May 25 (UPI) -- A spontaneously formed rescue team in Canada helped save a pair of orphaned moose calves after their mother was hit by a vehicle.

Ospika Animal Hospital in Prince George, British Columbia shared photos of the two baby moose who were rescued by members of the UNBC Moose Capture team days after their mother was killed.


"They then brought them to us and Dr. McLachlan examined them and administered fluids to ensure they were healthy enough to travel," the hospital said.

The impromptu rescue began when University of Northern B.C. instructor Roy Rea received a text from Angelika Langen of the Northern Lights Wildlife Society informing him of the distressed moose calves.

"I noticed along the side of the road in the area a big blood spatter and a bunch of pieces from a car," Rea told the CBC. "I thought to myself, 'uh oh, if these calves have been without their mom for a couple of days they're gonna be in real dire straits.'"

One of Rea's former students was the one who originally reported the orphaned moose and she had left a blue flagging ribbon where she had last seen them.

As Rea began searching for the moose Joe Myatovic, a passing motorist, joined Rea in the search and called his brother Phillip to help.

Eventually Myatovic's brother found the moose in poor condition, but Rea provided hope that they might be ok.

"He said 'I found [them], and I think one of them is dead — the other is very weak,'" Rea said. "I raced up... and I said 'Philip, I think both of them are actually still alive.'"

Rea and the brothers drove then delivered the animals to the hospital where they began their road to recovery.

"They're very healthy and happy. The future looks really bright for them," Rea said. "Each one of these little calves is worth their weight in gold."

After their trip to the hospital the calves were sent to Northern Lights Wildlife Society where they are expected to make a full recovery and will be released back into the wild when they are old enough.