A 10-year-old girl was left terrified after she discovered an owl living inside her family's Christmas tree.
India Newman was admiring owl ornaments decorated on the tree when one turned it's head to look at her.
Mum Katie McBride Newman told how her daughter burst into tears and cried: "Mama, that ornament scared me!".
But the family were in for a shock when they found a real life bird roosting in their newly bought tree.
The family, from Georgia, USA , then opened the windows around the house in a bid to let the owl fly away but instead it made itself quite at home.
An animal welfare expert from Chattahoochee Nature Center advised the family to feed the bird raw chicken until they could arrive to collect it.
Staff believed the owl had made itself cosy inside the tree - which was bought from a local shop - for more than a week.
They were able to capture the owl from the tree before releasing it into the dark with help from the Newman family.
Despite their desperation to get it out of the family home, Katie expressed how much they miss the owl.
She wrote on Facebook: “Thank you for the honor you bestowed on our family - for making the magic & mystery of advent come alive in our home, and for inspiring connection among all who followed the adventure.
“God’s peace to you as you make your new home outside our home. We hope to see you again...And to all a good night.”
