Expert: Julia Booth - 9/10/2008

Question
I have a young crow(this springs baby) that I am trying to find a rehab to take it to. My neighbors found him this spring and raised him in a pen in their backyard but they moved about a week ago and left him. I have taken him in but I know I cannot keep him, this is just temporary as the animal control told me straight out they would just put him down. He seems to have stayed pretty much wild as he won't let us closer then about 5 feet, but I am afraid if I just release him myself he may not make it. Can you point me the right direction on this one? I am located in Hemet, CA and can drive him up to a hour away from me.

Answer
This is the most up to date rehab directory I know of. There are a number listed for California. You can pick the one closest to you.

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contactA.htm

I rehabilatated a crow when I was in high school and just ended up taking him to the regional park where I worked. It's illegal, I know. But it was also illegal to keep him. So I was in a quandary.

Crows/Ravens are VERY possessive of people that take care of them. It's best to find a proper home for him before he gets too attached, if he hasn't already. Just the fact that he's imprinted with humans makes it unlikely that he will be released back into the wild by whomever takes him off your hands. My crow was an adult that became injured, so he did okay with the release. Crows born in captivity generally do not.

Hope this helps. If you can't find one on there that works, get back to me and maybe San Bernadino Dept of Fish and Game can help.

Julia