(La Porte, IN) - There seems to be no answer to the hundreds of crows roosting every night at the La Porte County courthouse, and the mess they leave behind the next morning.

 

During the La Porte County Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, Director of Facilities Sheryl Lestinsky said the problem with droppings is more of a challenge in the winter because the sidewalks cannot be power washed without the risk of ice forming.

 

“It’s hard to keep up with,” she said.

 

Lestinsky also said if something ever worked to persuade the crows to go elsewhere, that couldonly transfer the problem to another location in the city. The crows roosting in the trees on the courthouse lawn, and even in the bell tower, have been a longstanding problem. The use of strobe lights and other things have been tried in the past with only short term limited success.

 

“We have used many different mechanisms on trying to work with these birds,” said Commission President Connie Gramarossa.

 

Unfortunately, she said it seems like cleaning the sidewalks on regular basis might be the only way to deal with the stubborn crows, unless they find some other favorite roosting place.

 

“I don’t know where we’re going to go from here,” she said.

 

Commissioner Steve Holifield said the use of lasers to discourage crows elsewhere seems to have good reviews. However, he doesn’t believe the use of lasers is possible here with the U.S. 35 overpass being so close to the courthouse, and potential for the lights to distract drivers.

 

“Maybe, it’s just something that we’re going to have to live with,” he said.

 

In 2021, the use of noise makers only crows can hear was credited with keeping the birds away from the courthouse for several months.