An animal welfare organization in downtown Prince George, B.C., has been providing nasal naloxone to crows suspected of ingesting toxic substances left accessible outside. The Good Caws Crow Rescue Society (GCCRS) has shared videos demonstrating their volunteers administering nasal naloxone to unresponsive crows, which then become alert and capable of flying again. Dayna Slater from GCCRS mentioned that the crows they assist are concentrated in an area known for illicit drug use.
Slater expressed concern over the situation, citing an increase in suspected drug overdoses among crows this year compared to previous years. She described the symptoms displayed by affected crows, including closed eyes, slowed heartbeat, and unresponsiveness, with some exhibiting brown liquid foam from their beaks. While some crows have unfortunately perished, most have been successfully released after recuperating within a day.
Dr. Kaitlyn Liukaitis from the Birchwood Veterinary Clinic confirmed that the symptoms observed in the crows align with those of a toxic drug overdose. She noted that using naloxone to counteract these symptoms is a common practice in veterinary care for various animal species. The rise in drug toxicity in cities across British Columbia has led to multiple public warnings, with Prince George experiencing a surge in overdose calls, particularly downtown where the affected crows are being found.
Advocates emphasize the importance of harm reduction measures, such as supervised consumption sites, to provide safe spaces for individuals with addiction to access prescribed alternatives to street drugs. Slater collaborates with harm reduction groups to identify crows experiencing suspected overdoses and utilize expired naloxone kits supplied by these groups to aid in the rescue efforts. She believes that the crows inadvertently ingest toxic substances from garbage bins in the area and suggests using covered garbage cans to prevent such incidents.
Slater highlighted the proximity of crows to human environments, emphasizing the need for environmental responsibility to protect wildlife. She stressed the importance of securing garbage properly to avoid unintentional harm to wildlife like the crows in Prince George.