Owl found in family Christmas tree

A Kentucky family were given quite the shock when the discovered an Eastern Screech Owl living in their Christmas tree.

The White family of Lexington in the US state brought home their tree at the end of November, but the owl was noticed until four days later.

The Eastern Screech Owl went undetected for four days (Bobby Hayes).

Michele White told WDKY-TV that her family has been buying real Christmas trees as part of a decades-long tradition, though they've never had a yuletide visitor quite like this bird. She the outlet she was "stunned" to learn about the owl.

Bobby Hayes, who owns a local carpet cleaning business and was working in the White family home while they were away, said he found the owl sitting on a lower limb of the tree on 27 November. When he approached, he said the owl moved further into the tree, but was spotted again several minutes later.

Hayes sent White a photo of the bird. White said she was surprised no one, including the family's three dogs, noticed the owl in the busy room of their house.

Hayes released the uninjured bird in the White family's backyard. It has not been seen since.