How to Get Rid of Nuisance Crows with Crow Repellent

Crows recognize human faces.

Crows are some of nature's smartest birds. They can count, solve puzzles and recognize human faces. They can even remember if a human has mistreated them and "scold" that person later--even if the individual is wearing a hat or significantly different clothes. It is not surprising that such a smart animal can be particularly difficult to roust from gardens, where they eat unharvested crops, or backyards, where there noisiness is a nuisance. However, there are a few effective methods to get rid of unwanted crows with crow repellents.

Things You'll Need

• Refined coal tar
• Copper oxalate
• 12-gauge shells
• Rope firecrackers
• Recorded hawk and crow calls
• Tape recorder

Instructions

1. Coat seeds with a federally-registered crow repellent: refined coal tar or copper oxalate. Both options are non-toxic.

2. Frighten birds from residential areas with pyrotechnic displays. Though fireworks are effective, exploding shells and small rope firecrackers are equally effective. Detonate pyrotechnics at tree-top height; crows will not be deterred by ground-level explosions.

3. Play recordings of screaming hawks, a natural predator of crows, at the nesting level. Recordings of the calls of frightened crows are also effective, as are shrill alarms.

Tips & Warnings

• Exercise extreme caution when using firecrackers, and be sure to obey local laws.

References

• "The New York Times"; Friend or Foe? Crows Never Forget a Face, It Seems; Michelle Nijhuis; August 2008
• Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service; Understanding Crow Damage Control; December 1988
• University of Connecticut Integrated Pest Management: Crows and How to Minimize Their Damage