Aggressive crows in Cagliari, the possibility of shooting them down (even) by gunfire.
Increasingly numerous, they attack people and animals: there's an extraordinary plan. The Metropolitan City is evaluating selective interventions, including the use of 12-gauge guns.A crow
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It's no longer just a feeling. Reports of attacks and aggressive behavior are increasing, especially during this time of year, when adults defend their chicks. But along with the attacks, there's also an increase in trash bin raids, bar table raids, the roaring of the chough, and protests from residents. The alarm is widespread throughout the neighborhoods, from Genneruxi to the European Quarter, from the Quartiere del Sole to Castello, to the point that a group of citizens has contacted the relevant authorities to request "urgent and decisive intervention." This is because, since the crow is a protected species (since 1992), private citizens cannot intervene with methods of containment, culling, or nest removal.
The Metropolitan City has therefore launched a three-year containment plan (2026-2028), already approved by ISPRA and the Region: the aim is to cull no more than 5,000 animals, and options include the use of rifles (as a last resort) exclusively by trained and authorized personnel. The question, therefore, is: will shooting be permitted in the city? For example, within Natura 2000 sites, such as Santa Gilla, Molentargius, Calamosca, and Cala Fighera, or will it be permitted only in the agricultural areas surrounding the city?
The alarm
Meanwhile, reports are multiplying. Some say they were grazed by a crow while smoking a cigarette on their balcony, others say they saw their dog attacked, and still others complain about the constant din caused by flocks of birds in the evening hours. But the inconvenience isn't just about the noise. Increasingly, crows (attracted by food) are rummaging through garbage, grabbing bags left on sidewalks, or approaching outdoor tables. "A few weeks ago, some crows attacked dogs, and, attracted by their reaction, their numbers increased to 30-40," reports Elisabetta Piu, a resident of the European Quarter. "We let the dogs inside, but since the crows kept circling overhead in the garden, effectively preventing us from leaving the house, we were forced to call the fire department, who, while unable to intervene directly, nevertheless provided us with helpful advice on how to safely remove them."
The systems
The Metropolitan City's plan envisages various capture methods to contain crows. First, the use of specific deterrents, then the use of traps (Larsen and Letter-Box), which operate year-round and exploit, for various reasons, the "morbid curiosity of these animals." As a last resort , the plan also provides for the possibility of killing them with "smooth-bore shotguns with a gauge no larger than 12 , which can be carried out using decoys in the places and times when they cause damage," the plan states. Translated? That will need to be evaluated. Certainly, "the implementation period of the Metropolitan City's plan" "is between March and August of each year," unless otherwise required.
The balance
The idea of using a rifle is inevitably bound to spark controversy. Residents, however, are demanding decisive action, given the constantly growing corvid population. The challenge will be to find a balance between wildlife protection and human safety. This is without considering the hygiene issues related to the mess they create when they attack waste bins. "We're often afraid they'll attack us," residents say.
Mauro Madeddu