To the Editor:

There’s a magic about certain wild animals. Owls are some of the most captivating birds. And snowy owls, like Hedwig in the Harry Potter movies, may be the most captivating of all owls. Their pure white, almost angelic feathering gives them a mystical appearance. Think you have to go to the movies to see one of these? Not so.

A debilitated snowy owl attracted quite a crowd near the intersection of First and Roosevelt streets in DeKalb on Tuesday, Nov. 20. That’s right. A Hedwig look-alike may have flown right over your backyard a couple of weeks ago. These experiences are rare and should be treasured. I’m certain that the people who gathered at that intersection a couple of weeks ago will surely remember the day they saw the snowy owl in DeKalb.