# Help! A Crow has taken over my back yard!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 10, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712 "2010-06-10T22:11:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/21 "2010-06-11T15:30:47Z")
[Crows remember](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106826971). > [@](#): > > Wild crows can recognize individual people. They can pick a person out of a crowd, follow them, and remember them — apparently for years. > > \ > > If you want to hear researchers describe what it’s like to alienate a crow, and then be razzed and harassed by its family and neighbors wherever they go — tennis courts, ATM machines, parking lots — listen to our radio story. We’ll also tell you how unbelievably long a crow can keep a grudge. ---
**Author:** ![Peaton\_of\_peat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecae2f/32.png) [@Peaton\_of\_peat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peaton_of_peat)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/22 "2010-06-11T15:34:18Z")
> [@sherrylynn](#): > > I assumed you were kidding - You are, aren’t you??? Nope, that’s not a joke. Crows still remember and harass their tormentors after four years, [at least in one experiment](http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/02/is-that-a-caveman-or-dick-cheney.html). ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/23 "2010-06-11T15:52:24Z")
If anyone cares about the legalities involved ( I know many do not ), crows are protected under the _Migratory Bird Act_ along with all other members of the corvid family, such that shooting them willy-nilly without proper cause/permits is subject to whopping fines if you are caught. However, Hawaii aside ( where the native crow has traditionally been very endangered, now [extinct in the wild](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CA%BBAlala) ), states are allowed to have crow-hunting seasons and many do. Of course you must be properly permitted and hunt under seasonal guidelines as required by each individual state. In addition crows have an exemption involving threat to agricultural products, wildlife, livestock, etc… But a backyard garden or harassed pets may or may not fall under that rubric, probably depending on the opinion of your local Federal or State Game Warden, which if you exercise this option are by law allowed access to your property to make sure you are conforming properly to the regulations. ---
**Author:** ![sherrylynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@sherrylynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sherrylynn)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/24 "2010-06-11T16:02:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Nope, that’s not a joke. Crows still remember and harass their tormentors after four years, at least in one experiment . That’s fascinating! Thanks for posting that link - So, it seems my choices are to either remain in my house throughout the summer, or to stock up on sunflower seeds for crow fodder!!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/25 "2010-06-11T16:07:42Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Crows are famous for their community-wide grudges… A couple of weeks ago, I had what looked like hundreds of crows going absolutely crazy over my house. [crows](http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj271/SPORTYBUELL/P5313922a.jpg) Which turned out to be caused by a hawk or falcon carrying what appeared to be one of their chicks. [Falcon](http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj271/SPORTYBUELL/P5313918a-1.jpg) [Falcon 2.](http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj271/SPORTYBUELL/P5313917b.jpg) What amazed me was that all the crows were bombing the falcon, not just the parents. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/26 "2010-06-11T16:58:17Z")
With the amount of noise this crow is making and with two other crows showing up later and the time of year, there’s a good chance the first crow is a fledgling and the others are his parents keeping on eye on him. Once he gets better at flying they should move on. Don’t feed them and please don’t shoot them, that would be murder. ---
**Author:** ![sherrylynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@sherrylynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sherrylynn)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/27 "2010-06-11T17:19:23Z")
> [@](#): > > there’s a good chance the first crow is a fledgling and the others are his parents keeping on eye on him This could be true, as one of the crow trio is significantly smaller than the other two. Don’t worry - I would never shoot them - I really don’t have the heart for it. Or allow my SO to shoot them. My dog won’t even chase them! 🙂 And I really won’t be feeding them either - I don’t want them to get that comfortable!! I’ll just be patient, and wait for them to move on - the motion detector owl has been removed to the house. We’ll see if that helps the situation. S - ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/28 "2010-06-11T17:52:00Z")
Turn the garden hose on the little sh\*t. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/29 "2010-06-11T18:16:47Z")
Dude, didn’t you read the thread?! They will then stalk you and your descendants for all eternity! Fascinating stuff, really. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/30 "2010-06-11T18:36:09Z")
The crow ain’t been hatched that could survive[this](http://www.pyramydair.com/p/career-dragon-slayer-50-caliber-air-rifle.shtml)bad boy. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/31 "2010-06-11T18:37:24Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > .. please don’t shoot them, that would be murder. (…sigh…same deal for cockroaches–the insect equivalent?) I realize you have apparently ruled out lead poisoning as a means of exit…probably a good thing, because when you do kill a crow and others are around they will go nuts and call in squawking reinforcements like Armageddon is at hand. There is no such thing as plugging a crow from an attic window and having it plop quietly to the ground for removal, as long as its buddies are around…I speak from a handful of personal experiences over the years. (Not the attic part; just the shooting crows in general part.) ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/32 "2010-06-11T18:39:44Z")
> [@Chief\_Pedant](#): > > (…sigh…same deal for cockroaches–the insect equivalent?) > > I realize you have apparently ruled out lead poisoning as a means of exit…probably a good thing, because when you do kill a crow and others are around they will go nuts and call in squawking reinforcements like Armageddon is at hand. There is no such thing as plugging a crow from an attic window and having it plop quietly to the ground for removal, as long as its buddies are around…I speak from a handful of personal experiences over the years. (Not the attic part; just the shooting crows in general part.) What you seem to consider being overwhelmed, I consider a target-rich environment. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/33 "2010-06-11T18:57:19Z")
Serious question: can you eat crow? By which I mean, is it safe to eat and does it taste nice? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/34 "2010-06-11T19:33:07Z")
> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#): > > Serious question: can you eat crow … and does it taste nice? Depends on which [recipe](http://www.crowbusters.com/recipes.htm) you use. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/35 "2010-06-11T19:48:51Z")
> [@Chief\_Pedant](#): > > (…sigh…same deal for cockroaches–the insect equivalent?) > > … 'tWas just a bit of wordplay “murder of crows”, not a hippy dippy “all life is precious” thing. But cockroaches and crows are not alike. All cockroaches should die. Anyway, I thought pigeons were considered the bird equivalent to rats and roaches? > [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#): > > Serious question: can you eat crow? By which I mean, is it safe to eat and does it taste nice? Some people are forced to eat crow, they don’t seem to like it. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/36 "2010-06-11T21:43:54Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > 'tWas just a bit of wordplay “murder of crows”, not a hippy dippy “all life is precious” thing. But cockroaches and crows are not alike. All cockroaches should die. Anyway, I thought pigeons were considered the bird equivalent to rats and roaches? > > Some people are forced to eat crow, they don’t seem to like it. Yet pigeons are by all accounts very nice to eat. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/37 "2010-06-11T21:48:57Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > With the amount of noise this crow is making and with two other crows showing up later and the time of year, there’s a good chance the first crow is a fledgling and the others are his parents keeping on eye on him. Once he gets better at flying they should move on. Don’t feed them and please don’t shoot them, that would be murder. For what it’s worth, **Wile E.** , I got the joke. \*Golf claps ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/38 "2010-06-12T00:34:04Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Lucky! I wish I had a crow. They’re supposed to be really smart. I’d give it treats and make friends. You could have your very own guard crow! [Here is one smart crow](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWc5yIaEzZ4). Not only does it realize that it needs a tool to do the job, it finds the right material and, after learning from trial and error, fashions _the proper kind of tool_ for the job. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/39 "2010-06-12T00:42:23Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > [Here is one smart crow](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWc5yIaEzZ4). Not only does it realize that it needs a tool to do the job, it finds the right material and, after learning from trial and error, fashions _the proper kind of tool_ for the job. Very cool. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712/40 "2010-06-12T05:24:47Z")
I have nothing to add except I’ve never had a problem with crows and I wish they would wage total war against grackles for blackbird supremacy. And win. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-crow-has-taken-over-my-back-yard/542712.md?page=3)