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Man arrested for killing 13 crows with pesticide claims they were noisy

80 Comments

Police in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, have arrested a 63-year-old man on suspicion of violating the wildlife protection and hunting law after he poisoned crows with food containing pesticide.

Police said Jun Hattori, a hospital staff member, has admitted to the allegations and quoted him as saying, “The crows were cawing loudly every morning,” Kyodo News reported.

According to the warrant, Hattori fed crows scraps of food containing the pesticide cyanophos at a temple compound and its parking lot on March 8. Thirteen crows died from ingesting the toxic pesticide, prompting the head priest at the temple to consult with police.

Hattori was identified after an analysis of surveillance camera footage.

The temple said many deceased crows have been found on its grounds before and police are questioning Hattori about those cases.

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80 Comments
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I wonder if there are actually any punishments provisions in that law. Usually there are none for "wildlife protection".

5 ( +13 / -8 )

The crows are indeed a pest. The problem is that the government has no (or essentially no) crow mitigation program. Aside from constantly getting into the garbage bags and containers, crows also do a lot of damage to agriculture and homes. There's essentially no natural predator to keep the population in check.

Unfortunately, it's also illegal for people to kill crows.

2 ( +23 / -21 )

Police said Jun Hattori, a hospital staff member, has admitted to the allegations and quoted him as saying, “The crows were cawing loudly every morning,” Kyodo News reported.

Corvids scavenge garbage and can be annoying but are highly intelligent and there are less cruel ways to drive them away .

Animal cruelty criminal punishments need teeth and corvids carry grudges.

Letting a murder of crows have their way with him would be a appropriate punishment.

11 ( +21 / -10 )

Crow Killers must be punished..

-12 ( +12 / -24 )

What a bastard lock him up

-7 ( +15 / -22 )

Unfortunately, it's also illegal for people to kill crows.

Crows or ravens just added HLE along with Hattori to their notes.

https://ca.audubon.org/news/things-you-may-or-may-not-know-about-crows#:~:text=Crows%20will%20even%20seek%20revenge,in%20a%20kind%20of%20funeral.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Japan has lots of flourishing pests. In my area it’s the inoshishii (wild pigs). They are quite intelligent and understand it’s safer for them in the residential areas than in the woods where the hunters and traps are. Anyway, there is a need for an agency to cull or reduce the numbers of these pests.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

I wish he would come to my local park. We're all tired of being attacked by crows and having our raw household garbage strewn all over the streets. Why aren't the authorities poisoning them? They are an invasive species, after all.

-4 ( +10 / -14 )

Just woked up and read instead of crows, cows. Imagine my surprise when I read that they were in a temple.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

The other day I watched a Battle Royal from my window between three or four crows and a large wood hawk looking for lunch.

Our garbage goes into metal cages so the wildlife can't get at it. Crows, monkeys, pigs, deer, bears.

13 ( +13 / -0 )

Japan has lots of flourishing pests. 

Its a shame that crows, wild boar, and deer are seen as pests. They are an excellent source of meat. Yes- even crows. There are some places here in Japan that serve crow meat, but it's around 5000-6000 yen for a plate of crow, so didn't try it. Crow was also historically eaten in Lithuania and was seen there as an aphrodisiac.

If I had the means, I would start capturing all the crows, deer and boar that I could and start farming them as local food. Would certainly do wonders for the food dependency of Japan.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

This is why they are not being culled. Something has to be done though.

It may seem like the crow has a negative association, that could not be further from the truth. Japanese culture places a great emphasis on these birds and they believe that they symbolize gratitude, guidance, divineness and good luck.

Yatagarasu (八咫烏) is a mythical crow and a guiding god in Shinto mythology. During Emperor Jimmu's Eastern Expedition, he was guided from the Kumano Region to Yamato Province by Yatagarasu, who was sent by Takamimusubi.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

The guy wasn’t arrested for killing crows. He was arrested for doing it on the grounds of a shrine. I doubt he would have been arrested for doing the same thing on his own property.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

what a psychopath. it's sad that likely nothing of significance will be done about his murderous behaviour.

-9 ( +6 / -15 )

Unfortunately, nature sometimes is ‘noisy’. Cars and motorbikes are even noisier.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

I was wondering why the police acted in this incident. It seems the answer is that it was recorded on video. That means the police did not have to collect evidence. The evidence was given to them by the temple so they did not need to look for evidence.

Usually the police refuse to investigate animal cruelty if it requires looking for evidence. They say they act only if provided with a video of someone killing animals.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

It doesn’t play a role if someone likes or doesn’t like crows. Just don’t kill own or other life forms if they don’t threaten your life first. In addition that psycho brought lethal chemical substances into circulation. It’s not away now with those dead crows, that pesticide ‘cyanophos’. It lands somewhere around us afterwards, in air, soil, food or drinking water, whatever. And believe me , even if you are not a crow, you surely don’t want now that guy’s cyan or phosphor in your body more than necessary or already otherwise acquired.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

they always have these segments on tv on how to drive away crows and it always never works too. Fireworks drive them off for minutes. Introducing hawks works for minutes until the crows work together to drive it off. The only way is to make it less convenient for them. GET PROPER TRASH BINS AND STOP USING THE NETS

9 ( +10 / -1 )

The only way is to make it less convenient for them. GET PROPER TRASH BINS AND STOP USING THE NETS.

Agree. The nets do work in most crow territories, but in my neighborhood in central Osaka, some building owners and superintendents are just too lazy to use them.

Also, you can use better food to get acquainted with the local crows to draw them away from the garbage bags. (I use unshelled organic peanuts.)

I do this in five crow territories on my early morning walks, and the ones I know have become calm, nonaggressive, and quieter. My local park has even put up a sign saying that the crows in that park are used to humans and not aggressive, so there’s no need to harass them.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I live in Nagoya and there were two sets of crows nests in the park opposite my house.

Incredibly noisy from 5am till nightfall.

They were scarily territorial.

Swooping down on any one who walked by.

And it had nothing to do with garbage.

I was thinking of getting an airgun but I knew the law didn't allow me

2 ( +7 / -5 )

I actually like crows. Often see them hopping around, sitting en masse atop power lines, or circling in swarms above a nearby hill in the early evening. Saw one chase off a kite once. Nature sounds - crows cawing, frogs croaking, cicadas singing - don’t bother me. Only had my garbage attacked once by crows and that was my fault for not securing the garbage station properly.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

They were scarily territorial.

Swooping down on any one who walked by.

Yes, super territorial, and especially aggressive in the nesting season. If your local park is not very large, it might just be one family with the previous year’s chicks.

Many years ago, I was confronted by a very angry crow (probably the mother) in Osaka Castle Park when I got too close to its chick in early spring. Scared the socks off me.

But if even one person gets acquainted with them, they calm down and get much less aggressive — even in the nesting season. Last year and this past spring the parents in various territories (I visits five places on a regular basis) let me get very close to the chicks with no problems at all.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Swooping down on any one who walked by.

They remember faces apparently. And are capable of organizing themselves against targets.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

This is a legal travesty and blatant abuse of power by the fascist-like Japanese police. Nagoya is an ugly industrial urban dump whose unruly citizens poor disposal of their trash attracts urban crows. Crows living in city limits are not wildlife. They are not wild. They are noisy. Essentially, this man was arrested for doing what Nagoya City officials were too lazy to do: Eradicating the crow population. Hopefully, he will get justice through good karma.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Hope he finds prison to be quieter.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

I like crows. They are big, black, glossy, beautiful birds, a part of nature.

If the worst you can accuse them of is spreading rubbish around, do as others have suggested and take responsibility for your own rubbish. Seal it up properly, but it in a cage, not in a paper bag on the street.

Live and let live.

As for this lowlife Hattori - let him try eating food laced with pesticide, see how loud it makes him caw. Looney.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

To be honest, people spread way more rubbish around than crows could ever do.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Swooping down on any one who walked by.

They remember faces apparently. And are capable of organizing themselves against targets.

Yes, they remember faces. They’ll remember anybody harasses them, so I don’t recommend doing so. No matter what I wear — including a mask — they remember me and come down even if I don’t call them. And they wait quietly and patiently at my feet for the sure-bet peanuts.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Usually I would be pissed at hearing about old man noise rage..........

But crows? yeah, that's a whole different deal.

I'm not saying he shoulda killed them.............but I understand.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Been bitten by snakes and centipedes, so I love crows.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

The crows eat the mice in the rice fields.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

 Jun Hattori, a hospital staff member, has admitted to the allegations and quoted him as saying, “The crows were cawing loudly every morning,”

What's he do during election season? Nothing is louder than those vans?

13 ( +15 / -2 )

The crows eat the mice in the rice fields.

wallace, you trying to put me off crows?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

cleo

your dogs are not vegetarians. Never see a mouse when out walking. The snakes and the crows. Our garbage is in metal cages. So the crows have a "natural" diet.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I wonder how many barking dogs or stray cats in heat he has also killed for making too much noise.

Also, if he just left the poisoned food around, rather than directly feeding them, it could have also be eaten by stray animals or even leashed pets on walks.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Where I live in Tokyo, Crows are not a noise problem but the parrots are. The air soft gun persuades them to go bother someone else.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

I read somewhere that the farmers over here routinely kill hundreds of crows at a time. I like them, but then they aren't eating my corn crop.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

what a weirdo.

Animals should not be poisoned in the wild for any reason even for being pest because other animals might eat the carcass and die.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

John

Animals should not be poisoned in the wild for any reason even for being pest because other animals might eat the carcass and die.

Correct!!! Many beautiful and majestic birds of prey are killed by eating poisoned mice.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

We should remember that crows eat carrion and help keep roadsides clear of dead animals that would otherwise be health concerns.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

A crow family can eat 40,000 grubs, caterpillars, armyworms, and other insects in one nesting season. That's a lot of insects many gardeners and farmers consider pests. These good environmental citizens also transport and store seeds, thus contributing to forest renewal.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

If my dog or cat ate the poison he left out he would have a lot more to be worried about than being arrested!

7 ( +7 / -0 )

The thought of eating crows is disgusting.

To you it is Jack. To me it isn't.

I personally find eating horse meat disgusting- particularly if its raw, BUT people here do love their Basashi.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Given the fact crows eat just about anything i would sincerely doubt the safety or nutritional value.

Pigs eat their own shiit. AND they don't sweat.

Food for thought.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Crows and other birds are loud and pests, but only actions to make them move away are allowed. This can be easy for dumber birds, but crows are smart, so it has to become uncomfortable for them to be there.

There were so many birds that grass couldn't grow due to the salt levels in their poop. Car paint was becoming etched due to the droppings. The hot sun didn't help.

At my University, 15 campus employees with shotguns (no shot, just blanks) were deployed for a few months to keep troublesome birds away. The size of the problem is hard to explain. Every tree, every branch, every inch had these birds on them cackling almost 24/7. At least once a year, every student just walking across campus would be "hit" with droppings. Initially, they'd flock from one part of the trees to others after the shot happened, where another person with a shotgun waited. They flew back and forth with the guys shooting blanks to scare them away just as they arrived at the new location. This was with approval of the University System/President/Chancellor. The University Police were notified what was happening, but the city police wouldn't always be notified. They'd take the shotguns from the employees and write them tickets. It was a different time.

They did eventually win, but a few birds have returned, just not the massive numbers that were such a huge problem for the entire University.

Today, firing a shotgun, even with blanks, into the air wouldn't be allowed.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

theFu

I’m guessing that was in Tokyo. When I lived in Tokyo many years ago (1995-1996), I was was surprised to see so many crows gathered in one place in the daytime. One such place was Meiji Shrine.

In Osaka, the situation is very different. One family will have their territory staked out, and so we see two to four birds from one family in one area. If an outside crow comes into the territory — especially anywhere near the nest — the interloper is unceremoniously chased away.

The only time I see a large number gathered in Osaka City is when they all go to roost at night.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Why can’t humans live and let live more?

I love crows and know them to be extremely intelligent with a well developed language to boot

Having said that I have wild deer and pig in my freezer which is a lot healthier than hormone and chemical pumped meat one finds in supermarkets

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Why can’t humans live and let live more?

Totally agree. Like ‘em or loathe ‘em, they’re here to stay, and they are very intelligent.

After only one and a half years of interacting with them, I’ve picked up a bit of their language. The ones that know me even make a kind of gurgling/purring sound when I pull out the peanut bag. They also call me with a very gentle “caw” when they see me coming into their territory.

Very interesting and to be treated with respect and humanity.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Given the fact crows eat just about anything i would sincerely doubt the safety or nutritional value.

Pigs eat their own shiit. AND they don't sweat.

Food for thought.

Why talk about Pigs ?

Look at your own post

Given the fact crows eat just about anything i would sincerely doubt the safety or nutritional value.

That was the benchmark that YOU used. The fact that they eat anything. But that can apply to pigs and even goats too.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Japanese generally hate crows but I love them .I hope this guy's cellmate is extra noisy.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Pigs are farmed vaccinated etc whilst the crows aren't.

So by THAT criterion you would not eat boar, pheasant, or deer.

But remember those horses aren't running around eating everyones trash and road kill and attacking people and the horses are vaccinated

Wild boar are running around eating everyone's trash and road kill and attacking people and like the crows are not vaccinated.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Aly we live on a remote island and nobody has wild boar eating thier trash or pheasant eating thier trash.

They aren't in the city.

Ok. That's YOUR situation on your island, BUT the fact is AGAIN using YOUR critieria about why you can't eat crows But remember those horses aren't running around eating everyones trash and road kill and attacking people and the horses are vaccinated

Wild boar are running around eating everyone's trash and road kill and attacking people and like the crows are not vaccinated.

That criteria DOES apply to Boar. Just because they don't behave that way on YOUR island doesn't mean they don't behave that way in general. They do.

There's so many bald crows with abnormalities growths as such it is just common sense foolish to eat them.

You just keep walking back your arguments and flip flopping.

A silly argument anyway given the fact it isn't legal to kill the crows anyway.

Look who's giving the silly arguments. You are constantly changing your reasons.

We don't have deer.

Goat many but it stinks.

So what? That doesn't change the fact that people can and do eat deer, boar,

Then again perhaps you have been eating the crows and that explains the rabid type commenting

the rabid type commenting?? Well let's look at your most recent comments to me...

Eat all the trash eating crows you want and do us all a favor.

> Just don't be surprised if you become ill of some rare uncurable diseases.

And do a parasite cleanse

Uuuummmm.... who's doing the rabid type commenting????????

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

There's a constant bounty on peacocks here as they destroy crops 

Okinawa government pays to help cull them.

……

Peacocks are wild and not trash eating.

The peacocks in Okinawa are not wild, they are the descendants of birds that were introduced by the tourist industry to decorate their resorts. Some birds escaped their enclosures during a typhoon years ago. If they’re a problem, they’re a 100% human-made problem.

Try applying that concept to war crimals or genocidal criminal that were sentenced to death.

I’ll agree with you that some humans do not deserve to see the light of day (though I do not agree with the death penalty: just because the lowlifes are barbaric, it doesn’t mean we should be). But crows, while they may be noisy, mischievous and even messy, are not war criminals or genocidal criminals; they’re just birds.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

5 crows in an area aren't a problem. 2 million are. It is a matter of degree. I think almost everyone likes having a few birds around, except Chinese, but if your neighborhood is taken over by 50,000+ birds, it is completely different.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Eating crows isn't a healthy dietary option.

It's perfectly fine. They are eaten in many parts of the world including Europe.

Aly thats delusional because i never once flip-flopped or changed my tune on whether eating crows was not disgusting.

No, but you did flip flop on the reasons for not eating them.

Its not only completely disgusting it's illegal !

BS. There are restaurants here in Japan that serve crow. Problem is they are too expensive.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Japanese link to eating crow.

<突撃イバラキ>カラス肉の生食文化 究極のジビエに挑戦:東京新聞 TOKYO Web (tokyo-np.co.jp)

0 ( +2 / -2 )

During this time of year, several crows in my neighborhood attack the elderly coming out from a supermarket. I've witnessed a crow land on an obāsan's rear basket while she was riding on her chari. I'm pretty sure that crow ruined all of that poor woman's groceries. That's just one story out of dozens. My littler girl got her snack pecked on while she was buckled on to her childseat. My wife was removing her groceries from her chari's basket when out of nowhere the crow landed on the bike's seat looking straight at my daughter's snack. These crows like attacking the vulnerable and if you let them, they will bully you.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I never said the peacocks were wild so why the fuss anyway

Quick copy-paste -

What ol' Jack Burton always saysJune 29  03:03 pm JST

Peacocks are wild and not trash eating.

Has your account been hacked? Or you don't remember in the afternoon what you said in the morning?

Some of the birds are basically rabid

Rabies affects only mammals. Birds cannot catch rabies, basically or otherwise.

That's ridiculous because the trash the crows are eating is man made.

What does what crows eat have to do with the 'problem' of peacocks in Okinawa?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I do agree with a authorised cull of pests, but I don't agree with crewlty, crows and rooks will attack new born lambs, they peck there yes out rendering the lambs blind, so there needs to be a Ballance in nature, as for poisoning, that could be classed as cruel as it could be a slow and painful death,

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

If he only did some research in crows, Work with the crow and will would benefit your area, your farm and your hunting grounds. Take lambing season if you were smart you be going down to your local abattoir a line up a few potatos sacks of eyesballs, they only get discarded to the rendering plant, The week lambing occurs dummy the eyeballs in a way off paddock. 3 bags should cover 3 weeks and by then the lamb will not be so valuable. Start a compost pile where you dump all of the thrown out fruit and veg and breads from your local markets. You turn it over once a week the crow add their own fertiliser. Has for hunting because you have a working relationship built up over decades the crow know were the game is and will take you straight to the deer ,pig and fox your hunting. Crow can be your best friend if you work with them. It seem by the comment none are farmers or never been farmers.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I mean, he's not wrong.

They are noisy.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

We get quite a few crows in our garden and they sure are noisy little things. They would make great burglar alarms though....lol!!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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