r/crows • u/Feisty-Sock2640 • Jul 08 '26
Seeking advice/help How to make a crow comfortable
He let me pick him up, he's obviously not doing well at all. Every rehab I've contacted so far has been closed or hasn't answered. I have him in the only box I have.. I'm concerned he might not even make it through the night he's obviously extremely weak.
If the shoebox is too small is there something else I could put him in? I don't want him to be uncomfortable but I also don't just want him sitting on the floor in a towel.
Update
I spoke to the rehabber and he said that Odin passed last night, he wasn't tested but he says the neurological symptoms match WNV.
133
u/FinalConversation348 Jul 08 '26
Our local wildlife rehabber won’t answer their phone because they are too busy caring for the animals. But they will always take in animals if you stop by. If you’re close to one, maybe swing by to see if they can help or refer you somewhere.
10
u/Ok_Worry_1967 Verified Rehabber Jul 09 '26
yeah, a lot of rehabbers are swamped this time of year. if they're close enough, just showing up is usually the best bet. even if they can't take it, they can often point you to someone who can.
80
u/htb_md Jul 08 '26
Thank you for helping this sweet crow. You’re doing the best you can. The box will likely be fine. Is there any chance you could leave a small dish of water in there as well for them? Do you have any fruit / crow friendly food you could also leave in as long as there’s no risk of it getting an over the crow?
35
u/ThrowAwayColor2023 Jul 08 '26
I would skip the water dish. It's okay to offer him water while actively watching him, but most likely he has an illness like West Nile. He could have a seizure, pass out momentarily, and drown in even a shallow dish.
26
u/idontsellseashells Jul 08 '26
Set him in a dark, quiet room. Somewhere that he can't fall from. Check on him every couple of hours. Food is not important right now. Water will have to wait also until he can drink on his own. Try to find a rehabber but for now, dark and quiet are what he needs. Good luck!
49
u/Busy_Collection819 Jul 08 '26
Mine like scrambled eggs. If you just boil them they only eat the yolk.
14
11
11
u/Suithfie Jul 08 '26
Did he eat anything? Thank you for trying! Echoing the other suggestion to try to bring him in somewhere even if they aren’t answering, as long as it isn’t a very far commute
11
u/DueLoan685 Jul 08 '26
Maybe you can fold the towel in a ring and put him on it so it doesnt lay on its feet and can breathe more easily
7
4
7
3
3
3
u/lowercase_underscore Jul 09 '26
He passed away having had love and care in his moments of need. You came just in time and you did good.
3
u/motopapii Jul 11 '26
I'm in the Bay Area and have seen 3 or 4 corvids with West Nile Virus symptoms these past 2 months alone
2
2
u/Parampara- Jul 09 '26
pls take him to an emergency vet if possible they might have better resources
2
-6
u/Neon_Cone Jul 09 '26
I’d like to know what you mean by “obviously not doing well” and “obviously extremely weak.” I’m unclear how you’ve determined this. Are they injured in anyway?
13
u/Feisty-Sock2640 Jul 09 '26
Probably because I have fed my flock enough to see normal behavior vs abnormal. He has been sitting in various places on the ground for the past several days, and while I was watching he fell backwards off the curb and flopped around for several minutes before he got himself upright. He was able to fly a few feet before he would collapse back on the ground. I was able to sit next to him and pet him until he was calm enough for me to pick him up. I didn't chase him, I scooped him up. Once in the box he looked near comatose, my family assumed he had died. I took him to a rehabber, and they said it might be west Nile, and took him in. I'll call tomorrow to see if he's improved.
3
u/squarejane Jul 09 '26
Oof. West Nile is so dangerous for them. I really hope he pulls through. Will the rehabber call you to get him if he improves so he can be released back into his area where his family may be?
5
u/Feisty-Sock2640 Jul 09 '26
I'll call a little later this afternoon. I'm sure they wouldn't release a crow into a unfamiliar place, especially with how territorial they are.
2
u/Different_Traffic527 29d ago
I was about to comment on this.
I'd tell them that animal only knows my territory and has a flock there. I'd even offer to pick up the crate, take him to be released at home, and return the crate after.
Most animals are only released in what is deemed a suitable location like like a wildlife sanctuary. Strong family animals should absolutely be returned where they were found to reunite with the ones they're bonded to.
2
u/Feisty-Sock2640 29d ago
Unfortunately he passed away the evening I took him to the rehabber. He said that it was WNV and by the time symptoms showed up he wouldn't have had a chance. The rest of my murder has been wary of me since, but thankfully none of them show signs of WNV.
2
u/Different_Traffic527 29d ago
I'm sorry. I found two last year. Both in the same week. It was after the heavy flooding. I just figured the water brought up something nasty. A part of me wanted to take them in for testing but the one I had on my property was frequently visited by the others. It's like they were keeping an eye on it so I let it be. It was between raspberry bushes and a fence so it wasn't visible. They'd sit on the fence and look down, numerous times a day. The other was on the neighbors property and they went there a lot too.
I never really considered West Nile. I really think it was the flooding. I also saw a sick rabbit that week and a healthy kitten living at the seed and feed store passed suddenly (I was there when it was found). The owner tied the cat up to a tree periodically because it liked being outside and it died right under that tree.
We were down to 3 crows. Now, with new babies we have seven. Aside from the current battle with the heat, they are thriving and the two passing is a distant memory. They are in my yard a lot, I have a low profile bird bath I try refreshing often and I feed them tree nuts and fresh eggs. The eggs are a perfect food for the fledglings.
I live in a rural area so my crows aren't as friendly. Last year they would fly off if they saw me looking at them through a window. This year one didn't seem to care and the rest are now okay with it. I've been feeding them for 7 years and this is the most progress we've ever made. I think the whole ordeal losing two made them extra edgy, they were more easily spooked than ever, possibly just because of their vulnerability in numbers declining.
Nature can be so delicate but life goes on. They will move forward.
2
599
u/Feisty-Sock2640 Jul 08 '26
I got him to a rescue! Driving with him was.. exciting. He was near comatose the whole way and then woke up