Crow Critically Injured By Blow Dart In Fairlington Neighborhood: AWLA

ARLINGTON, VA — A crow was shot and critically injured by a dart shot from a blowgun in the Fairlington neighborhood Tuesday morning, according to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.

Animal control officers and Arlington County’s 911 dispatch center received several calls from the public about the crow that had been shot around 11 a.m. on Tuesday in the 4800 block of 31st Street South.

Officers found the crow and brought him back to the AWLA building for triage, where the barb from the dart was cut off and wound care was applied.

An animal control officer then drove the crow to a wildlife center in the region to undergo surgery. “Thankfully, our officers have checked the area and have not found any more injured animals,” AWLA said.

Crows are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act. The shooting of a crow with a blowgun is illegal in Arlington County.

"This is why we put so much time and emphasis on teaching tolerance and harmonious coexistence with wildlife," Arlington County Chief of Animal Control Jennifer Toussaint said in a statement Tuesday.

"When groups, associations, or organizations teach intolerance for living things, our native wildlife pays the price," she said.

Members of the public who may have seen related activity with a blowgun in the Fairlington neighborhood over the past eight to 12 hours is asked to contact the Arlington County Animal Control team at 703-931-9241.