Editor’s Note: The Fish Crow is part of the CROW CAW (Case A Week) series, which tells the stories of the patients at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel Island, the dangers they face, and how we can help protect all of our wildlife. Read previous cases here.
For the past three weeks, CROW has provided care for two fish crows! This species populates coastlines and wetlands, making up most of the crows we see on Sanibel. Although they look nearly identical to the American crow, fish crows are slightly smaller and have a distinct nasal call.
Both patients were brought in for displaying abnormal behavior. Crows are usually vocal, curious, and lively. However, Patient 25-106 was quiet and “hock sitting” –a crouched position which can indicate weakness or a neurologic condition. Similarly, our second patient (25-130) exhibited ataxia, which refers to poor muscle coordination and can sometimes be caused by head or spinal injuries.
In wildlife rehabilitation, it is not unusual for patients to show signs of injury without an obvious cause. In 2024, “unknown trauma” was the most frequent reason for admission to CROW. This is partly due to the survival instinct of wild animals to conceal injuries or vulnerabilities until their condition becomes critical. At CROW, we document as much information as possible about each patient’s history to help with accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Even without a complete history or explanation of the animal’s condition, we can provide effective treatment and supportive care based on our physical examinations and diagnostic testing. As a result, both hardy crows grew more alert and active. They explored our outdoor enclosures and flew very well.
We are excited to share that both patients were released back into the wild! They returned to Bonita Springs on February 2 after being medically cleared for release.
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