Don't hog the road! Crow helps hedgehog cross street safely by giving it encouraging prods with its beak

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Heartwarming footage shows a gentle crow encouraging a hedgehog to cross the road as an oncoming car approaches. 

The video filmed by a motorist in Ogres, central Latvia, shows the moment a compassionate crow pecks the backside of a hedgehog to help it across the road.

In the video the persistent crow, known for being predatory and for scavenging food, is seen pecking at the small curled up hedgehog residing in the middle of the road.

But instead of trying to eat the small creature the bird appears to be helping it survive the dangers posed by mankind. 

Helpful crow helps hedgehog cross the road in Latvia

The incident was filmed on Wednesday May 20 and shared on social media with the caption: 'I just saw a bird explaining to a hedgehog that it needs to cross the road so it doesn't die. My day is complete.'    

However some viewers believe all is not as pleasant as appears in the seemingly harmless video.

One Youtube commenter by the name of M.Darina said: 'Not sure this is what you think it is. 

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/27/12/28880120-8361019-image-a-53_1590578057758.jpg
At first the hedgehog is seen curled up in a ball in the middle of the road as the crow stands guard over it
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/27/12/28880132-8361019-image-a-46_1590577997707.jpg
The crow then pecks the hedgehog to move, following closely as it inches closer to the curb
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/27/12/28880146-8361019-image-m-50_1590578016737.jpg
The hesitant hedgehog repeatedly stops for a break
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/05/27/12/28880138-8361019-image-a-51_1590578020725.jpg
The crow pecks it on to reach the side of the road
The hesitant hedgehog repeatedly stops for a break, with the crow pecking it on to reach the side of the road

'They eat animals like that, also the youngsters of sparrows and other birds. I've seen a couple of blue tits fighting for their baby with a magpie who was taking it away to eat it.

'I love these birds but they're savage. I doubt this is just being helpful, it was trying to pick it's head and when it would hide it the bird would go to it's back to make it move and show it's head again. Seems like predatory behaviour to me.'

Another user by the name of Toussaint Louverture defended the crow's actions commenting: 'A crow is as intelligent as a seven-year-old child and is smart enough not to waste its time trying to kill a hedgehog. There is no way a crow could possibly kill it. It was making it move.'

While Jon.B commented: 'That crow is after an easy meal, it’s after the hedgehog’s eyeballs.'