Penn State Plans again to Disrupt Campus Crows

Penn State’s ‘crow relocation program’ will return to University Park next week, bringing with it pyrotechnic effects and loud noise-makers, the university announced.

According to a university report, crows have started to roost again on campus. They create ‘unsanitary and unpleasant conditions,’ the report notes.

To move them away from the area, the Penn State Office of Physical Plant plans to set off ‘pyrotechnic bangers and screamers … as in past years.’ The efforts are scheduled to start Tuesday and continue through the autumn and winter ‘as necessary,’ the university report reads.

‘These noise-making activities will occur early in the evening shortly after dusk and could continue for a couple of hours each night,’ the report indicates. ‘Specific dates and locations will be determined based on roosting patterns and will occur only if needed. All relocation activities will be conducted by highly trained and experienced Physical Plant employees.’

Penn State reported that roughly 3,000 migrating crows landed at University Park last year. The university said it wants to discourage mass roosting and ‘the accompanying sanitation problems’ on campus.

University researchers and USDA Wildlife Services are partnering with the Office of Physical Plant in the relocation effort. In addition, Penn State ‘will work closely with the Borough of State College to jointly find solutions to this continuing problem,’ the university report reads.

OPP won’t make a public announcement each time it schedules an anti-roosting ‘harassment activity,’ but it will provide occasional updates, according to the report.

Anyone can report troublesome crow activity and crow clusters to Paul Ruskin at pdr2@psu.edu or (814) 863-9620, the university reported.