I blogged a week or two ago about the amazing population of crows that assaulted my presence on an early morning shopping trip to New Hartford. I was just stunned by all the crows. I live out in the country, nearby, and we have a lot of crows, but... seeing about 60-80 crows swarming around a parking lot in the city was quite the sight.

Utica is complaining about all the crows. I shake my head in amazement. Do people suddenly get really, really stupid once elected into office, or is it just the dumb ones who get elected to begin with?!

The city is considering new solutions to an old problem – masses of crows roosting in the city in the colder months.

“Right now we’re considering a couple things,” said Angelo Roefaro, assistant to Mayor David Roefaro. “We’re trying to look at this more as a permanent solution.”

The issue goes back to the beginning years of this decade, if not further. Around 2000, the city contracted with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to “harass” flocks of crows in South Utica.

For decades, Upstate New York has had this problem. And all the politicians can think of is chasing them away. The massive crow population was a problem a decade ago in Buffalo (western NY). The politicians had them chased off with electronic noise makers and flashing lights (some people were driven off too). So where did the crows go? East, toward Rochester and Auburn. Ok... chase them again, the politicians said. So the crows went eastward again, to Syracuse. Guess what those brainy people in Syracuse did? Chased them, again eastward. Now it's Utica's problem. And now Utica wants to chase them. Guess where the crows are going to go?

DUH!!!!!!!!!! What dunderheads!

But Steve Heerkens, a wildlife biologist for the state Department of Environmental Conservation in the Mohawk Valley, said that solution was only temporary and the crows are now back in force.

“The roost size, I’m sure, is between 10,000 to 15,000,” he said.

He said there is no way to permanently move the crows, which instinctively fly back to the city every winter.

They are attracted by the extra light and warmth afforded by a city, he said.

“The idea is not to rid the city of the crows, because there is no way to do that,” he said. “There’s no method that I know of.”

SHOOT THEM, SHOOT THEM, SHOOT THEM!

That's the way I know how to get rid of the durn varmints! Crows are a nuisance! They destroy, they attack, they stink, they are loud and aggravating, they chase away songbirds (our natural defense against insect pests), and more. Why does the state keep chasing them around in circles?!

The crow is a native species. The laws say we can't harm them, because of this. Yet the crows are killing and driving off other native species, like our precious songbirds (and taxpayers).

Someone please tell me why these state leaders just want to rattle pots and pans at the crows?!

GRRRR!