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Wildlife centre staff finds rehabilitated birds shot dead; information sought

Two ravens and four crows were shot dead at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre.Staff arrived early Friday morning to find the resident and soon-to-be released crows and ravens shot in the head in an outdoor pen attached to the main building.

Two ravens and four crows were shot dead at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre.

Staff arrived early Friday morning to find the resident and soon-to-be released crows and ravens shot in the head in an outdoor pen attached to the main building.

Six birds were dead and two crows were fighting for their lives.

While the wildlife centre has had some incidents over the last few months with opened fences and cages, it was nothing too serious.

“It seems to have escalated by somebody coming into a cage attached to our main building and taking an air pistol to the back of the heads of my crows and ravens,” said Carol Kelly, executive director. “To come into a place like this and put a gun against all their heads to kill them all is pretty malicious.”

Kelly said the centre’s five students from Germany and Austria and staff now feel uncomfortable and worried about their own safety.

“They are visibly shaken that they are living on a property where somebody would come in and kill things,” said Kelly. “They are concerned for themselves.”

The centre prides itself on its education programs. For more than 30 years, the centre has provided information, attempted to abolish myths, provide humane options and encourage a general respect for life.

“Generally speaking we have lived quite peacefully here,” she said. “We haven’t had problems. We promote respect. We promote living and working together.”

Kelly said some species may create challenges for humans at times but many times it only takes some simple changes in our lives to stop the problem.

The wildlife centre is currently building a new hospital. Kelly said they currently do not have a security system but there will be one when the new hospital is completed.

Police are investigating.

crhyno@reddeeeradvocate.com