Rochester plans to employ pyrotechnics, loud noises, and lasers to manage large gatherings of crows

Rochester, New York – The City of Rochester is set to begin its wildlife management project aimed at dispersing a winter roost that consists of approximately 20,000 to 30,000 crows.

Wildlife biologists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program will utilize pyrotechnics, spotlights, lasers, and amplified electronic recordings of crow distress calls to disperse the crows.

The city aims to disperse the large roost and reduce the issues associated with the significant number of crows in the Downtown area. When dispersed and organized into smaller groups, the impact on the area will be minimized.

The event is set to commence at dusk on December 11 and December 12 in Downtown Rochester, extending throughout the night. The city has announced that additional measures will be implemented to prevent the birds from congregating once more for a significant roost.

Representatives from the City and Wildlife Service acknowledge that the management techniques can be noisy at times and request the public’s cooperation as crews operate across the city.