Can Crows Be Pets?

No, crows are not domesticated and cannot be petted. There are many crow species, but not of them have been domesticated or cleared to be kept as household pets.

Hence, they remain under the class of wild animals, which makes adopting it as a household pet unsafe for you and the animal. In fact, adopting crows as pets is illegal in many countries, including the United States, and you may attract punishments if you go against the law to have one.

Have you ever thought of keeping a crow as your household pet? Well, the idea of having them around can be exciting, considering how smart, curious, and intelligent they are.

However, making a crow your pet is often a bad idea because this animal is not a household pet material and cannot fit in as one. Most animal lovers often buy into the idea of befriending several animals or keeping them as pets. It may be possible to befriend a crow that nests nearby, but can crows be pets?

The answer is no, and this article will explain why by highlighting everything you need to know about crows in captivity.

What You Need to Know About Crows

Crows are birds from the genus Corvus consisting of medium-sized birds like ravens and rooks. There are about 40 crow species, and although they all look similar, their sizes may differ slightly.

These birds also resemble ravens, which are often only separable by their sizes as ravens are larger than crows. Crow species are scattered around different continents, but the most popular are the American crow, carrion crow, and hooded crow.

The American crow is native to North America and is distributed across a few countries in the southern continent of America. In contrast, the carrion and hooded crows dominate Europe and Asia. They all have similar behaviors and are classified under the same subspecies as common crows.

Here are some physical features of common crows for easy Identification.

• Size: All common crows are similarly sized and weigh almost the same. They measure 40 – 53cm in length (tail included), with an average body weight of between 300 – 600g, which shows how light-weighted they are.
• Body Features: All the birds in the Corvus genus are easily identifiable by their black color, and the crow is no different. Crows have black feathers all around their body, with their beaks and tiny legs similarly colored. They also have a relatively long tail that makes up about 40% of their entire body length.

Crow Behaviors

Almost all crow species have similar characteristics and strategies they adopt for survival and reproduction. However, many of their behaviors are not yet specified due to how difficult it is to catch and label them for supervision.

Here are some of the established behavioral qualities of crows.

• Feeding: Crows are omnivorous, meaning they can survive on plant and animal matter. Their meal consists mainly of invertebrates, but they can also be spotted scavenging on scraps from human food, eggs, seeds, nuts, and grains. This bird is also a good hunter and can sometimes snatch mice, baby rabbits, frogs, and stranded fishes.
• Reproduction: Crows are monogamous birds and often only take one mating partner for life. They often create large families of up to 15 individuals, and young crows often remain with their parents for at least two years before moving out to make their own families.
• Habitats: Crows prefer forest areas with sufficient trees to nest on since they spend most of their time in the air. However, they can adapt to any environment and have since penetrated human settlements where food is more accessible.

Why Crows Do Not Make Good Pets

Crows are smart and intelligent, making them pretty appealing to animal lovers who have shown interest in adopting these birds as pets.

However, it has been established that these birds do not make good pets, and here’s why.

• Crows are social birds: One of the first reasons to avoid taking crows as household pets is because they are social creatures that thrive among their pairs. Crows often need to relate with fellow crows, which is why they prefer to live in large families. Singling them out can affect them negatively and even significantly shorten their lifespan.
• They are uncomfortable in captivity: Crows may not make good pets because they are big on freedom. These intelligent birds also need to exercise their mind and body, so they often need to stretch their wings and fly around. When crows are not allowed to fly free, their mental health gets affected, and they may go crazy in captivity.
• Health issues: Apart from the fact that keeping a bird designed for flight captive on the ground is questionable, it also affects their general health. Moreover, these birds are known to sunbathe and get much-needed vitamin D. Keeping them captive restricts their access to the sun, which is the primary source of this vitamin.
• It is illegal: In many countries, including the United States, it is illegal to keep crows in bondage as pets or for any other purpose. This is because they are migratory birds protected by the Migratory Birds Treaty Act of 1918. Hence, you will need clearance from the Fish and Wildlife Service to own or keep a crow.

Can Crows Be Pets?

Crows may not be the best option for a household pet, but they can pass as pests in human habitats. Their high number in human habitats has regarded them as pests in many places, and the fact that they feed on vegetables makes them bad for gardens.

They can also get very loud, causing disturbances in urban settlements, and their droppings can be messy. Hence, prompting the need to evict them from around your home.

However, it is essential to note that hunting these birds is also considered illegal, meaning you can only adopt repellents for eviction purposes. Ultrasonic repellents are an acceptable and effective way to rid your property of intruding crows.

Conclusion

Crows are a remarkable bird breed, and the species have proven to be more intelligent than other birds.

This quality makes it attractive to bird lovers, who often show interest in adopting these birds as pets. But unfortunately, crows cannot be pests for many reasons that have been highlighted in this article.