Question #15: Why don't scarecrows scare crows?

HeyJay's question: Steve, I'm curious why scarecrows don't actually seem to scare crows away?

Current mood: rubbery

That's an easy one HeyJay . . . scarecrows aren't terribly scary to crows (or any member of the Corvid family, for that matter). It would appear as though gardener/farmer-types are basing their scarecrow-making tactics on the assumption that Corvids are afraid of humans. So they construct "fake humans" (very life-like I might add) and crucify them in the middle of their fields (think: Jesus wearing a hat) in an effort to deter us from eating their crops.

Helpful hint #1: We'd be much more interested in eating a "real human" crucified in the middle of your field than any crops you might be growing - especially if it's been sitting out in the sun for awhile.

This might be hard for you to imagine, my human friends, but animals simply don't have a sense of ownership of the food growing on the Earth regardless of whether it's growing in the wild or in neat little rows outside of your house. Though if food is in short supply I have seen things get ugly regardless of the species involved.

Helpful hint #2: Perhaps if you leave an offering of food out for your black feathered friends you'd find that we're less of a nuisance.

We may not be afraid of humans, but we're certainly afraid of many of the things that you create. If you really want to scare us away my suggestion would be to place stereo speakers in your field or garden and play, at a very loud volume, a mix of country music (preferably songs that rhyme 'blue jeans' with 'baked beans') and anything by Kenny G.

Thanks for your question HeyJay.

Email me with your question stevetheraven@tds.net