West Middle School employees save entangled owl

West Middle School employee Tom Cusick has had an experience that few people are allowed.

A large owl got entangled in a soccer net at the school.

"West Middle School teachers Michael Webb and Linda Broome helped me get the frustrated owl out of the net," Cusick said. "Mrs. Broome held my rain coat I wrapped the owl in, while Mr. Webb cut the soccer net to get the owl’s left wing out.”

He said what happened next really got to him.

"When I finally got his wing out of the net, the owl set on my hand and looked right into my eyes – as if to say ‘thank you.’ I made him flap his wings to make sure they were not broken. He continued to set on my heavy, leather-gloved hand until all of a sudden, he flew off. This was a real once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. I have never been that close to a Great Horned Owl before. The bad news is the soccer team will have to get a new net because that one has a pretty good sized hole in it now.”