NORWICH – City officials think they’ve found an inexpensive and effective way to lessen the crow population this fall and winter.

The secret weapon: Laser pointers.

The program worked well last year in its trial run, Development Specialist Todd Dreyer said, and deterred crows from roosting in the city’s east and west side parks, where in they past they had congregated by the hundreds.

The pointers cost between $10 and $20, much cheaper and more effective than the birds of prey the city hired a few years ago, Dreyer said.

“The laser isn’t harmful. It gently persuades them and gets them flying,” said Dreyer. “We did that a couple times for a few weeks early in the season, and the crows decided to find another spot. And we found that once they decide to no longer roost in a spot, they don’t come back.”

The city hired local handyman Warren Bates to go out at night for two weeks last October to push the crows from the downtown parks. He’ll be at it again this season, once the first few start showing up.

“I’d just point it at them. I don’t even think they feel it,” said Bates. “But they don’t like it and they take right off.”

Bates said after a few days he could tell that less were coming back, and that there weren’t nearly as many roosting compared to years past.

“Some of them came back,” he said. “So I went out the next day and did it again.”

Bates worked for about two weeks last season, working one to two hours a night. He’ll do the same this year, except with additional target areas.

“We have to watch where they go,” said Dreyer. “This year is going to be a more directed effort to care of it. I think with Warren helping we’re in good hands.”

Mayor Joseph Maiurno agreed: “We appreciate everything Warren did for us last year and we’re happy he’s available to help again this fall.”