Injured Owl Rescue in Canmore Takes on Deeper Meaning for Exshaw Family

When Michael "Mico" Flores spotted a small owl struggling in the middle of the road near Canmore's Silvertip Trail, close to the Silvertip Golf Course, he knew something wasn't right.

The bird was jumping toward the other side of the road, prompting Flores to turn his vehicle around for a closer look.

"It was such a beautiful little creature, but it was clearly injured and needed help," Flores told Bow Valley Insider.

"I couldn't just leave it there. I felt that I had to do something."

What followed was a community effort to get the owl the care it needed, with residents offering advice, contacts and transportation to a wildlife rehabilitation facility.

Although the rescue did not have the outcome Flores and his wife had hoped for, the experience would eventually take on a deeper meaning for their family.

A Community Comes Together to Help

After finding the owl, Flores contacted his wife, Iryna, unsure of what to do next.

Iryna began calling wildlife authorities, first reaching out to Banff dispatch before being directed to Kananaskis.

Unable to reach someone who could immediately assist, she turned to local Facebook community groups for advice.

"I just did a few posts in the Canmore community Facebook pages, and then a lot of people honestly, a lot of people reached out back to me," she said.

Residents began sharing phone numbers, offering suggestions and helping the couple determine where the owl could receive treatment.

One woman, identified by Iryna as Rima, offered to help transport the bird to a wildlife rehabilitation facility.

She initially offered to keep the owl overnight but was later able to arrange for it to be accepted at a facility in Cochrane that same day.

"She drove right away to Cochrane to bring the owl to the shelter, which was amazing because we did not expect that," Iryna said.

Neither had experience handling injured wildlife, and with Iryna currently pregnant, the couple was also concerned about bringing the animal into their home.

"It was the most stressful part because we were like, what should we do?" she recalled.

The owl was expected to be transferred to a rehabilitation centre near Calgary for further treatment.

Hoping for a Recovery

In the days following the rescue, the couple learned the owl had suffered internal bleeding and an injury near its eye, possibly after being struck by a vehicle.

Despite receiving food, fluids and medication for severe dehydration and its injuries, the owl died several days later.

"It was very sad and heartbreaking," Iryna said. "Everyone was hoping since we came there on time, everything could go much smoother."

For Flores, the goal had always been to give the owl a chance to survive.

"At that moment, I wasn't thinking about social media getting attention or anything like that," he said.

"I just wanted to give that little owl a chance to survive."

What to Do if You Find Injured Wildlife

While the Flores family's experience highlights how residents can work together to help wildlife, experts encourage people to seek professional advice before intervening.

The Government of Alberta generally recommends leaving injured or potentially orphaned wildlife alone, as handling wild animals can cause additional stress or injury.

Residents who believe an animal needs assistance can contact a Fish and Wildlife office or a licensed wildlife rehabilitation organization for guidance.

The Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation, which serves southern Alberta, operates a wildlife hotline at 403-946-2361.

The organization can help determine whether an animal needs intervention and advise residents on the safest next steps.

How the Rescue Became Personal

For Flores, the attention surrounding the owl rescue has also brought awareness to a difficult situation facing his family.

His 14-year-old son, Neyo, is living with a serious lung condition that has severely damaged his lungs, according to Flores.

Neyo currently relies on supplemental oxygen, and doctors are assessing whether he will need a double lung transplant in Toronto.

"As his father, it's one of the hardest things I've ever had to face," Flores said.

"I came to Canada hoping to build a better future for my family, but I never imagined that one day my son would be facing something this serious."

Flores said watching his son struggle with his health has been heartbreaking.

"He deserves to enjoy his childhood, go to school, spend time with his friends and live without constantly worrying about his breathing."

Iryna said the family is preparing for the possibility that Neyo could spend approximately a year in Toronto for surgery and rehabilitation.

Although the transplant surgery would be covered, the family anticipates significant expenses related to travel, accommodation, everyday living costs and lost income.

They have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover those expenses.

Flores recalled a conversation with a coworker who offered a different perspective on the owl rescue.

"When she heard about everything that happened, she told me that maybe that little owl was my spiritual owl," he said.

"I didn't really understand what she meant at first. But when I started thinking about it, it touched my heart."

Flores, who describes himself as a person of faith, said the experience has left him reflecting on the connection between the owl rescue and his family.

"I don't know if that owl was a sign or just a coincidence," he said.

What he does know, he explained, is that his efforts to save the owl have helped connect him with people who want to support his son.

As he reflected on the experience, Flores became emotional.

"That little owl may no longer be here, but its story continues to bring something positive into our lives," Flores said.

"And for me, that's something really special."