Controlling Crows
(Corvus brachyrhynchos)
Yes: Crows can be noisy:
Generally speaking, crows become a particular nuisance during the winter months
when they gather for the evening. It appears that crows come together at this
time in order to stay warmer. Here in Springfield, MA we have had the largest
winter crow roosts in Southern New England, with literally thousands of crows
huddled together in several acres of trees.
Crow Diseases
West Nile Encephalitis
Crow Damage
- Wine grapes (Chanbourcin) are harvested by flocks of crows the day before
harvest (based on brix and pH measurements) says one farmer.
Crows can also damage lawns as they search for worms and grubs. Sign is the
lawn appears shredded. If damage only occurs at night it is a sign of raccoons
not crows.
It seems you have learned first hand why the North American migratory bird
act needs to be modified. Unfortunately, there probably isn't a whole lot that
can be done in your situation. So I will give you some info. on a general
basis.
General Crow Control Principles
- Always remove food sources. Never allow animals of any sort to get easy
access to food. Trash cans , bird feeders etc. should all be covered and removed.
Don't expect animals to leave if there is plenty of food.
- Remove water sources. This is a corrollary of the previous principle.
Non-lethal Crow Control & Harassment
A word or two needs to be said about harassment techniques in general. First,
there are too many variables when dealing with harassment techniques such as distress
calls to determine how well they will work in your situation. Most of the time
you just got to try it. The other problem is that most urbanites see success as
100% removal of the problem. This can only be guaranteed by a lethal control program.
Farmers by contrast can view success as the reduction of predation on their crops.
Our experience has shown that urbanites have a much higher standard for success.
Hints on harassing problem wildlife
- An owl effigy will
only work for a few days and chances are you will actually hear more noise
as the crows try to drive the owl away. They will soon learn that the owl
is fake after a few days. To reduce this risk, be sure to move the owl around
or get one that moves and hoots.
- Crow distress calls.
These cassette tapes used with pyrotechnics can be very effective. Your neighbors
may not like it as it will move the crows elsewhere. Tapes can also be used
to attract crows for hunting purposes. Again this is a short term solution
up to a year.
Fighting Crows
Death
Cry
Death
Cry II
- Pyrotechnics/Propane Cannons.
These generally require permits from area police departments etc. However,
they can be effective in dispersing crow roosts to another area. They, like
all harassment techniques, work better when they are initiated before the
animals become attached to the area.
- Repellents. This is a newly
legalized option. Essentially it is a chemical that is fogged and sent up
into the trees. One problem with repellents is that you may not be able
to use them in situations where you plan to eat the crops.
Lethal Crow Control Options
- Shooting. But there is a catch. You need
a permit from the Federal Gov. If you are killing the crows out of regular
hunting season (Seasons will be set by your home state). You also have the
problem of local shooting laws. Never shoot a gun unless you can safely
and legally do so.
- Trapping. This can be an effective option. Unfortunately, I don't
know enough about this technique yet. But what I do know is that it consists
of a large trap several feet square, that is baited. Once captured the crows
can be removed and destroyed.
Other useful pages http://www.wildlifedamagecontrol.net/Canada
Geese.php
http://www.wildlifedamagecontrol.net/pigeons.php
Hope this helps.
info@aallanimalcontrol.com
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on resolving human/wildlife conflicts. We welcome suggestions, criticisms to
help us achieve this goal. The information provided is for informational purposes
only and users of the information use it at their own risk. The reader must
consult state/federal officials to determine the legality of any technique in
the reader's locale. Some techniques are dangerous to the user and to others.
WDC encourages readers to obtain appropriate training (see our informational
literature at our Store ), and understand that proper animal damage
control involves patience, understanding that not every technique/method works
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7/22/03
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