Seattle residents flee attacking crows

Updated
Seattle Gears Up For Crow Attacks
Seattle Gears Up For Crow Attacks


When we think of fending off an attack, another human usually comes to mind, right? But what would you do if your attacker flew in from above? Fox News reports that Seattle residents ran through the streets as angry crows swooped down on their heads.



A local resident thinks he might have offended the birds when he saved a baby robin they were about to eat. Although the incident took place in 2012, the media recently picked up the story - and the man who thinks he caused the attack still might not be off the hook.

"Experts say crows don't forget a face, did you know that? They can recognize someone after a year?"

In fact, Discovery says studies say crows might be able to remember people's faces for up to FIVE years. And it gets even worse: Not only can a crow remember a face, but when it feels threatened, it flies overhead and cackles. This often brings in more crows who learn the face, too.

That resident might need to be on high alert for the remainder of the year. But just because you didn't tick off a crow doesn't mean you're safe.

In fact, innocent bystanders are often caught up in these kinds of stand-offs during the summer. The Seattle Times even maps the season's incidents so residents can take detours.

So why all the hostility?

According to mynorthwest.com, this is the season when young crows are leaving their nests for the first time -- the problem is they aren't particularly good at flying. In fact, they often end up on the ground, which is why their fierce parents feel the need to protect them.

To protect yourself, crow expert John Marzluff says: "Something [that] works really well is [facing] the bird that's attacking. They usually only come from behind, so if you look at the bird, they'll typically not do anything. It might get a little tiring walking backwards for awhile but that does work."

After seeing that video, we'll take any tips we can get. Alfred Hitchcock's movie was already giving us nightmares.

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