Ok-I know there's a simple solution to my problem, but hear me out. Crows have started attacking the garbage I leave out for the city crew to pick up one morning a week. The usual practice around here is to bring the garbage bags down to the street for pickup, so the guys on the crew don't have to march up to and/or around houses to locate, then carry the bags down to the truck. According to the crew and the little helpful hints we get from the city. it is highly preferable that the bags be removed from containers so that they don't have to be wrestled out.
For a while the problem was dogs, until I figured out a couple of sprays of ammonia on the bags would keep the Thursday morning canine breakfast club at bay. Now, these humongous crows (I believe it's one posse that has settled on my location, but I can't prove it ) have decided to feast on my stuff, creating a mess far worse than the dogs ever did. The ammonia doesn't faze them-I think these bad boys may actually get a buzz from the stuff.
Is there anything that I can use to prevent the carnage? I know I could simply use cans with lids on them, but that would disturb the previously settled order of things, and require me to get rid of my own little wood mini-shed created to store the bags until pickup day.
Don't suggest a 12 guage-there are far too many of the suckers, I don't own a gun, I'm a terrible shot and would probably kill a neighbor, the city takes a dim view of discharging firearms within city limits, and besides, they're just doing what crows do.
Any and all non-toxic, non-lethal suggestions would be appreciated greatly, before I have to hit the Rubbermaid aisle at the Borg.