This poor tawny owl was found trapped inside a chimney in Southwell

The RSPCA is urging the public to be aware of wildlife becoming trapped in their chimneys after a tawny owl fell down a chimney and became trapped in a log burner.

The animal charity were called out a house in Bath Lane, Southwell, on Sunday after the householder could hear scratching noises in the chimney and, believing there was a bird trapped inside, she alerted the RSPCA.

Animal Collection Officer (ACO) Hayley Day attended and could see the bird’s legs poking down from the top on the log burner, and managed to gently pull him out.

He was covered in soot, had a graze to his shoulder bone and was clearly underweight.

Hayley said: “The householder said they didn’t use the log burner in that room which was lucky for the owl. He was absolutely covered in soot and at first I could not tell what species he was.

“The soot had also gone in his eyes causing bad irritation and he was quite underweight so I believe he may have been trapped for sometime. He probably got the graze on his shoulder as he tried to free himself.”

Hayley rushed the owl to the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich. He was in a critical condition and sadly his condition did not improve.

He collapsed later that day and a vet decided the kindest thing to do was to put him to sleep to end his suffering.

Hayley added: “I believe the owl may have nested at the top of the chimney. The householder who rents the property said the chimney was capped but sometimes birds can make their way through cracks so it is always worth having checks carried out to avoid these kind of sad situations.”

If your house has a chimney, make sure you regularly check to make sure there are no trapped animals or birds inside, and be vigilant to any possible wildlife caught inside.

For more information about what to do if you come across an injured wild animal, visit the RSPCA's dedicated wildlife page at www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/injuredanimals