www.Earthlings.org - A Crow and the Kitten.

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observations from another perspective

SPECIAL REPORT
As of October 25, 1999.

A Crow and the Kitten.

A special report from North Attleboro, Massachusetts.

Observations and images courtesy of Ann and Wallace Collito.

A wild Crow adopts an untamed Kitten.

The Crow, named Moses, and the Kitten, named Cassie, appear to have originally met in the wild, likely sometime shortly after the Kitten's birth, in June 1999. It appears, as unlikely as it seems, that the Crow has actually 'adopted' the Kitten. The story came to human knowledge when Ann Collito found the little, black Kitten, de-hydrated and on the verge of starvation near her residence, likely having been abandoned. Interestingly, a Crow, now named Moses, made it very difficult for Ann and her husband, Wallace, to approach the Kitten. Moses displayed typical corvid protective behaviour. And, they observed the Crow actually feeding the Kitten various types of insects.

To any casual observer, it appeared as though the Crow had, indeed, 'adopted' this little Kitten, and was feeding and protecting it.

The story, of course, was generally disbelieved until people saw things for themselves. Wallace and Ann have hours of video, and images, as shown below, of Moses and Cassie interacting.

Dr. Bernd Heinrich, professor of biology at the University of Vermont was contacted by a local newspaper, The Sun Chronicle, regarding this behaviour. He commented that it is extraordinary, and very hard to believe. Dr. Heinrich speculates that the Crow may have adopted the Kitten after having lost its own eggs or young, and says that young crows are usually on their own by August. Yet Moses and Cassie are still together, visiting and playing on a daily basis.

Maybe Moses is waiting for Cassie to learn to fly!!!!