A BRAVE owl that was abandoned on a building site is 'thriving' after being rescued by Secret World Wildlife Rescue. 

The owl was spotted by a security guard at Lytes Cary Manor in Somerton, covered in flies with no parents around.

The guard was concerned for the owl's well-being and put him in a box and took him to the wildlife centre in East Huntspill for assessment. 

Katie Gibbs, an animal carer at Secret World Wildlife Rescues, is now looking after the owl, named Maximus. 

Katie names all of her owls after Roman gladiators as they are 'little warriors.'

“When he first came in Maximus was very dehydrated and weak,” Katie said. 

“I have been amazed at his recovery, and he is now very strong. He is thriving.”

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News:

Maximus the owl being weighed at Secret World Wildlife Rescue

Animal carers have now moved Maximus into a bigger pod, where he has more space to move around.

In time he will be introduced to the other little owls on site and they will form a family group.

This group will then be released together in the autumn, when a suitable release site has been found.

In 2017 Secret World rescued 145 birds of prey and owls and successfully released many back into the wild.