Crows As Big As Cats

The Ainu, the indigenous peoples of Hokkaido before the Japanese arrived, have a legend about the crow, an unmistakable “pest” on the island. These birds are massive. On the drive to my new apartment I saw three birds attacking a small garden of cherry tomatoes. One flew to the stone wall separating the property from the street, wrapped its black claws around the tomato and jabbed it with its stake like beak. There was something horrifying about these midnight-black beasts swarming this domestic garden. They were like vicious wraiths; appearing out of place among the Crayola flowers and vibrant green grasses and trees.

The Ainu legend goes a little something like this. During Creation, the devil wanted to take away from men what was good and promising in the world. So, when the sun was to rise, the devil decided to swallow it. But the Creator knew of the devil’s plans and created the crow to counter the devil’s intentions.

As the sun began to rise, the devil opened his big mouth and the crows that the Creator made flew down his throat, saving the earth and man.

Since then the crow has led an entitled life believing that men owe him gratitude. So they live off his food with an uncontrollable boldness.

These crows’ caws sound like people yelling in help or pain. They’re everywhere. I look out my window and there they are, skulking around like stray dogs, searching for food.

Someone I met last night told me that there have been cases where crows have attacked small children, taking out their eyes. He also said that, in recent years since hunting them has become legal, they have started building decoy nests to trick hunters. They also have learned how to put nuts on pedestrian crosswalks and wait for cars to drive over them. That way they don’t have to waste time and energy picking at nuts themselves.

They’re remarkable, admirable, but they wouldn’t know you believe that.

Here’s an amusing video about a new and harmless crow preventative.