Black crows pulling up plants - Ask Extension
We live in Marion County in south Salem. We have lived in the same house for 50 years and always had an extensive vegetable and flower garden.
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Black crows pulling up plants #907806
Asked June 30, 2025, 10:00 AM EDT
We live in Marion County in south Salem. We have lived in the same house for 50 years and always had an extensive vegetable and flower garden.
Last year we noticed that over night many of our marigolds and lobelia would be pulled up mainly overnight. I would try to replant them but often some would be pulled up again.
Our ground is very fertile because I regularly put down several inches of compost and it is filled with earthworms.
My guess is that the crows are attracted by the bright colors of the flowers and they pull up the plants to get to the worms.
They have recently pulled up both pepper plants and corn that was recently planted and still shallow rooted.
We have tried putting down red pepper to discourage this and some other treatments but nothing seems to work.
Any suggestions?
This is driving me a little crazy.
Marion County Oregon
Expert Response
Crows would not be active overnight, but they are definitely known for watching gardeners and then coming early in the morning to "harvest" newly-planted seeds - and perhaps also tender young plants. You're correct in that they might also be harvesting the invertebrates that are flourishing in your rich soil.
First step might be to make sure that the crows are the ones responsible for all the removals you're seeing. For example, have you seen any signs (dirt mounds, for example) of gophers?
For the crows, I would recommend exclusion - in other words, fence/cage them out so they cannot do the damage - or, use a motion-detection water "scarecrow" to behaviorally exclude them during the day.
First step might be to make sure that the crows are the ones responsible for all the removals you're seeing. For example, have you seen any signs (dirt mounds, for example) of gophers?
For the crows, I would recommend exclusion - in other words, fence/cage them out so they cannot do the damage - or, use a motion-detection water "scarecrow" to behaviorally exclude them during the day.
