Ohio Wildlife Center assists in crow rescue, highlights West Nile uptick
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — When a distressed crow in the parking lot of a Hilliard architecture firm caught the attention of staff, workers called their resident wildlife lover, Leanne Grubb, on her day off to come to the rescue.
Grubb told NBC4 she arrived at the office armed with a towel to cover and capture the bird, which she planned to take to Ohio Wildlife Center for evaluation. After the crow managed to evade Grubb, an additional volunteer was called to assist, and the animal was successfully placed in a box.
David Donahue, development and communications manager at Ohio Wildlife Center, confirmed that Grubb was on track with her rescue strategy. Instructions on the organization's website for containing an average-sized bird for transport recommend do-it-yourself captors wear latex or knit gloves for protection and use a pillowcase or small hand towel, such as Grubb's technique, to restrain the bird. The center notes that before placing the animal in a small box or paper bag, small holes should be poked in the container to allow for airflow.
After the capture, Grubb, who was familiar with the nonprofit wild animal hospital, continued her mission to get medical assistance for the crow.
“I then took the bird to Ohio Wildlife on Billingsley Rd., and they said there have been quite a few crows coming in recently, many with West Nile virus,” Grubb said. “We all thought for sure the bird had a broken wing, but I guess the virus can make it seem like some other problem.”
While Donahue said that the organization could not confidently say the bird had West Nile, its injury might have occurred as a result of the disease's disorienting effects. The center does not specifically test for West Nile due to the high cost, but its signs are observable.
Recently, Donahue posted on the center's social media account about the increase in West Nile Virus cases that begins in August. The mosquito-borne disease “primarily affects birds by attacking their central nervous system.” The symptoms listed included weakness, lethargy, head tilt and significant weight loss. West Nile virus is typically fatal in American crows.
Ohio Wildlife Center's annual tracking of suspected cases of West Nile virus in birds showed a slight increase in 2025:
- 17 in 2023
- 16 in 2024
- 19 so far in 2025, most commonly in American crows
To help reduce the spread of the disease, the center recommends controlling mosquito populations by removing stagnant water in ponds without fountains or buckets and old tires that can fill with rain.
In the case of Grubb's bird, she eventually learned its fate in an email from the agency.
“I’m reaching out with sorrowful news that the American Crow you presented to Ohio Wildlife Center’s hospital did not survive,” the organization wrote. “As soon as you passed them off into our care, the patient received a rehabilitation assessment and exam by our dedicated veterinary team. Due to the extent of the injuries, the best support for this animal was humane euthanasia. We know this is not the outcome we would hope for, but we always want what's best for the animal that is suffering.”
Donahue confirmed the bird had a non-rehabilitatable shoulder injury. He said that last month, around 10 birds were admitted, a standard amount for West Nile season, though not all were believed to have the disease.
While not the news she wanted to hear, Grubb remained upbeat about her intervention and noted the importance of Ohio Wildlife Center as a “great resource.”
Ohio Wildlife Center, which runs solely on donations, has been helping wild animals in the Buckeye State since 1984. Among its services is a wildlife hospital with on-site veterinary care, as well as offering special programming and public events. Donahue said that the center sees an average of 9,000 animals a year.