Dayna Slater, the founder of Good Caws Crow Rescue in Prince George, B.C., is amazed by a crow named Riven who has managed to evade capture despite having half of her face ripped off. Riven, whose name means split or ruptured, came to the attention of volunteers in early March when they noticed the bottom half of her beak was hanging off, raising concerns about her ability to feed and groom herself.
Efforts were made to lure Riven with food for potential repair and rehabilitation, but she quickly caught on and avoided capture. Slater explained that they decided to observe her from a distance as Riven wasn’t receptive to their assistance. Recent videos show that despite her dangling beak, Riven has adapted by using the nub as a scoop and tilting her head to aid in eating.
Slater noted that Riven’s feathers are in good condition, indicating that she may have learned to preen herself or her family is assisting her. Good Caws Crow Rescue will continue monitoring Riven to ensure her well-being, especially as the seasons change. Slater expressed astonishment at Riven’s resilience, highlighting that most people would require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation for a similar injury, unlike the crow who has managed to cope without intervention.