Trooper Rescues Injured Owl Nicknamed Walker
A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper found the injured bird along State Highway 118 and arranged for its transport to rehabilitation in El Paso.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Bird Watching
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A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper rescued an injured owl along State Highway 118, southbound toward Terlingua. The owl was nicknamed Walker after it attempted to walk away from the trooper.
Why it matters
The rescue highlights the role of roadside officers and wildlife professionals in caring for injured birds in Texas, which is home to 11 owl species. The owl's transfer through several Texas locations shows how coordinated handoffs support wildlife recovery.
Texas is home to 11 types of owls, according to the report. The rescue story does not provide the owl's species, age, or the nature of its injury.
The players
Texas Department of Public Safety
The state agency whose trooper found and secured the injured owl, and which oversees the Texas Highway Patrol.
The details
The trooper was giving an elderly couple a ride home when he spotted the owl. After securing it, he took the bird to the Alpine Highway Patrol office, where a Fort Davis wildlife biologist collected it.
Timeline
The owl rescue was reported in an article published on November 2, 2026.
Seasonal Patterns
Texas hosts 11 owl species, making it one of the states with the greatest owl diversity in the country. This individual rescue is one case among the wildlife encounters that occur across the state's varied habitats.
Drivers on rural Texas highways may encounter injured wildlife, and the rescue shows that officers can contact wildlife biologists to help. Residents who find injured birds can follow similar steps by contacting local authorities.
The takeaway
Injured wildlife can be safely secured and transferred to trained professionals when found on the road. Reporting injured animals to local authorities or wildlife biologists gives them the best chance of recovery.
Further reading
Explore more about Bird Watching and the owl species found across Texas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Midland Reporter-Telegram.
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