‘If we leave the house, they follow’: Vancouver woman ‘stalked’ by crows as dive-bombing season arrives
Posted June 4, 2020 12:33 pm.
Last Updated June 4, 2020 12:35 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – If you are getting some fresh air this spring, be careful not to anger any nearby crows as the bird species is known for memorizing faces.
Vancouver lawyer Kyla Lee says she was unable to stop her dog from killing a nearby fledgling recently, and it’s been “constant assault by crows” from that moment on.
“Ever since then—this happened Monday evening—we have been stalked,” says Lee.
She tells NEWS 1130 they perch on her house and wait for her and her dog to come and go.
“If we leave the house, the crows follow us, they caw at us, and they dive bomb us while we’re walking until we get about three blocks away from the house.”
Lee even took to Twitter to ask for advice, writing “WHAT DO I DO?”
I'm 100% serious. We are being stalked by angry crows. They divebomb us if we try to leave the house.
WHAT DO I DO?
— Kyla Lee (@IRPlawyer) June 2, 2020
David Bradley, director of the B.C. branch of Birds Canada, says crows are highly intelligent birds and actually learn to recognize people.
“When you cross them like this, they hold a grudge against you,” he tells NEWS 1130.
Bradley adds aggressive behaviour is mainly about protecting fledgling crows during nesting season.
“Once their hormones have slowed a bit after the young have fledged and are on their way, then that’s a time at which things will subside.”
He recommends walking with an umbrella to protect against dive-bombing, and refraining from feeding the birds as a “peace offering.” Bradley adds you should avoid areas with high rates of crow mobbing.
In 2018, Langara instructors Jim O’Leary and Rick Davidson developed CrowTrax, an interactive map that allows users to mark areas where crows are particularly hostile.
Lee says she put the fledgling crow’s body out to let the parents mourn it.
“That seemed to work as far as the crows dealing with me, but they have not forgiven the dog,” which, Lee adds, she must now protect with an umbrella.
-With files from Amanda Wawryk