Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu
Location in southern Quebec
/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
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Translation Google
"Mass mortality like this is exceptional": dozens of crows found dead in a Montérégie cemetery are drawing attention
Marianne Lafleur
Saturday, December 27, 2025 8:38 PM
UPDATE Sunday, December 28, 2025 1:30 PM
Dozens of dead crows have been spotted in a cemetery in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in recent days, causing widespread surprise in the region.
"Mass mortality like this is exceptional," reacted Alexandre Terrigeol, director of operations at the Tadoussac Bird Observatory.
Patrick Bérubé, a resident of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, was on his way to visit his grandmother at the cemetery on December 20 when he spotted dozens of crows on the ground.
"I was slightly shocked, but mostly worried," says the man who estimates he saw between 60 and 70 in the same place.
The phenomenon appears significant enough to have attracted the attention of the City of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in the Montérégie region, which issued a press release on the matter. They stated they had received several reports concerning an unusually high number of crows found dead within their territory.
"The situation has been brought to the attention of the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks [MELCCFP] to ensure appropriate follow-up. More in-depth analyses will be carried out by the competent authorities and the diagnosis will be their responsibility," the City stated.
By Saturday afternoon, there were no more dead crows to be found there and everything appeared to have been cleaned up.
Causes of death
According to Mr. Terrigeol, several factors could explain such high mortality among the crows, including air pollution or the presence of a bird shooter. However, the hypothesis of a virus remains the most likely.
"If there is a case of avian flu or another potential virus, I know that there are corvids that are quite sensitive to it. So, it can cause the death of several dozen or even hundreds of individuals," he explains.
He adds that crows are bird species particularly vulnerable to avian diseases because they are at the top of the food chain and feed on potentially contaminated food scraps.
"Given that these are species that gather in the winter in the hundreds, in the thousands, the risk of contamination is much greater," adds the expert.
Risks to biodiversity
This unusual phenomenon is not without consequences. These birds play a crucial role in the ecology, feeding on all sorts of things, including discarded food and carcasses, the specialist notes.
"These are species that are extremely useful in the environment," argues Mr. Terrigeol.
He assures, however, that although there is a potential risk of contamination for humans, it remains very rare. He believes there is no need to be overly concerned.
"I think the risk is more to biodiversity itself. [...] If there are crows that start to die, is it a disease that can be found in other species?" he wonders.
The City of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu still advises against direct contact with the bird and recommends wearing waterproof gloves if handling becomes necessary. Thorough handwashing is also recommended.
https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2...imetiere-de-la-monteregie-attirent-lattention
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Reports of crow mortality
December 23, 2025 // News
Over the past few days, the City has received several reports concerning an unusually high number of crows found dead in the area.
The situation has been brought to the attention of the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP) to ensure appropriate follow-up. Further analyses will be conducted by the competent authorities, and the diagnosis will be their responsibility.
If a bird carcass is found in a public place or on the municipal road network, the City will handle the situation. Please report its presence to the Proanima organization.Open the link in a new window at 1 833-445-2525.
Carcass on private land
When a carcass is spotted on private land, the responsibility for disposing of it falls to the owner.
Certain precautions must be taken. It is advisable to avoid all direct contact and to wear waterproof gloves if handling is necessary. The carcass should be placed in a sturdy bag and then disposed of properly. Thorough handwashing is required after any intervention.
For complete guidelines and best practices, the public is invited to consult the Government of Quebec website.Open the link in a new window .
Citizen collaboration remains essential to preserve collective safety and support wildlife protection efforts.
https://sjsr.ca/actualites/signalements-de-mortalite-chez-les-corneilles/