A woman is desperately searching for her beloved family pet having come home to find its enclosure empty.  

Claire Steward's mum lives in Cadge Road, Earlham with her barn owl, Storm.  

But on Thursday when she returned home she was shocked to find an aviary door wide open and Storm nowhere to be seen.  

Norwich Evening News: Storm is just 7 months old so the family are keen to have him home Storm is just 7 months old so the family are keen to have him home (Image: Claire Steward)

The young bird is only seven months old so the family are keen to have him back home.  

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Claire said: “It was the door inside the aviary which was open, and mum never used that door. 

“But my mum and her grandchildren are really upset, to be honest my mum is heartbroken.”  

Storm is expected to be quite nervous as he has bonded with Claire's mother and the extended family but will be uneasy around lots of strangers so may not be easy to approach.  

However, Claire added: “Storm is ringed so if found we can easily check to see if the bird is my mum's.” 

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The family are unsure if the owl simply escaped or was stolen but with the unused door being open, the family fear the worst.  

Norwich Evening News: An unused aviary door was opened which has led the family to worry he has been stolen An unused aviary door was opened which has led the family to worry he has been stolen (Image: Claire Steward)

If Storm is spotted or found the family has asked for Hallswood Animal Sanctuary or Phoenix Rescue to be contacted.  

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The Barn Owl Trust does not believe the birds make for good pets, in part due to sharp talons and some antisocial behaviours.

The charity says the most accurate survey of wild numbers in the mid-90s found almost 4,000 pairs in the UK but that their annual report in 2022 found 1,800 active nests.

However, birds are popular pets and towards the end of last year, a trio of Eurasian Eagle owls were spotted in Norwich and were believed to have escaped city aviaries.