Yishun resident uses netting & spiked mats to keep crows away, NParks & town council working to control crow population

In an attempt to keep crows away, a Yishun resident paid to install barriers in the flat's corridors, such as netting and spiked mats.

The resident, 68-year-old Deng (transliterated), told Shin Min Daily News that he had reportedly been woken up by crows cawing every morning at about 4am or 5am for the past two years.

Deng, who lived at Block 269, Yishun Street 22, for more than 30 years, added that at times, he had to find a quiet place to stay for that day.

Worried about getting pecked

Noting that the flats had been renovated less than a year ago, Deng said he was very worried as there had supposedly been bird droppings everywhere.

Shin Min reported that bird droppings were seen in common areas and on the handrails on the ground floor of the flats.

"There are people here feeding crows, pigeons, and mynas," he said, adding that he has diabetes and was worried about getting a bacterial infection if he had been pecked.

Addressing issue

Deng then installed netting around his home, Shin Min reported, adding that he also installed spiked mats on the railing outside his neighbour's house to prevent crows from lingering there.

Speaking to Shin Min, another resident, 62-year-old Zheng, said: "Last week, crows flew into the window, probably attracted by the smell."

"But they probably didn't dare to fly in because someone was in the kitchen," she added.

Responding to Shin Min's queries, the National Parks Board (NParks) said it was aware of the situation and was working with the Yishun Town Council to control the area's crow population.

This includes regularly pruning trees and reducing the crows' food sources, as well as regularly conducting nest surveys and implementing population control measures such as trapping and removing nests.

Responding to queries from Mothership, NParks say they are aware of feedback about crows around Yishun Street 22, and have been working with Nee Soon Town Council to manage the crow population in the area, including conducting regular tree pruning and reducing food sources. Regular crow nest surveys, and population control operations such as trapping and nest removal are also carried out.

From January to May 2026, more than 270 crows in Yishun were removed during trapping operations. More than 1,500 nests were also removed during the same period.

Penalties

Shin Min reported that to prevent the number of pest birds from increasing, members of the public can help by refraining from feeding wild birds and ensuring that they properly dispose of food scraps.

Under the Wildlife Act, feeding any wild animal, including pigeons, can result in a fine of up to S$5,000 for first-time offenders and up to S$10,000 for repeat offenders.