Saving raptors has become one of Thor Froslev's favourite things.
"It feels good every time," he says.
And last week, the local eagle hospital builder got to do just that thanks to a few other animal lover.
On Friday (July 9), locals out for a walk along Government Road in Brackendale spotted a large barred owl lying the middle of the street next to the Squamish Cemetary.
"It looked like it got hit by a car, but no one knew what happened to him," said passerby Lee Bradford.
A woman on a bicycle soon rode up and suggested contacting Froslev, who had built a tower behind his business, the Brackendale Art Gallery, to shelter and tend to injured or sick eagles.
Once told of the situation, Froslev jumped into his truck and got to the scene equipped with proper gloves needed to pick up the large, taloned bird.
"It's an animal in need, so I get in my truck and do the job," said Froslev.
And he is the perfect man for the job, having completed an intensive training course on rescuing raptors at Bainbridge Island's International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council in Washington State along with his wife Dorte.
"You learn how to examine the birds and how to feed them with a tube and generally look after them," he said.
Birds with minor injuries are tended to and released, while more severely injured birds are sent to a rehabilitation centre in the Lower Mainland.
Froslev's examination of the owl revealed no broken bones, no blood and one "wonky" eye.
"Nobody is going to repair an eye," he said.
So he kept it sheltered for a few days, and when the owl began showing signs that it could hunt again, Froslev decided it was ready to return to its habitat.
"I saw a Fransiscan on the ground right next to the cage and the owl was right on the wire ready to take this bird. She was just so focused. So I thought well, it's about time we let her go."
On Sunday (July 11), Froslev and two other nature lovers, among them District of Squamish councillor Patricia Heintzman, took the bird to the site of the annual Brackendale Fall Fair grounds and released it.
"Although we weren't sure how well his injured eye worked, he looked strong and healthy as he flew up into the trees without incident, perched and started looking around for food," said Heintzman.
Froslev said the sight pleased him immensely.
"I was happy because although the eye was a bit wonky when I got it, it knows how to take care of itself."
He also encourages locals to call him at the Brackendale Art Gallery if they spot any raptors in trouble. But, he said, he doesn't tend to injured crows because he can't take the time to feed them every 15 minutes, as they require.
"I tell people when they find a crow 'You got a pet.'"
