As crows dive-bomb pedestrians, gov't warns against eye contact

Environmental authorities in Korea issued a public safety advisory Wednesday, warning urban residents of an increase in aggressive behaviors by large-billed crows as the birds enter their peak breeding season. The Ministry of Environment and the National Institute of Biological Resources said they are distributing ecological guidelines to local governments to help mitigate conflicts between humans and the highly adaptable birds. While crows are a common fixture in metropolitan areas, officials noted that encounters turn hazardous between May and July, when fledgling crows leave their nests but remain clumsy fliers close to the ground. During this fledgling period, parent crows become acutely protective. Perceiving passing pedestrians as imminent threats to their offspring, the adult birds frequently launch defensive dive-bombs, targeting the heads and necks of unsuspecting humans. To minimize confrontations, wildlife officials urged the public to carry umbrellas, wear hats or use bags to shield their heads when walking through wooded urban parks. Pedestrians are also advised to avoid diWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times