Mountie, mom and kids rescue owl

A majestic barred owl is once again soaring through the forests of Sechelt, thanks to the efforts of a Sunshine Coast Mountie, a mother and her kids.

Const. Karen Whitby was on patrol on Sechelt Inlet Road around 6 p.m. on Nov. 11 when she saw something sitting in the middle of the road. Upon closer inspection, Whitby saw that it was an owl – unconscious but seemingly uninjured. Shortly after stopping, Megan Kelso and her two children, Kalea and Cody, also stopped and offered to help. Megan happened to have a suitable box in her vehicle, so the owl was gently scooped up and placed in the box, in preparation for transport to the Gibsons Wildlife Rehab Centre.

Whitby – not having dealt with an unconscious owl before – did not consider that the owl may come to during the drive to Gibsons. Halfway through the trip, the owl had a sudden sense of renewed vitality and decided it no longer wanted to remain in the box. Without warning it burst out of the box, and Whitby – not having driven at highway speeds with a flustered owl flapping about in a confined space – did her best to ensure they both arrived safely at the wildlife centre.

Irene Davy at the Gibsons Wildlife Centre said that “it appeared the owl had been stunned after being hit by a car, and may have suffered a concussion. Initially one of its eyes stayed closed, which was kind of funny, because when it blinked its other eye, it always looked like it was winking at us.”

After being cared for over a 10-day period, the owl recovered fully and was able to open both eyes again. It was released back into the wild in the same location it was found.

“I’m so thankful everything turned out well,” Whitby said. “It was great that Megan and her kids just happened to come by with a box, and Clint and Irene at the Gibsons Wildlife Rehab Centre are such a great resource for our community.”

After the rescue, Megan, Kalea and Cody presented Whitby with a giant thank-you card for helping to save the owl. To learn more about the Wildlife Rehab Centre, see www.gibsonswildliferehabcentre.org

And next time you’re walking through the forests of Sechelt, keep an eye to the treetops for an owl perched high above ... whoo knows, it may even wink at you.

– Sunshine Coast RCMP