A shopping outing took an unexpected turn for some residents of Yukon as a large raven ventured into Your Independent Grocer in Whitehorse on Thursday. Store proprietor Mark Wykes mentioned that a few individuals, including the staff, were startled by the presence of the bird, noting its significant size compared to typical songbirds.
While it is not uncommon for small birds to enter the store, this marked the first occurrence of a raven making an appearance. The raven flew through the store, moving from the bakery section to the fresh-produce area at the opposite end before circling a few times and eventually perching without any shopping intentions.
Wykes expressed surprise at the close encounter with the raven, emphasizing its massive size as it flew over amidst the store’s low ceilings. According to the Canadian Wildlife Federation, ravens are typically the size of a hawk, ranging from 56 to 69 centimetres in length on average.
Despite the bird having access to an all-you-can-eat buffet, Wykes observed signs of distress and promptly sought assistance from authorities, leading to the arrival of two conservation officers equipped with large fishing nets. Jeff Bond, a shopper in the store at the time, witnessed the raven’s antics above the lettuce, the amusement of other shoppers, and the officers’ attempts to capture the bird.
Bond noted that the bird eluded the nets, requiring a waiting game for the officers to safely remove it, a process that took approximately 45 minutes. Describing the incident as a unique northern experience, Bond humorously expressed his support for the raven, hoping it would simply perch on his shoulder for a lift out of the situation.