Crow relocation bangers and screamers to begin Tuesday night

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Office of Physical Plant (OPP) crow relocation program will begin Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 6:30 pm on central campus. The community can expect to hear loud bangs and whistles in the vicinity. The early seasonal timing of the relocation is critical for ensuring that the crows do not establish permanent roosts on campus.The noise-making activities are part of a training exercise using pyrotechnic bangers and screamers to relocate the birds. Future dates and locations for these activities will be determined based on crow roosting patterns and will occur only when needed. All relocation activities will be safely conducted by highly trained and experienced physical plant employees. Team members will be wearing blue and green reflective safety vests.OPP plans to continue periodic crow harassment until they leave for the spring. Pressure washing of sidewalks will commence as soon as the first days of warmer weather arrive.Last year, approximately 3,000 migrating crows landed on campus causing unsanitary and unpleasant conditions. OPP's goal is to discourage this mass roosting and the accompanying sanitation problems. No crows are harmed by the relocation and harassment activities.Physical Plant is again partnering with Penn State researchers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to relocate the migrating crows. Penn State will also work closely with State College Borough to jointly find solutions to this continuing problem and OPP crews routinely monitor crow concentrations on campus. The campus community can report bothersome crow activity and campus sanitation concerns by contacting Susan Bedsworth at sjb5001@psu.edu or calling 814-863-9620.