UC Davis will begin using a non-lethal noisemaking machine to drive crows away from fields on the west side of campus beginning the afternoon of Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023.

Several strawberry research projects in the fields near Olive Tree Drive and Hutchison Drive are being damaged by large numbers of crows.

The noisemaker, which makes a sound like a muffled blast, will operate as needed between 7-10 a.m. and 3-6 p.m. daily, including weekends, for 30 days. 

Noisemakers are the most effective and non-lethal way to deter wild birds. The devices are widely used in commercial agriculture and were used by the campus last year to deter migrating geese from damaging small-grains research. 

UC Davis officials considered the environmental impact of the device, compared other potential options for deterrence, consulted with wildlife experts on campus and decided that this temporary measure — to be used only during daytime periods — is the best option to safely and effectively advance the research.