Crows are known for being smart, social birds.

Turns out they can be kind of mean too.

On Friday morning a Portland police officer saved a small injured owl from a murder of crows that was attacking it in the street near Southeast 113th Avenue and Market Street.

“The critter couldn’t fly so the officer stood guard until @MultCoPets could respond,” the police bureau’s East precinct wrote on Twitter.

When Multnomah County Animal Services arrived on the scene, the rescuers bundled up the adult Western screech owl and took it to Portland Audubon for treatment.

Stephanie Herman, the manager of Portland Audubon’s Wildlife Care Center, said they are in the process of diagnosing the bird’s injuries. “It was probably hit by a car, since it was on the road,” she said.

The facility will treat the owl and, assuming it recovers, return the bird to its natural habitat.

“We’re a rehabilitation center,” Herman said. “Our whole schtick is to get him back into the wild where he belongs.”

Check out the photos the police bureau tweeted out after the owl rescue:

The little guy was just resting but opened his eyes to pose for a picture. pic.twitter.com/mZDppnc5kg — PPB East Precinct (@ppbeast) October 11, 2019

@MultCoPets arrived and got him (her?) safely out of the road. He had some minor injuries so they'll get the baby to @audubonsociety for treatment. pic.twitter.com/fdKOBJFBQL — PPB East Precinct (@ppbeast) October 11, 2019

-- Douglas Perry

@douglasmperry

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