Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (June 13, 2018)
8A | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018 | SIUSLAW NEWS ATTACKS from page 1A The crow incursions are a yearly occurrence in Old Town, transpiring in the months of May or June, the nesting season for the birds. “Crows are territorial and they’re particularly protective when their young leave the nest,” Miller said. “If they believe that any kind of threat is near — cats, dogs or people — they will at- tack.” He explained that the main reason for a crow attack is that “crows invest a lot of time and energy into their young,” spend- ing several weeks building nests, up to 20 days incubating eggs and another 30 days feeding their young. “Crows have very human like personalities and just like us, they protect their young,” he said. “They’re just being good parents.” Warning signs of potential as- saults have been posted in rele- vant Old Town areas for the past two years. Aggressive crow behavior is a worldwide phenomenon. An entire Canadian website is de- voted to tracking crow assaults in Vancouver. The site shows a map of the city bathed in a sea of red crow shaped icons that gets pinned to the map with every re- ported attack. Some residents in Florence have asked why the city does not move the nests to protect the tourist areas, with some stating that the city should be held ac- countable for such attacks. However, it is illegal to harm a crow or destroy an active nest, per the federal Migratory Bird Act of 1918. Some municipalities have attempted to deter attacks by destroying nests during winter times, but crows tend to rebuild nests each year, rarely returning to their previous roost. The idea of crows dive bomb- ing unsuspecting pedestrians is generally met with jokes involv- ing Alfred Hitchcock movies or bands of plucky local theater kids. But for some, the pounces can be mortifying. “While most people laugh when they first hear of a crow attack, as someone who has had a family member attacked and bloodied a couple of years ago, it is not a laughing matter,” Miller said. Generally, the birds aim for the head, creating small scratches on the skull. Because of the large amounts of blood vessels hidden just under the skin of the head, even the smallest gash can create a gush of excessive bleeding. “Being outdoors and hear- ing crows ‘talking’ usually isn’t a problem, but when the cawing is accompanied with a bird dive bombing you, it can be terrify- ing,” Miller said. “The attacks generally are from behind and without warning. They some- times will smack the person on the back of the head and if your hair is long, they can get stuck in the hair and you can imagine how traumatic that is, both for you and the bird.” If a person does face a crow onslaught, they shouldn’t panic. Fighting back will only make the bird more fearful, and lengthen the time of the attack. “Simply turn around and walk away,” Miller said. “You shouldn’t flap your arms at them. Just keep moving and move away from them.” While the crow offensive can leave a lasting impression, there have been no reported deaths linked directly to crows. Accord- ing to a June 2016 article in Sci- entific American, death by birds is extremely rare. In fact, the only birds known to cause human deaths are cassowaries, ostriches and a chicken who stabbed a man in California with a knife at an il- legal cockfight. Wikipedia does add one more to the mix, attributing to the death of a fisherman by two swans who teamed up and over- turned his boat. Some fear that a crow attack can lead to the possibility of dis- ease transmission, like West Nile Virus, which crows are extremely susceptible to. In fact, West Nile outbreaks in recent years have decimated some populations of American Crows. However, the crows do not transmit West Nile, or any other diseases, to humans during an attack. Even if one were to liter- ally “eat crow,” transmission is still rare, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There is no evidence of human infections by consuming properly cooked birds, though there have been rare cases of laboratory workers contracting West Nile through accidental exposure to infected tissues and blood. While death by a “murder” of crows may be unheard of, crow behavior can be particularly un- nerving. They are exceptionally intelligent birds with the uncan- ny ability to recognize faces. “If you anger a bird, it will hold a grudge against you,” Miller said. This behavior was described in a 2008 New York Times arti- cle about an experiment at the University of Washington. In the experiment, two humans were fitted with two types of rubber To discourage crows from Historic Old Town Florence now sports several “Nesting Crows — Beware!” signs to minimize dan- continuing to nest in Old Town, ger to people and pets walking down Bay, Laurel Miller asks residents and tourists alike to help keep the city clean. and First streets. Nesting lasts for several weeks. “Crows are scavengers and thrive on human garbage,” he that they may be targeted again the NY Times reported, said. “Fewer open garbage cans, by the protective family. To pre- with crows persistently fewer people intentionally feed- vent further attacks, Miller sug- screaming and attack- ing them and fewer food waste gests avoiding the area all togeth- ing those wearing the items left on outside tables means er. “mean” mask. Those fewer crows. ” “Change your [walking] route. with the “neutral” mask While crow behavior may escaped the harass- If you have been marked as a tar- seem unnerving during these get, it is best to change your route ment. four weeks, generally the birds to avoid the birds and their nest- And it wasn’t just the leave humans alone the other 48 ing areas. ” crows that had been weeks of the year. The route change is only need- tagged that were ex- “Regardless of what people hibiting the aggressive ed during the fledgling period. think, crows are not evil and are Once the little ones leave the behavior. The crows JARED ANDERSON/SIUSLAW NEWS just trying to live their lives and nest, crows go back to avoiding had communicated feed their families, just like the masks, one slightly mean look- with their flock the dangers of humans. For those who haven’t yet been rest of us,” Miller said. “We try ing, and another one that would the “mean” mask, and groups of be considered neutral. The birds joined to berate the one- blitzed by the birds, Miller gave a to encourage people to enjoy the crows (but please do not feed list of precautions. person with the “mean” mask time “trapper.” them), as well as other birds, and “Wearing a hat or using an um- trapped and banded seven crows “We have heard that when one to appreciate them for the fas- brella can fend off some swoops, for tracking purposes. crow gets upset with you, the oth- After the crows were released er crows watch what is going on, but people should avoid areas cinating and highly intelligent to their usual home, the universi- and they will recognize you too. with tall thick trees, where nests creatures that they are. When the ty campus, researchers had mul- It can spread through their net- are likely to be hidden, or stay- nesting season ends, crows move ing clear of trouble spots like to communal roosts and are tiple people walk around in the work rapidly,” Miller said. two different types of masks. The If a person is assaulted by a those that we have signed in Old much less likely to attack.” results were “quite spectacular,” crow in Old Town, it’s possible Town,” he said. Art by Tawnya Peerson UR Worth It and Come in r u m ee t o st t yli s n ewest . e r a K n '#" ## ("46/4:*4239 &'%'#"#%! &6)%&/7 ' % :/##" HAIR SALON H Men • Women • Children M Need a Perk-Up from the Neck-Up? We can help you with Cuts, Perms, Colors & Facial Waxing. %&'$'&'(% 3:5646''%'* #%"* #%!#%"#%!'#"+::8.8772 ,& ! + Open Monday –Friday , 9ish-5ish Late and Weekends by appointment only. % " ' - ( % " ! + 1247 Bay Street • Florence, OR • 541-997-7377 '%'%&&+ ')+ ''+ $+ "%&& '%'%&&+ ')+ FRESH CRAB #"(!%& #!+ ''+ $+ # % + + ! + "#%!' #" %''+ &' %#!$ ' "&## + "#%!'#" # GRILLED SALMON WITH HONEY-SOY MARINADE INGREDIENTS : How to Make It: Ingredients : 1 Tbs packed brown sugar 1 Tbs butter or margarine, melted 1 Tbs olive oil or vegetable oil 1 Tbs honey 1 Tbs soy sauce 1 clove garlic, fi nely chopped 1 large Salmon Filet approx 2 lbs., cut into 8 pieces In small bowl, mix all ingredients except salmon. FRESH IN THE CASE THIS WEEK: Chinook Salmon ( steaks & fi lets) Ling Cod, Rock Fish, Petrale and Dover Sole, Shrimp, Oysters, Steamer Clams, Smoked Fish, Fresh Crab and More !%")# "'' & % & !+ !+ !+ !+ #""(!%+ #""(!%+ #""(!%+ #""(!%+ In shallow glass or plastic dish, place salmon. Pour marinade over salmon. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes but no longer than 1 hour. Heat coals or gas grill. Remove salmon from marinade; reserve marinade. Place salmon, skin side down, on grill. Cover and grill over medium heat 10 to 20 minutes, brushing 2 or 3 times with marinade, until salmon fl akes easily with fork. Discard any remaining marinade. Happy Father’s Day! &!&& "#%!'#" ! !+ #""(!%+ !+ #""(!%+ '% "#%!'#" !! " ! ! THE KRAB KETTLE 280 Hwy. 101 (2 Blocks N. of Bridge) Florence MONDAY-SUNDAY 10-6 • 541-997-8996 $ !