Owl Discovered Nestled Among Antiques in Durham, NY Shop

In a curious twist of events in upstate New York this month, shoppers at a local antique store in Durham stumbled upon an unexpected guest: a live owl, nestled serenely on a shelf next to a chicken-shaped cookie jar.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reported that this unusual occurrence took place on February 21 in East Durham, a small community located roughly 127 miles north of Manhattan.

Shoppers at The Market Place noticed what appeared to be an exceptionally lifelike figure on one of the store’s shelves, prompting them to inform the staff.

When environmental conservation officers arrived, they discovered a brown-and-white owl peacefully perched with its eyes closed, blending in with the antique display.

With great care, the officers gently picked up the dozing owl and safely released it into a nearby forested area, where the bird promptly took to the skies, finding refuge in a tree.

The bird, an eastern screech owl, is nocturnal and typically nests in tree cavities.

It is not immediately clear how it got inside the store. An email was sent to the store’s owners on Friday.