LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A power line and a horde of ravens almost spelled death for an owl in Fort Simpson before help arrived.

Roy Chenard, the general manager for Nogha Enterprises Ltd., was leaving the Liidlii Kue First Nation's parking lot on Jan. 16 when he saw a common sight, a flock of ravens on the road. At first glance the group of approximately 25 birds seemed to be fighting over a piece of garbage, said Chenard. When Chenard got closer he realized the ravens weren't focused on garbage, but on a small animal.

A northern hawk owl stares inquisitively out between the bars of a dog kennel where it was being held prior to release by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Fort Simpson. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Chenard hurried over to the flock and waved his arms to clear the ravens away leaving behind a small owl. Picking up the owl he carried it into the band office. Surprisingly it didn't resist, maybe because it was stunned, he said.

"They would have killed it in a short time," said Chenard about the ravens.

Inside the office people assumed it was an owlet, or immature owl.

"I was quite pleased with myself for saving its life," he said.

Care of the owl was quickly taken over by Carl Lafferty, a renewable resources officer, who was alerted of the bird from a concerned citizen who saw it on the road. Lafferty placed the owl in a sack used to transport furs and took it to the village's Environment and Natural Resources compound.

The owl was housed in a darkened dog kennel and kept overnight for observation and so it could be examined by the regional biologist.

"It was looking pretty alert," Lafferty said.

It quickly became apparent the owl wasn't young at all.

"It was a full grown owl," said Lafferty.

The owl was identified as a northern hawk owl, a species that lives in the muskegs of northern Canada.

"It's common owl," said Nic Larter, the regional biologist.

Northern hawk owls are the largest of the small owl species measuring 14 inches long with a 33-inch wingspan. Because the owl has a long tail and flies with bent wings it can be mistaken for a falcon while in the air, Larter said.

A collision with a power line might have stunned the owl and knocked it to the ground where the ravens found it, said Lafferty. Lafferty has seen ravens attack other birds in distress.

After being kept for the night the owl was released on Thursday afternoon by George Tsetso and Kelly Pennycook approximately 40 kilometres north of Fort Simpson on Highway 1.

When the cage door was opened the owl stood looking outside for awhile before flying out and landing in a nearby tree, said Tsetso.

Having a happy ending is great because sometimes injuries to birds are too severe and they have to be put down, said Lafferty.

Despite the positive outcome for this owl, Lafferty is cautioning other residents against handling wild animals and birds.

"When people take matters into their own hands they could be risking injury," Lafferty said.

In the case of birds, ENR staff use a large dip net so they don't cause the bird any more harm and don't risk harm to themselves. Owls have sharp talons that can harbour bacteria. A cut from a talon could result in an infection, said Lafferty.

"If you do find wildlife that's in distress call us," Lafferty said.