Dayna Slater, the founder of Good Caws Crow Rescue in Prince George, B.C., marvels at a crow named Riven who has managed to evade capture despite having half of her face torn off. Slater commends Riven as a resilient and strong-willed bird, describing her as a “boss.” Riven, whose name means split or ruptured, was first noticed in early March with the lower half of her beak hanging off, raising concerns about her ability to eat and groom.
Efforts were made by volunteers to attract Riven with food for potential repair and rehabilitation. However, Riven became wary of the rescue attempts and refused to be captured. Therefore, the rescuers decided to observe her from a distance. Despite her broken beak, which is expected to fall off soon, recent videos show Riven adapting by using the remaining part as a scoop to eat, leaning to the side to allow food to go down.
Slater noted that Riven’s feathers are in good condition, indicating that she has either learned to preen herself or is being preened by her family. The rescue team will continue monitoring Riven to ensure her well-being, especially as the seasons change. Slater expressed amazement at Riven’s resilience, highlighting how humans would require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation for a similar injury, while Riven has managed to cope on her own.
