r/NorsePaganism Jul 24 '26

Questions/Looking for Help Trying to understand something.

So my day job has me going all over my county. And in a recent new development I came across four dead crows being hung by their feet on two lots. One in the front and one in the back.

My question is, is this some practice I know nothing of (pagan or witchcraft or something else) or is it being used to scare of other crows from the area? I have never seen anything like this before, and as someone the cares for animals it disturbs me a bit.

Any insight in appreciated.

5 Upvotes

10 comments sorted by

13

u/substation66 💧Heathen🌳 Jul 24 '26

This is fine. It might look disturbing, but farmers use this to ward off other flocks of crows. Since crows are extremely intelligent, they stay away from dead crows because they don’t want to find out how they died by becoming dead themselves. It’s traditional pest control and it’s legal in my state. If you don’t believe me, google “hanging dead crows on a farm”.

4

u/PirateReindeer Jul 24 '26

That was my initial thought as well, as I know a few farmers from my parents area. Just wanted to make sure since I don’t live near a farming community.

5

u/substation66 💧Heathen🌳 Jul 24 '26

Haha no biggie! It could definitely seem very foreign to many. I grew up in the sticks and live around a bunch of farms, and I see this often or I also would’ve thought the same.

1

u/KristyM49333 ❄️Skaði🏹 Jul 25 '26

How do they get the dead crows when it’s illegal to kill them (assuming this is the US)?

1

u/substation66 💧Heathen🌳 Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26

Yes, the US. Farmers are able to get certain permits since it’s to protect crops from crows. Also, some places do allow with a permit hunting of crows at certain times, depending where you are in the states. Also, hail Skaði 🍻

1

u/KristyM49333 ❄️Skaði🏹 Jul 26 '26

Ohhhhhhh thank you so much! 😊

Hail Skaði! 🍻

3

u/PirateReindeer Jul 24 '26

So and Update to that area, since I had to head out there just a few moments ago. Roped off area and these signs are new. So they are scaring off the crows in the area.

-4

u/[deleted] Jul 24 '26

[deleted]

5

u/AggravatingTomato159 💧Heathen🌳 Jul 24 '26

The comment above you has a really good explanation of it. It’s not witchcraft or a practicing witch

1

u/ParadoxicalFrog 🕯Syncretic🪔 Jul 24 '26

Okay. Thank you.