Spike the Smooth-Brained Owl Goes Viral for His Glitched-Out Stare, Stealing the Hearts of Animal Lovers Online After Surviving Despite the Odds

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Feb 5, 2025 4:00 AM EST

Sometimes, it's nice to unplug our brains and tune out from the world. It's noisy, it's boisterous, the news is insane, and turning off your brain for a few minutes sounds like a delightful reprise from the chaos. Lucky for Spike, the Eastern Screech Owl, 'tuning out' has become a constant state of mind. Living lavishly in the bird kennels of a wildlife sanctuary, Spike's near-death experience has turned into a lifetime of wildlife advocacy, educational visits, and an adorable viral video that taps into all of our serotonin centers. 

Keep scrolling for the full story of this owl's harrowing tale of survival, where a cute bird finds the silver lining to life inside of a hot train car. 

 Pawsitive Vibes: Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the purrfect Caturday treat!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to start your Caturday with the funniest felines on the internet!

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01
    FONTENE FORES
    via fontenelleforest

    Get to know Spike! ?? Spike recently soared to Instagram fame, so we asked his bestie (and raptor care specialist), Ell, to introduce him to his new fans!


    "Spike is a 3 or 4-year-old eastern screech owl…"

  • 02
    80MAX
    via fontenelleforest

    "He came to live with us after he was found trapped inside of a train car. We don't know how long he was in there. He flew in and the door got closed behind him, but he missed out on a lot of meals and we think the temperature got crazy in there.

    So, unfortunately, Spike has suffered some pretty significant brain damage"

  • 03
    via fontenelleforest

    "See—he's just not all there"

  • 04
    Cheezburger Image 10463427840
    via fontenelleforest

    "He doesn't have that typical 'wild awareness' that a normal screech owl should have"

  • 05
    ELL KINSEY FONTENE FOREST
    via fontenelleforest

    "He wouldn't have lived very long so instead he lives here with us at Fontenelle Forest."

  • 06
    First Aid RST AID ONLI
    via fontenelleforest

    "He shares his home with his roommate George, an older eastern screech owl who's taken him under his wing."

  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10463428864
    via fontenelleforest

    "Spike is a fantastic educational raptor ambassador, and he does a great job getting on the glove for us—going to schools and nursing homes. And we hope to have him for many more years!"

  • 08
    coolthanksbro Caretakers: "This is spike" Spike: "the void...it calls to us" Caretaker: "He has a bit of brain damage."
    via coolthanksbro
  • 09
    beckytrudel "Doesn't have Typical wild awareness ".. neither do I spike, neither do it
    via beckytrudel
  • 10
    xshazbecrackinx "We wanna introduce you to Spike" Spike: e.O
    via xshazbecrackinx
  • 11
    elijah_s197 He looks like he needs to sneeze
    via elijah_s197
  • 12
    3dallarchains "hes just not all there" oh we can tell
    via 3dallarchains
  • 13
    unclekarly. "spike has no wild life awareness"
    via unclekarly
  • 14
    leahbelieva Never seen a smooth brain owl before
    via leahbelieva
  • 15
    k_russ10 Not a single thought behind those big moons for eyes
    via k_russ10
  • 16
    sxycaramellah Does Spike know he exists?
    via sxycaramellah
  • 17
    _emilylorraine _ ❤ "He does a good job gett'n on the glove" ♥That's more than we could ever ask of him
    via _emilylorraine_
  • 18
    just____jasper Spike faking it so he can live in a warm house + not some dumb hole in a tree. we see you Spike
    via just____jasper
  • 19
    kristamichele a little empty head angel
    via ___kristamichele

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

spike adopt cuddly wholesome viral videos adorable adoption snuggles cuteness foster fail foster Owl adopted snuggly cuddles wildlife viral animals
Scroll Down For The Next Article