Area owl gets second chance thanks to local security industry CEO

Barred owls are very common in Maine and get hit by cars frequently

Lucky owl saved by security company CEO

PORTLAND, Maine—A rather harrowing ride to the grocery store on January 24 saw Norris, Inc. CEO Jason Roberts protecting property and lives outside his usual scope of work in Maine’s, New Hampshire’s and Vermont’s businesses, schools and hospitals.

Roberts commuted home from the South Portland corporate headquarters of Norris, Inc. after a long day and grabbed a quick work out. He then headed to the store for some groceries. On the way, he found himself face-to-face with a life-threatening situation.

Roberts noted slowed traffic up ahead and eventually realized an owl had been hit by a car.

“The owl laid still in the road for several minutes while another gentleman and I slowed and directed traffic,” Roberts said. The two worked together to safely guide traffic around the stunned raptor while they discussed how to proceed. “After a while the owl allowed us to pick him up and move him out of the road to the safety of the back of my SUV,” where another motorist donated a blanket to set the owl on.

Lucky for the Samaritans no one was hurt by unmindful drivers speeding by.

Barred owls frequently run a-‘fowl’ of Maine traffic

The unlucky feathered victim of the hit and run was a Barred Owl, which is very common to Maine.

Roberts recounts that he and his fellow owl advocates decided to call police. The police began attempting to notify the warden service. Authorities planned to transport the potentially injured bird to a rehabilitation center nearby.

Unfortunately, the PD could not get through to the Warden Service, so one of the officers went to the station to get a large cage.

“When we tried to gently maneuver the owl to the cage, he finally came out of his dazed state and flew into the wilderness,” said Roberts.

“Under federal and state law it is illegal for anyone to injure, harass, kill, or possess a bird of prey,” according to the State of Maine Website. “Licensed rehabilitators are the only people legally permitted to transport and keep wildlife, including owls.” Further, the site urges that if you find an injured owl, you should “contact a wildlife rehabilitation facility immediately.”

Do owls have a death-wish? Why so many collisions?

Barred owls are at risk

Owl advocates save local Barred Owl after hit-and-run

According to wildlife experts, owls usually get hit by cars when they swoop down to the shoulder of the road to strike a rodent that has been attracted to the roadside by some article of food thrown from the window of a car. Apple cores are a big culprit according to The Owl Foundation. So please, don’t throw organic material out the window, thinking “Hey, it’s biodegradable.” Hold onto it until you can dispose of it properly. You might be saving more than just an owl’s life—and at Norris, we’re all about protecting lives and property!

Roberts was formerly president and CEO of Greenlight Maine finalist Vigilance Software, a sister company to Norris, Inc.
Norris, Inc.—a South Portland, Maine, based life-safety and security systems integrator with satellite offices in Bangor, Maine; Lee, New Hampshire; and Burlington, Vermont—was founded nearly 40 years ago by two brothers, Brad and Harty Norris. The brothers remain on the board of directors today and continue to help steer the enterprise toward it’s goal of advancing security, life safety and communications while striving to grow in its status as Northern New England’s leading systems integrator.