Reflection Riding’s male Great Horned Owl, King, passed away June 30, 2023, after a brief battle with cancer.

King came to us as a brancher in the spring of 1993. This was a time in our history when we had a wildlife rehabilitation department at the Chattanooga Nature Center. King arrived with 2 siblings after their tree was felled and they were not reunited with their parents. One sibling passed away, one was rehabilitated and released, and King was released but kept returning. After several failed attempts at release, he was deemed non-releasable and given a home at the nature center. King was trained to be an animal ambassador and remained one of our premier ambassadors for his entire 30-year life. 

Photo Credit: Jim Pierson

King’s legacy is one that will continue to enrich the lives of all those who met and worked with him. As a staff member who worked with King for over 20 years, my teaching skills were honed while working with him as well as my husbandry and training skills. He taught me so many things about myself and allowed me into his world so I could share it with others.

Send your memories and photos of King and let us know how he impressed you to tish@reflectionriding.org. We would love to hear your stories!