When a homeowner in Swansea, Wales, glanced up at their roof one summer afternoon, a dark silhouette caught their eye — a crow perched high on the television antenna. But something about the bird’s stillness felt off.
A moment later, they realized the truth: the crow wasn’t resting. He was trapped.
Somehow, the young bird’s leg had become tangled in a plastic bag that had blown onto the antenna. No matter how hard he flapped and pulled, he couldn’t break free.
Animal rescue officer Ellie West from RSPCA UK rushed to the scene alongside the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
“This crow was well and truly entangled and was clearly in distress,” West said.
The more the crow had tried to escape, the more hopelessly stuck he’d gotten. The rescuers knew time was of the essence as they devised a plan to save him.
The team quickly came up with a plan. Firefighters extended a specialized lift up to the second-story rooftop, where they gently freed the frightened bird from the plastic that had bound his leg and lowered him safely to the ground.
Sadly, this isn’t a rare sight for West and her team.
“We all want to see wildlife thriving in our communities,” she said. “But unfortunately, we see a lot of birds trapped in or behind netting — and the major causes of this can be plastic litter.”
Once the crow was safely in West’s care, she examined him closely.
“His left leg had a wound, but he was thankfully in good body condition and was active despite his ordeal,” she said.
After a night of rest, rehydration, and treatment, the young crow began to recover.
“The crow’s wound had healed overnight, and he flew well on a test flight,” West said.
Soon, it was time for him to return home. As West opened her hands and watched him soar into the sky, she noticed two other crows circling nearby — his parents.
“When he was released, they came to see him,” she said. “They flew off together, which was lovely to see.”
Thanks to quick-thinking rescuers and a caring community, the young crow got his second chance — and a happy reunion in the skies above his home.
To support other animals like this crow, you can make a donation to RSPCA UK here.
