Halloween is known for unexpected surprises, and sometimes, nature gets in on the fun too.
In mid-October, a hilarious and almost magical moment unfolded when a great horned owl swooped down and grabbed an unusual objectโa stick horse toy.
This unusual event was captured in a video that quickly went viral, spreading smiles across the internet just in time for the spooky season.
Weโre all familiar with the classic image of a witch flying across the sky on her broomstick.
But have you ever imagined an owl taking her place?
Thatโs exactly what it looked like when this owl flew through the air with the stick horse, creating a comical resemblance to a witch on her broom.
The timing couldnโt have been more perfect for Halloween, and the internet quickly embraced the whimsical scene.
Eric Lind, the man who filmed the event, couldnโt believe what he was seeing.
While visiting his parentsโ neighborhood in Eureka, Illinois, Eric spotted the owl with the stick horse, flying from tree to tree.
โMy mom received a call from one of the neighbors telling her to look outside in the backyard at our pine tree. They had spotted the owl as it flew into the tree initially, but couldnโt quite tell what it was carrying at first,โ Lind told Newsweek.
To their amusement, the โsomething strangeโ turned out to be a childโs stick horse toy.
The owlโs fascination with the stick horse quickly sparked curiosity.
Some people speculated that the owl may have been drawn to the toy because the horseโs head looked like a fluffy prey animal.
But whether the owl thought it was dinner or simply a fun toy, the sight of it carrying the stick horse around the neighborhood was too entertaining not to share.
Eric did just that, posting photos and videos to his social media.
He humorously added,
โIf your child is missing their stick horse, youโll have to take it up with the owl!โ
The post quickly went viral, accumulating over 102,000 shares and millions of views.
The video alone has been viewed more than five million times, and the comment section was filled with hilarious remarks.
One user jokingly said, โThatโs just some young wizardโs owl, bringing them their limited edition pony-head Quidditch broom!โ
Others suggested the owlโs scene needed the classic music from The Wizard of Oz, referencing the Wicked Witch of the West.
However, as much as people were entertained, some expressed concern for the owlโs safety.
Addressing these worries, Lind reassured everyone that the owl was fine.
โFor those of you wondering if the owl is hurt or tangled in the stick horse, we have no reason to believe thatโs the case. The owl seemed to be moving the toy around easily and even shifted its grip on it,โ he explained.
He also mentioned that the owl was part of a family of owls that had been living in the neighborhood for several months.
The entire Lind family was both surprised and delighted by the owlโs antics.
Eric expressed how happy he was that his post could spread some joy.
โItโs been great to read the comments from people saying the video made them laugh or brightened their day,โ he said.
If you want to see the owl in action, make sure to check out the video below!
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