Decoys Keep Real Crows Away
When crows first pestered Johanna Trimble in her backyard, she had no idea it would lead to a business. But just a year after launching her Perfect Murder Decoys, the Maple Ridge, B.C., entrepreneur is busy making and selling her solution to others who are bothered by crows and magpies.
The weather-resistant decoys she sews are a humane alternative to an old solution — kill a crow and string it up to scare other crows away.
Trimble turned to her sewing and crafting skills when she learned that pest control companies didn’t really want to deal with crows. With polyester stuffing, wire in the wings, and all-weather nylon fabric she came up with a realistic design that could be shaped and hung to appear to be a dead crow.
She hung her prototype on a trellis where crows like to roost and another belly up in her yard — and it worked.
“My neighbors even noticed the crows were gone,” she recalls.
The crows left fairly quickly after a short “ceremony” common only to their species.
“They call out a warning call, which attracts other crows. They land and then have a moment of silence like a funeral,” Trimble says. Then they fly off.
To keep the decoys effective, Trimble moves them around every couple of weeks or more often to prevent the crows from getting acclimated to the decoy and start returning. She recommends using multiple decoys to protect larger areas or where the pest bird population is high.
“I noticed the number of songbirds seems to have increased. Now I hear all the little birds chirping,” Trimble says.
Growers use her decoys to protect everything from small fruit and berries to vegetable crops, watermelon and nuts. Livestock farmers use them to protect small animals ranging from chickens to mink and the young of larger animals like sheep, calves and colts.
The response from property owners has been great, and Trimble notes she enjoys her backyard again and doesn’t have to worry about raucous crows dive-bombing her anymore.
She sells her decoys for $55 (plus shipping) through her website and at area stores. Her design is patented in Canada, the U.S., and Europe.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Johanna Trimble (ph 778 867-2769; info@perfectmurderdecoys.ca; www.perfectmurderdecoys.ca).
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Decoys Keep Real Crows Away BIRD CONTROL When crows first pestered Johanna Trimble in her backyard she had no idea it would lead to a business But just a year after launching her Perfect Murder Decoys the Maple Ridge B C entrepreneur is busy making and selling her solution to others who are bothered by crows and magpies
The weather-resistant decoys she sews are a humane alternative to an old solution — kill a crow and string it up to scare other crows away
Trimble turned to her sewing and crafting skills when she learned that pest control companies didn’t really want to deal with crows With polyester stuffing wire in the wings and all-weather nylon fabric she came up with a realistic design that could be shaped and hung to appear to be a dead crow
She hung her prototype on a trellis where crows like to roost and another belly up in her yard — and it worked
“My neighbors even noticed the crows were gone ” she recalls
The crows left fairly quickly after a short “ceremony” common only to their species
“They call out a warning call which attracts other crows They land and then have a moment of silence like a funeral ” Trimble says Then they fly off
To keep the decoys effective Trimble moves them around every couple of weeks or more often to prevent the crows from getting acclimated to the decoy and start returning She recommends using multiple decoys to protect larger areas or where the pest bird population is high
“I noticed the number of songbirds seems to have increased Now I hear all the little birds chirping ” Trimble says
Growers use her decoys to protect everything from small fruit and berries to vegetable crops watermelon and nuts Livestock farmers use them to protect small animals ranging from chickens to mink and the young of larger animals like sheep calves and colts
The response from property owners has been great and Trimble notes she enjoys her backyard again and doesn’t have to worry about raucous crows dive-bombing her anymore
She sells her decoys for $55 plus shipping through her website and at area stores Her design is patented in Canada the U S and Europe
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Johanna Trimble ph 778 867-2769; info@perfectmurderdecoys ca; www perfectmurderdecoys ca
