Common ravens find companionship while receiving rehabilitation

By Director of Animal Care, Dr. Duane Tom

From the Westside of Los Angeles came a Common Raven rescued as a nestling after dangling from a billboard sign for 2 days. Cord wrapped around his left leg for so long that two of his toes died off and had to be amputated. His left wing injured from lack of blood supply and deep wounds that resulted in him losing all his primary flight feathers on that wing.
From the east end of the San Fernando Valley came another Common Raven. Rescued after being electrocuted and burning all her feathers to a crisp. Her right her leg burnt so horribly that the skin sloughed off. She was so badly injured that no raven would ever look at her the same way.
Not knowing the other Raven was there, they each underwent separate treatments in California Wildlife Center’s Animal Care Hospital for over a month. The Raven from the Westside continued to be cared for his toes and wounds, while the electrocuted bird waited for her wounds to heal so that she could get all all 60 of her feathers imped in order to fly again. About two months in, against what had seemed like unsurmountable odds, both had sufficiently healed so that they could be moved out to a flight enclosure together. Neither could initially fly as their injuries healed. Both Ravens became familiar with each other on the ground of the enclosure.
Over the next few months they slowly regained their ability to fly as their bonding continued. Each bird could be seen always following each other around the enclosure, eating together, and perching together. In early November, before the cold of winter lay its grasp over the City of Angels, the electrocuted raven received her final medical treatment, having her tail feathers imped to help her stop and turn during her now vigorous flights.
Less than a week later, these 2 star-crossed ravens were released together in Wilacre Park, Studio City. With both birds following each other out of the crate for their flights back into the wild.