Owl burned in Thomas fire now in rehab

An owl injured in a massive wildfire that affected Ventura and Santa Barbara counties has returned home.

The Ventura County Star reports the injured bird was released back to the wild Friday after being found two months ago curled up in a ball on a basketball court outside Cabrillo Middle School and taken to the Ojai Raptor Center.

The Ojai Raptor Center rescues and rehabilitates eagles, hawks and other birds of prey.

The bird could not hunt or fly, struggled to breathe and could not maintain balance. It ingested liquid protein fed through tubes during its rehabilitation.

The owl was so docile it allowed caretakers to touch him.