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By Angela Brown

Reprieve for ravens

City hears ravens protected species, cannot be killed

Aug 20, 2020 | 3:00 PM

North Battleford’s ravens will be happy to know they can now croak “evermore!” going forward, since they cannot be killed as a protected species.

City council was initially planning to look at the city’s ravens in the months ahead after receiving some complaints from residents about them apparently attacking songbirds in the city.

But North Battleford fire chief and director of protective services Lindsay Holm advised council at this week’s meeting that ravens are a protected species in Saskatchewan and cannot be harmed.

“We are actually not allowed to kill any ravens unless they are destroying crops. That is the only time you are actually allowed to dispatch a raven,” he said.

Holm said there is also some liability if the city’s community safety officers were to try and dispatch any ravens. There is a liability with discharging a firearm within the city limits as well.

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Mayor Ryan Bater said he is aware ravens have the distinction of also having spiritual significance.

“They are a protected species in Saskatchewan,” he said. “They are also a spiritually significant species among many First Nations. So we will not be taking measures to eradicate ravens. In the words of Edgar Allan Poe, ‘nevermore.'”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW