Wesley the Owl: The Barn Owl Who Chose His Human
Wesley the owl was a barn owl who spent 19 years living with biologist Stacey O'Brien. She met him on Valentine's Day 1985, when he was four days old with his eyes still shut. Her memoir about their life together is called Wesley the Owl.
Quick Facts
- Who: Wesley, a male barn owl
- His human: Stacey O'Brien, a biologist
- Where: Southern California, starting at an owl lab at Caltech in Pasadena
- When: 1985 to 2004
- Known for: The memoir Wesley the Owl and a 19-year bond between a biologist and a wild bird
A Valentine With His Eyes Still Shut
Stacey O'Brien was working as an assistant in an owl laboratory at Caltech when she met Wesley. He had nerve damage in his right wing that meant he could never survive in the wild, so she took him home and raised him.
What Was Life With Wesley the Owl Like?
Like having a very small, very opinionated roommate. Wesley shredded magazines and loved baths. Stacey counted about twenty different versions of his begging call, each one for something he wanted, from water to the magazines he liked to tear apart. She says he understood far more than anyone expected of a bird.
Wesley also decided Stacey was his. Her boyfriends? He had opinions. At night his calls could even draw wild owls to her window.
Do Barn Owls Mate for Life?
Barn owls often pair with one mate for life. Wesley seems to have done the same thing with Stacey. Most nights he wanted to be close to her, and she describes one evening when he settled on her chest and spread his golden wings across her shoulders.
19 Years and Around 28,000 Mice
Wesley and Stacey were together for 19 years. By her estimate, he ate more than 28,000 mice in that time. He died in 2004. Her memoir, published in 2008, told their story to the world.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wesley the Owl a true story?
Yes. Wesley the Owl is a memoir by biologist Stacey O'Brien about the barn owl she raised from four days old and lived with for 19 years.
How long did Wesley the owl live?
Wesley lived about 19 years, from 1985 to 2004. That is far longer than barn owls usually live in the wild.
Can you keep a barn owl as a pet?
In the United States, barn owls are protected and you cannot keep one as a pet without special federal permits. Stacey O'Brien cared for Wesley as part of her work with owls.
Related Stories
- Alex the Parrot: He Asked What He Was
- Christian the Lion: The Wild Animal Who Remembered the Men Who Raised Him
- Do Crows Remember Faces? The 17-Year Grudge
For Bird Lovers
Read
Read the whole story in Stacey O'Brien's memoir, Wesley the Owl (4.7 stars). See it on Amazon
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Sources
- Simon and Schuster: Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien: the memoir, his age when they met and his wing injury
- Living on Earth (2008): Girl's Best Friend, interview with Stacey O'Brien: his begging calls, wild owls at the window and their bond
- Occidental Magazine (Winter 2009): profile of Stacey O'Brien: her Caltech owl lab role, his right wing, the mouse estimate and the 2004 date
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Barn Owl FAQ: barn owls often pairing for life
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Migratory Bird Treaty Act: why owls are protected in the U.S.
More true animal stories: From Paw to Tail Blog
Cover photo: Moon1501 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.