As I was driving home from my workout this morning, I came upon a dead crow in the middle of my lane. I pulled up and stopped beside it. It had evidently been hit by a car but you wouldn't know it from looking; it was in perfect condition. His or her companions were cawing overhead even before I had stopped the car.

Since I didn't want it to be mangled by passing cars, I carefully picked it up (with the finest respect in consideration of its companions around me) and laid it carefully down in the grass beyond the shoulder. It was still warm.

Corvids are smart creatures. I've seen them before hang around for long periods of time after seeing one of their own fall. Anyone have similar experiences?


Carl Haynie

Sammamish, WA