A young snowy owl was spotted in McHenry County earlier this month before being found dead early Tuesday morning in McHenry after being hit by a vehicle. | Photo: Justine Neslund / Out of the Wild by Justine

A rare snowy owl that made an appearance in McHenry County this month has been found dead in McHenry after it was apparently hit by a vehicle.

McHenry Police Department Public Affairs Officer Ashley O’Herron said midnight shift officers responded to a report of a dead bird on Tuesday morning.

Officers found a snowy owl deceased on the side of the road near Crystal Lake Road and Bull Valley Road.

The bird, which was taken to a veterinarian’s office, was found near The Church of Holy Apostles.

A young snowy owl was spotted in McHenry County earlier this month before being found dead early Tuesday morning in McHenry after being hit by a vehicle. | Photo: Justine Neslund / Out of the Wild by Justine

O’Herron said it appears the owl was hit by a vehicle but no vehicle was found near the bird.

Additional information was not available as police are not investigating it.

The snowy owl was first spotted in McHenry County earlier this month, drawing many onlookers and photographers.

Project Snowstorm said the owl was a young male that was hatched during the summer of this year.

[Suggested Article]  Fire engulfs shed before spreading to house, leaving it damaged in Mundelein
A young snowy owl was spotted in McHenry County earlier this month before being found dead early Tuesday morning in McHenry after being hit by a vehicle. | Photo: Justine Neslund / Out of the Wild by Justine

Justine Neslund told Lake and McHenry County Scanner she found out about the bird sighting from a local birding online chat forum.

She said the owl was different than other snowy owls she had previously photographed. Most instantly fly away when being photographed but he did not.

Neslund said she was trying to work with local businesses in the McHenry area to remove bait boxes since the owls can eat mice from them and die.

“As wildlife photographers we know the dangers of this as we have seen countless Owl species die a horrible death because of them. It’s everywhere and causing incredible harm,” she said.

Neslund also said that traffic collisions are a common cause of death.

She said that she was “heartbroken” to learn of the owl’s death on Tuesday.