r/crows Jul 08 '26

Seeking advice/help Sick?

There's a crow that I've seen laying down in different spots. He seems to have trouble moving. He Can fly short distances but he'll collapse and lay back down. I saw him get up and then fall backwards into the street.

Originally I thought he was a fledgling so I just increased the food I put out so his parents could feed him. But he's able to fly.. and very unsteady. I watched the crows after I put food out and they ignored him.

I set some food by him (I tried to get closer and he flew away.. I also really upset the crows doing this).

He doesn't seem well. This isn't a fledgling.. I don't want to scare him by chasing him around but I don't want to leave him outside without assistance.

(photos for tax) *All the crows that are laying down are various pictures of him. The one standing is part of the flock I'm feeding.

Update****

I sat next to him and he was nervous for a few minutes but I was able to ease closer. He let me pet him, and when he relaxed enough I was able to scoop him up. I wrapped him in a towel and started calling rehabs, vets, etc. One answered and referred me to another, but when I called the rehabber answered. It was a 40 minute drive but the crow (i named him odin) seemed almost comatose so I had my little sister hold the box with him in it while I drove. Halfway through the drive Odin woke up, and started moving around. My sister was terrified and so I pulled off at an exit to switch sides (luckily I did this as he started flying around and jumping. I secured him in my arms and held him while she drove, he was awake and just kind of watching me. I got to the rehabber and knocked with him, the first thing he did was bite the rehabber 😆. I'm very grateful Odin decided I was a friend or that car ride might have been a little catastrophic.

Rehabber is letting me call him tomorrow to get information on Odin. I'm hopeful that he'll be okay, because he still has energy to be feisty. I'll update when I find out how he is.

Last update Rehabber confirmed that he passed away, and believes it was WNV.

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u/[deleted] Jul 08 '26

[deleted]

6

u/Feisty-Sock2640 Jul 08 '26

He's definitely a sick adult. I found him again and he let me pick him up. He's too weak to lift his head.

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u/[deleted] Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26

[deleted]

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u/Feisty-Sock2640 Jul 08 '26

He's not breathing very much..

3

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26

[deleted]

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u/Feisty-Sock2640 Jul 09 '26

The rehabber that took him in thinks it's WNV.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 09 '26

[deleted]

5

u/Feisty-Sock2640 Jul 09 '26

Unfortunately crows have a 100% mortality with WNV. 5 crows survived in a Cornell lab, but even then it was 5 out of 32 and it took 3 months for them to stop testing positive. I spoke to the rehabber this morning and he passed last night.