Montreal

Crow can live with Quebec man, court rules

A court ruling to let Simon Pérusse keep his crow Moko marks the second time in recent months that officials in Quebec have allowed a wild animal to stay with its adopted human family.

Moko ignores caw of the wild in favour of Simon Pérusse, 'tears feathers out' when he's not around

Simon Pérusse and the crow Moko can now live together without fear of fines. (Radio-Canada)

Other crows might prefer murders, but a Quebec court has ruled that Moko's a one-man bird.

That man, Simon Pérusse, was in court Thursday to argue against a $650 fine for keeping the wild bird in captivity, which is against the law in Quebec.

Pérusse found Moko with a broken wing seven years ago and he says the bird now can't stand to be away from him for long.

"I leave for a month and he gets bored and tears all his feathers out. Once a bird is connected to a human like that, the bird can't handle being separated from them," Pérusse explained.

Moko often accompanies Pérusse to his job as a tour guide at the Huron village in nearby Wendake.

Simon Pérusse and Moko the crow have been companions for the last seven years. (Radio-Canada)

Pérusse was fined after he moved into an apartment building and the landlord filed a complaint with Quebec's Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife.

Pérusse then began lobbying for a special permit.

Thursday's ruling cancelled the fine and let Pérusse keep Moko as a pet. 

The court's decision marks the second time in recent months that officials in Quebec have allowed a wild animal to stay with its adopted human family.

Last December, Quebec's wildlife ministry decided to allow a four-year-old orphaned deer to stay with the family that raised it after its mother was hit by a car.

With files from Radio-Canada