I tried

“We had our first cub scout meeting last night.
Only 3 boys showed up out of 15. Oh well I guess the rest of them melted in the rain.
But on our way down to the basement (NO I dont keep the kids there LOL)
I found a Pigon. Yes a Pigon. I couldnt understand how the little thing got there. It was so weak. I ended up taking it home. I felt so bad. It was raining and cold, so thats why I took it home. I knew there was a very good chance that it would not survie, But we had to try.
well we did manage to get a little water in him.with an eye dropper. But he was to far gone. While I had Wldlife Emergency on the phone I looked at him and he was gasping for air. I watched it take its last breath. I felt SO BAD for him. But also felt a little ok knowing that it didnt die in a cold and dark basement. It died in a warm blanket and a warm home. So now I have to find a place to bury it. Thats alot easier if I had a backyard.
cant go to central park either.
So my question is


If you were in my situation, what would you have done?

left it there and let nature take its course?

or bring it home and try to help it?”

“I'd have a hard time saving a flying rat.”

“Tough call Maple. I'd have left it somewhere. I'm not a pigeon nurse. But you did what little you could, and that counts.

(If it had been Psycho, I'd have stomped him flat!}”

“If it had been PS, then I would be teaching the cub scouts all about the insides of squirrels!~!”

“I know they call them rats but it still was an animal.”

“i probably would have done what you did. i've tried to nurse tons of animals back to health (after dog/cat attacks and whatnot), but it's never worked out... the saddest was baby rabbits...they were so cute! no wait, a cat we were babysitting got my hamster once, that was worse.”

“I tried to save my frog once, when my son took it out of the tank and the family dog tried to eat it. GROSS
so had to go out and get another one. I still have him to this day. I think its about 3 years old. Its an Albino(sp) with red eyes and lives in water. its sooo cool”

“Hope you were careful. You can get a type of lung infection from pigeons. Construction workers who work around pigeons get it a lot.”

“Maple, I have experienced that same feeling of hopelessness.....
A few years ago I found a great horned owl in my ditch.... he had been SHOT just under the wing. I gathered him up and secured his tallons and thought it was only a flesh wound and had BEAKS (our local bird rescuers in Jacksonville) on the phone (9:00 pm) getting instructions..... and,,,, he died from blood loss and it devestated my 8 yo daughter..... and the lady on the phone started crying just as if she had lost her own pet. It is sad sometimes how we just can't do enough. Whether it be for animals or our fellow humans, we just can't do enough........”

“Where's Snackboy when you need him?

Wrap it newspaper and pitch in the trash. I would avoid touching it. And wash you hands throughly if you do.

Pigeons are good vectors.

You could teach the kids about decay and how fundamental it is to giving life. Get a ten gallon empty fish tank and a clear plastic top sheet. Set up a little display with dirt, leaves, and etc. and lots of really good bugs. Feed it some light and warmth and watch nature takes its course.”

“ever hear of west nile virus? don't mess with dead birds.

actually, can you get the virus from handling an infected dead bird?”

“Mapleleaf i know how you feel and im sorry for your loss :(
i try to save litte jays all the time but they end up dying because cat siliva is toxic to em...of all my tries ive only managed to save one. Im sad everytime one dies.”

“I would have pulled out the bb gun and let the kids work on their marksmanship merit badges.”

“Mutt, you can't get it from handling a dead bird, but the others are right, wild birds do carry some diseases dangerous to humans. I don't pick up dead or dying birds.”

“well if im not here on monday then ive flown the coop (so to speak)”

“Trying is always better than not trying.”

“be sure to tell somebody what to do with my backpack if you fly the coop. ;-)”

“Hey maple . . .

Have you disposed of the bird yet??

Can you say . . .West Nile virus???


You might have it tested.”

“no I have the bird on the roof of my apt building in a box”

“I wonder if dying wrapped up in a blanket surrounded by gigantic predators was any more comforting than dying alone.”

“i once burned an ant with a magnifying glass.....”

“Violin, kinda like a really bad B MOVIE FOR PIGEONS!!! AAAAAAAACK!!!”

“Note To Self:

Never leave the ferret unsupervised with SOME TTers.”

“I wouldn't leave some TTers alone with OTHER TTers! lol”

“And leave the hamsters and ducttape at HOME.”

“an bring plenty of buttglue...”

“I agree with Humanapckmule - it's always better to try (see my bummer! thread). I do think you ought to take the necessary precautions, such as wrapping the bird in newspaper and avoiding touching it. West Nile disease is a real possibility in this type of situation, however, and authorities here are urging people not to touch birds that appear ill. Good luck.”

“well the bird is on his way to the Staten Island land fill via the Hudson Ferry.

I did try. No one has gotten sick so far.”