Adorable Owl Found Napping In Antique Shop

Now this is what you call a rare antique find. Shoppers browsing The Market Place antique store in East Durham, New York on February 21 thought they had spotted something incredibly lifelike sitting on a shelf.

Tucked beside a chicken-shaped cookie jar was what looked like a perfectly crafted owl figurine. Except, it wasn’t a figurine. It was a real, live owl. The small bird was fast asleep.

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, customers alerted store staff after noticing “something extremely lifelike” among the collectibles. When Environmental Conservation Police Officer Milliron arrived, he found a brown-and-white eastern screech owl perched on a shelf with its eyes firmly shut, apparently enjoying a very peaceful nap.

The tiny visitor had chosen a rather unconventional nesting spot. Eastern screech owls are nocturnal and typically nest in tree cavities — not antique stores.

Officer Milliron gently cradled the sleepy owl, carefully removing it from the store before releasing it into a nearby wooded area. Once outside, the owl flew into a tree, back where it belongs.

How the little nocturnal shopper managed to get inside the store remains a mystery. But for one February morning in upstate New York, the most charming item on the shelf wasn’t for sale.

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