extensive coordination, including permits from multiple governments, strict quarantine protocols, and careful planning to ensure the animals are healthy and able to survive once released. In many cases, the time and resources required make it impossible.
This time, everything aligned.
Wildlife agencies, rescue centers, and conservation partners across two continents worked together to make the owls’ return possible. Our Foundation helped fund their trip home, ensuring that distance would not be the reason these birds could not return to the wild.
On February 10, 2026, after months of care and preparation, the owls boarded a flight from Madrid to Miami. When they landed that evening, a team of wildlife professionals was ready to receive them. Staff from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture worked together to safely transfer the owls into a quarantine facility, where veterinarians monitored their health.
After successfully completing quarantine, the owls were ready for the final step.
On March 12, 2026, they were released into the wild at Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area in south Florida. Before their release, FWC staff banded the birds so they can be monitored over time. Then they were set free into a landscape that offers the habitat they need to survive and thrive.
“We were proud to help fund the return of these burrowing owls to Florida and support their care along the way. Seeing them safely released back into the wild is a great example of what strong conservation partnerships can make possible,” said Tindl Rainey, Director of Conservation & Strategic Initiatives, Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida.
These two owls traveled thousands of miles and depended on the dedication of many people to find their way home. Today, they are back in Florida, burrowing into the landscapes where they belong.
