Killing with kindness

Chris Packham visits Nigel Middleton at the Hawk and Owl Trust at Sculthorpe Moor to find out why you shouldn't try to rescue young owls. Nigel removes a young tawny owl from its nest box to show it to Chris. It is cute and cuddly with big eyes - all things that make humans want to mother it. But they are far better off in the wild. They leave the nest while still looking very young - they haven't been abandoned. If you find one on a path then place it on a low branch nearby. Its parents will be back in the evening to feed it. If you take an owl chick home, you halve its chances of surviving.