Whoooo’s there?
That bump in the night was not the intruder these Canadian homeowners thought, although it could be described as a menacing figure. In fact, it was an owl named Winky who ruffled some feathers, breaking into and destroying two homes.
Standing only 9 inches tall and weighing a mere 1.7 pounds, Winky may be small, but he’s certainly mighty.
A wealthy homeowner in Oak Bay, British Columbia, called police officers to her “upscale neighborhood” last week at 4 a.m., claiming the owl had singlehandedly broken into her high-end home, according to CTV News.
Winky, named after his one squinting eye, was caught in the act, photographed with his talons digging into “a very expensive leather couch.” Despite the officers’ best efforts, he wasn’t deterred by jabbing brooms, nor did he wish to be swaddled in a blanket.
Eventually, Winky waltzed out the patio doors all by himself, gone in the wink of an eye.
But that wasn’t the last time the fowl struck. On Sunday, Oak Bay authorities were notified he was wreaking havoc once again, tearing photos from walls, shattering home decor and crashing into lamps and vases.
By the time officers arrived on the scene, Winky was perched on a chandelier, watching the humans clean his mess. But the trespasser wasn’t completely owl-ful — he allowed people to pet him before flying the coop, fleeing the scene of the crime.
While there’s no knowing if Winky will strike again — after all, third time’s the charm — the bird caused quite the hoot that Oak Bay residents will never forget.