Watertown’s five-day crow hazing will start Dec. 19

Crows beware.

City officials have announced the company conducting this season’s crow hazing program will be in Watertown from Dec. 19 to. 23 to try to rid the city of the pesky birds.

Wildlife biologists from Loomacres Wildlife Management, Warnerville, will use a variety of methods to disperse the crows. On those nights, they will be out from dusk until dawn, using special remote-controlled aircraft, playing distress calls, firing low-yield pyrotechnics and using hand-held lasers.

These techniques — some of which will be loud and sound like fireworks — should cause the crows to relocate to more suitable roosting sites outside the city and reduce the human health and safety risks associated with an urban crow roost, city officials said.

A wildlife biologist from the company already has started keeping tabs on where the crows roost in the city. In recent weeks, the biologist has visited Watertown while doing some crow-dispersing methods at Watertown International Airport near Dexter.

Loomacres biologists also have asked city residents to report where the crows have been staying at night. The toll-free phone number to report crow activities in the city is 1 (800) 243-1462, or they can be reported online at www.airportwildlife.com/crows.php.

For further information or questions, call the city manager’s office at 785-7730.