Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: Common Raven

This raven had been shot not once, but twice.

This beautiful Common Raven came to our Center earlier this week after being found down and unable to fly.

On examination, our veterinary team found a bird in very poor condition. The raven was emaciated and dehydrated, with sores along the keel from being down for an extended period. Severe trauma to the right side of the face had left the bird completely blind in that eye, and neurological signs suggested significant additional injury.

Sadly, the prognosis for recovery was extremely poor, and the raven was humanely euthanized to prevent further suffering.

But one small wound on the back of the bird’s head caught our veterinary team’s attention.

Gunshot wounds can be surprisingly difficult to see. Small entry or exit wounds often close quickly, meaning an animal may arrive days later with serious internal injuries but little visible evidence of what caused them. Because this wound looked suspicious, our team took post-mortem radiographs.

Those radiographs revealed that this raven had been shot not once, but on two separate occasions.

Several fresh lead pellets, likely birdshot, were visible near the raven’s right wrist and left knee. We suspect the bird was shot while in flight and fell as a result, causing the severe head and eye trauma we observed.

But the radiographs also revealed something else: an older pellet near the lower neck, surrounded by a granuloma.

A granuloma is the body’s way of walling off a foreign object. Birds can be remarkably good at encapsulating objects such as pellets within muscle tissue.

The amount of healing around this pellet suggests that the first shooting may have occurred months or even years ago.

In other words, this raven had been shot before, survived, healed, and likely went on living normally for a significant period of time. Then it was shot again.

Common Ravens are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and there is no legal hunting season for ravens in Virginia. This case has been reported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, and law enforcement officers are investigating.

For our staff, this patient was also an important reminder of how much information can be hidden beneath the surface. A tiny, healing wound was the only external clue, but following that clue with radiographs allowed us to better understand what happened to this bird and provide evidence for an investigation.

If you witness someone shooting or otherwise illegally harming protected wildlife, please report it. In Virginia, wildlife crimes can be reported to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources at wildcrime@dwr.virginia.gov. Suspected crimes involving federally protected birds can also be reported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at fws_tips@fws.gov.

Sometimes the injuries our patients carry tell us more than what happened to them in the hours before they arrived. In this raven’s case, they told a story spanning potentially years, and showed just how much this bird had already survived.

Looking for an easy way to help native wildlife? Become a monthly BRWC donor! For as little as $5/month, you can provide year-round, sustainable support that helps us fulfill our mission.