Sleepy Owl Found Napping on Shelf at Upstate New York Antique Store

The Eastern Screech Owl was safely removed and released into a nearby wooded area.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Shoppers at an antique store in East Durham, New York were surprised to find an Eastern Screech Owl napping on a shelf next to a chicken cookie jar. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation was called, and an officer safely removed the sleeping owl and released it into a nearby wooded area.

Why it matters

While Eastern Screech Owls are a common sight in the wild across North America, it is highly unusual for one to be found inside a retail store. This incident highlights the importance of wildlife conservation and the need to protect these nocturnal birds from potentially dangerous situations.

The details

On February 21, employees at The Market Place antique store in East Durham, New York alerted authorities after spotting the sleepy Eastern Screech Owl perched on a shelf next to a chicken cookie jar. Officer Darren Milliron from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation responded, gently cradled the sleeping owl, and released it into a nearby wooded area where it flew off into a tree.

  • On February 21, store employees called authorities about the owl.
  • Officer Darren Milliron arrived and removed the owl from the store.

The players

The Market Place

An antique store located in East Durham, New York where the owl was found.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

The state agency that responded to the call about the owl and safely removed it from the store.

Officer Darren Milliron

The officer from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation who arrived at the store, gently cradled the sleeping owl, and released it into a nearby wooded area.

Eastern Screech Owl

A species of small owl native to North America that was found napping on a shelf inside the antique store.

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What they’re saying

“This species of owl is nocturnal and typically nests in tree cavities, not store shelves.”

— New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (usatoday.com)

The takeaway

This unusual incident serves as a reminder of the importance of wildlife conservation and the need to protect nocturnal species like the Eastern Screech Owl from potentially dangerous situations. It also highlights the role that local authorities play in responding to reports of wild animals in unexpected locations.