Ravens get special care also

There are a lot of ravens around this year. More than I've noticed in a long time. Maybe the cold weather has brought more of them closer to town. I drove down Northwoods Drive the other day and there was a raven on top of every street light on both sides of the street. They didn't leave a one open.

Ravens get into everything. I think they love the challenge of finding out what's inside of a black garbage bag. You'll see them at all of the fine restaurants, around back at the dumpsters. They've been known to make quite a mess sometimes.

This probably is what gets them into trouble. People take it into their own hands to handle a situation wrong. As with troublesome people, guns are not the answer. It's the law in Anchorage to secure your garbage from wildlife. If wildlife is getting into your garbage, maybe your not securing it properly.

Our raven to your left took a pellet to the left shoulder. We think he broke the bone upon landing after being hit. Dr Mike Riddle, DVM, of Diamond Animal Hospital is a volunteer at Bird TLC. He did the pin placement at The Pet Stop. This is his first and if you ask me, I'd tell you he did an excellent job. We are lucky to have him at our clinic.

Despite a duly reputation as crop stealers and dumpster divers, a study found that a family of crows devoured about forty thousnd grubs, caterpillars, army worms and other pests to farmers in just one nesting period. Also, they aid in keeping rodent populations down, and on a dubious note, help to keep our streets free of road-kill remains.

Ravens are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Individuals or organizations may be fined up to $5,000 and $10,000 respectively, and may face up to six months imprisonment for misdemeanor violations of the Act. Felony violations may result in fines of up to $250,000 for individuals, $500,000 for organizations, and up to two years imprisonment.

(Thanks to Cindy Palmatier for the operation picture)