Tel Aviv says ‘nothing we can do’ as crows attack children, adults at city kindergarten

Violent crows have reportedly attacked parents and children at a kindergarten in central Tel Aviv, but the city says there is nothing it can do to stop the avian assaults.

Shelly Tapiero, a reporter for the Kan public broadcaster, posted on X yesterday that on Sunday, she saw a crow attack a child as he was leaving the kindergarten, and then was attacked herself the next day.

“I witnessed a crow attack one of the children,” she wrote. “The terrified boy screamed, was overwhelmed and ran away. This morning, I was attacked to the point of bleeding by a crow at the entrance to the kindergarten.”

She wrote that when she complained to the city, she was told municipal officials attend only to wounded crows.

The city appears to confirm her account, writing that it is unable to stop the attacks.

“Hi Shelly, we’re sorry to hear about the attack,” Tel Aviv’s official X account responds. It then explains that it is currently the end of nesting season, when chicks fall from nests, leading the adult crows to attack anyone nearby.

“As a municipality, there is nothing we can do about the phenomenon, and we are unable to get involved, and can only recommend that you keep your distance from the area until the chicks grow.”

Tapiero posted today that a teacher at the kindergarten was attacked and, when she absented herself today, her substitute was attacked.