CROWS SOMETIMES EAT ROADKILL

Dr. James J. S. Johnson

Consider the ravens [κορακας], for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?  (Luke 12:24)

AMERICAN CROW (Wikipedia photo credit)

Ever seen a crow [Corvus brachyrhynchos] on a road, struggling to consume roadkill?  Yesterday I approached a crow in the road, as I was commuting—the crow was struggling to pull edible portions of meat from roadkill—it looked like a squirrel. 

CROW EATING SQUIRREL ROADKILL
r/crowbro / reddit.com photo credit

Like the Holy Land’s ravens [Corvus corax] who are mentioned by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (in Luke 12:24), crows are famously opportunistic eaters – and their potential food sources include the cadavers of dead rodents, such as squirrels who (sadly) become roadkill in tree-populated suburban streets. 

AMERICAN CROW
(J. J. Audubon painting / public domain)

The crow that I saw, yesterday morning, was struggling so, to get some edible parts of the roadkill, that he (or she) did not see my car approaching—which could result in the roadkill-eating crow himself (or herself) soon becoming another example of roadkill! 

So, of course, I tooted my car’s horn, with the jolting noise scaring the crow – so the crow quickly (and safely) flew away, thus escaping a roadkill fate. After my car passed through that part of the boulevard, happily, the hungry (and still living) crow returned to its roadkill meal. 

Sometimes a little “beep, beep” is all that is needed to “save the day” (for a crow)!

CROWS EATING ROADKILL
WarangaUnitingChurches.net.au photo credit

So, with that incident in mind, here is a limerick:

WHEN EATING ROADKILL, DON’T BECOME ROADKILL YOURSELF

While I drove, one day, on a street

I neared a crow, trying to eat

Tugging at roadkill

But I had goodwill

So I braked, with warning: beep, beep!

><> JJSJ profjjsj@aol.com

Beware, frisky squirrels, else you become roadkill. 

Beware, too, ye crows – because it could happen to you, too!

CROW WITH ROADKILL SQUIRREL
Nature-Blog-Network photo credit