University Park, Pa. -- The Penn State Office of Physical Plant (OPP) crow relocation program will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 7, and will continue until 9 p.m. The campus community can expect to hear loud noises in the early evening as University employees launch anti-crow pyrotechnic noisemakers. These activities will continue in the evenings Monday through Friday until the crows move to less problematic locations. Pyrotechnic operations may continue for several weeks until this objective is met.
This year’s preferred roosting location is a stand of trees east of the Centre County/Penn State Visitor Center. Small groups of highly trained OPP employees will be conducting the relocation operation and will be wearing distinctive green safety vests.
Once the crows have vacated a location, crow effigies will be hung to dissuade the crows from returning. Light towers will be erected in the targeted relocation woods east of the Visitor’s Center to make the area more appealing to crows.
No crows will be harmed in this operation. The public can expect some disturbance from the noisemaking activities and possible crow infestation if the crows attempt to re-roost in populated areas. Crows currently are roosting in areas around Agricultural Science and Industries, Agricultural Administration, East Halls and Nittany Apartments. Occupants and residents of these buildings may experience the loudest noise as the relocation effort begins.
In addition, the College of Agricultural Sciences is employing propane cannons at two locations, the Dairy Barns and the Organic Materials Processing and Education Center (OMPEC). These cannons produce a loud bang to scare crows away from those locations. The cannons may be used for most of the day, seven days a week throughout the rest of the fall and winter.
Last year about 3,000 migrating crows landed on the campus causing unsanitary and unpleasant conditions. OPP's goal is to discourage this mass roosting and the accompanying sanitary problems. Physical Plant is partnering with Penn State researchers and the USDA Wildlife Services to relocate the migrating crows. Penn State also will work closely with State College Borough to find joint solutions to this continuing problem. For more information, contact Paul Ruskin, physical plant communications coordinator, at 814-863-9620 or pdr2@psu.edu.