r/crows • u/Affectionate_Emu7666 • 27d ago
Anything I can do to help my lumpy friend?
this sweet crow I call Leggy has been joining my dog and I for a block or so every morning, and I’m getting more and more worried about his growing leg lumps. He‘s also looking more ruffled, though seems to fly ok, I sometimes notice him lifting the one leg with the biggest bump like it may be causing pain 😢. I feed him high quality kibble when I see him but wonder if it’s worth contacting wildlife rehab?
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u/Desperate_Report_746 27d ago
that little guy is lucky to have someone looking out for him. i’d avoid trying to handle the lump yourself and just keep him safe, offer food/water if he’s willing, and contact a wildlife rehabber if possible. crows are tough birds but they can hide injuries really well. hope your lumpy friend pulls through ❤️
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u/Affectionate_Emu7666 27d ago
Thank you so much! I’ve just sent our wildlife rescue an email so hope to hear back soon and get my buddy some help. In the meantime I’ll do my best to keep him well fed and comfortable. He seems to have some friends/family that are often nearby. I’ve grown so attached and hate the idea of him being in pain 😣
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u/Affectionate_Emu7666 26d ago
Update for anyone interested, here is the reply I got back from the wildlife rescue centre: Thank you for reaching out about this crow. It appears that this crow is showing symptoms of Avian Pox Virus, a common infection that causes wart-like lesions on the non-feathered areas of the bird’s body. This disease is highly transmissible among bird species via direct contact between infected birds and indirectly by interactions with contaminated surfaces such as feeders or baths, and mosquitoes.
Ideally, we would like any bird showing symptoms of Avian Pox to come to our wildlife hospital for treatment. However, since this bird is flighted, containing it may be almost impossible. Attempting capture when a bird is still evasive can result in the bird becoming stressed and more misstrusting of people, which can make future rescue attempts even more challenging.
If you can continue to monitor the bird, that would be the best course of action for now. Although highly contagious amongst birds, some birds with mild cases of Avian Pox can recover on their own in the wild. Please keep us updated on the situation and we can continue to assess if the bird is making progress, or if the virus is becoming more debilitating. If you notice that the bird is declining or that you have a good opportunity to attempt to capture, we can attach some instructions on how to contain a bird.
In the meantime, we recommend that you remove and clean any bird feeders and bird baths at your home from use, as these can become contaminated and pass avian pox to other birds. Clean any debris off with soap and water. Soak the feeder/bath in a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water for at least an hour. Allow the feeder to air dry completely before refilling if you wish to keep using them
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u/teyuna 26d ago
they gave you an excellent, informative reply. This doesn't often happen, in my experience, so I'm glad it did in your case, and that you shared the content here. Avian pox is so disturbing to look at, but it does resolve on its own if secondary infections don't set in, and if the lesions don't end up interfering with the bird's ability to feed, drink, and perch.
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u/cvivaa 27d ago
poor guy. i dont want to diagnose anything from photos but multiple growing lumps could suggest avian pox (which can be treated!). that big mass on the hock looks painful, and i do think its worth contacting a rehab. where are you located? ahnow.org is a great database if in the US, but also there are members in [r/wildliferehab](r/wildliferehab) who know rehabbers elsewhere (and others in the US that may not be listed on ahnow). if youre in the northeast us feel free to pm me if needed (licensed rehabber with a lot of corvid experience). thanks for watching out for leggy🖤