Colorado wildlife officials rescue great horned owl from barbed wire fence

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. -- Colorado Parks & Wildlife freed a great horned owl that had gotten caught in a barbed wire fence Tuesday morning.

An officer had to cut the fence to get the owl out because the flesh of the wing had been badly caught in the wire, CPW Northeast Region said in a tweet.

The bird was then placed in a box and taken to the Birds of Prey rehabilitation facility in Broomfield. Caretakers gave the owl medication and fluids, said CPW.

Although there is some concern over a damaged tendon, CPW says this owl has a chance to survive.

Wildlife officials said the owl smelled like skunk, speculating that it had been chasing its prey when it flew into the fence.

CPW recommends that barbed wire fences have smooth wire on the top-most and bottom-most lines to allow animals to go over and under the fence.