Site on Resolving Problems with Crows

Crows are interesting birds. They are highly intelligent (for a bird) and highly social. While those traits make them interesting, they also make them difficult to control. Fortunately, aside from the occasional jewelry theft (crows are known to pick up shiny objects), damage from crows is typically limited to their roosts and damage to crops.

Roosts are a problem due to the noise and feces made by hundreds to thousands of crows. These roosts typically form during the cooler months where the large number of birds can actually raise the temperature (1-2 degrees F) for the birds in the middle (who typically happen to the dominant birds). In the mid- 1990s, Springfield, Massachusetts had the largest crow roost in southern New England (Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island). Other large crow roosts exist elsewhere in the country.

So how does one go about controlling these birds? First, you need to obey the law. Crows are migratory birds and therefore protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty. However, since crows are plentiful, many states allow hunting of crows during established seasons. If at all possible, control crows during the hunting season.
Unfortunately, crow damage doesn't always occur during the hunting season and in others, hunting is prohibited in the areas where the crows are a problem (e.g. downtown). In these circumstances, you have a few options.

Option 1. Habitat Modification. Crows roost where the trees have sufficient branches to allow a lot of them to roost together. Trim the branches by up to a 1/3 to reduce their ability to cluster.

Option 2. Hazing. Make the location uncomfortable for them. Pyrotechnics, (check local laws before using) and distress calls can work. No federal permit is required because the birds or their nests are being harmed. Methyl anthranilate is a chemical repellent that when fogged can cause birds to disperse. Do it as often as needed to convince the birds not to return.

Option 3. Direct control. (e.g. hunting etc.) You may need to contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as well as state wildlife agencies to obtain necessary permits when controlling out of season.

For additinonal information, visit the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management or
U.C. Davis Crow Control both will provide a lot of research-based information to help you.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACP