A critically-endangered owl was discovered in a barn before promptly dying.
The rare bird was found hopping around the floor, apparently in distress.
The owner placed the owl in a box and called experts for assistance.
READ MORE: Animal activist creates dazzling bird’s eye pro-vegan artwork with Lidl work light in field
Wildlife expert Emma Billbäck arrived at the farm in the town of Avesta, located north-west of Stockholm, Sweden, and was shocked to see it was a critically-endangered species.
While common in the UK, barn owls are nearly extinct in the country.
Meanwhile, the snowy owl was declared regionally extinct in Sweden in late 2025, as reported by Need To Know.
Emma said: “I didn’t think it was real at first.
“Even when I opened the box, I didn’t think it would actually be a barn owl.”
She said it was the first time she’d ever seen the rare bird, adding: “It will probably be the only time in my life.
“Whenever I’ve shown images of them, many people have said ‘oh I’ve seen those on TV’.”
“The owl is characterised by a heart-shaped face, it isn’t stocky or heavy, but very slender and quite small.”
Sadly, the owl had a serious shoulder injury, a crushed eye, and was bleeding internally.
Emma said it had probably been hit by a car.
She added: “A bird, especially an owl, with only one eye will never survive in nature, so there was no chance for it.”
As a result, the bird was sent to a local vet to be euthanised.
Emma said: “It’s really sad, it would have been fantastic to get it sorted and healthy and be able to release it.”
Stig Åke Svensson at the Dalarna Ornithological Society said the barn owl was probably very young.
He explained: “Young birds generally move a little more than when they’re older and form pairs.
“Then they’re much more stationary.”
READ MORE: Three people required to pull snarling husky off swan in shocking park attack
