Regardless of if you like them or hate them, everyone knows what crows are. And if you notice that you are being followed by these iconic birds, you may wonder what this means.
Crows are extremely intelligent birds, and their behavior has also been foundational for legends and myths. If they are following you, there’s probably a few different reasons why.
Why Do Crows Follow Me?
1. It Thinks You Are A Threat
Crows are very protective creatures, especially of their nesting spaces. If you are walking on a daily route, you might be passing a crow’s nest.
If this is the case, they will often follow you while cawing loudly to try to deter you from going near their nest. Other crows may appear and join in on this to further scare you away.
It is probably best to leave the crow alone to avoid causing additional negative reactions or having it try to attack you.
Crows are typically peaceful creatures, but you definitely would not want to get between one and its nest.
2. It Thinks You Might Feed It
Crows have exceptional memories. If you have fed the crows in the past, they will remember this event and recognize you, and follow you in hopes of being fed again
Even if you have never fed the crows, they were possibly fed by someone else. This can create a pattern of behavior in the crows as they expect to be fed.
3. It Is Letting Other Crows Know About You
Crows are communicative with one another, and if you are in its territory, it may follow you while cawing to alert other crows to your presence.
If you find that this is probably happening, you may see other crows flock nearby on trees or in power lines, watching you to make sure that you do not disturb their nests.
This territorial behavior keeps their flocks safe and wards off predators, which it very well may consider you to be.
4. It Is A Sign Of Bad Luck Or Death
Historically, crows have been regarded as a symbol of bad luck throughout mythology and other sources. Not only this, but they are considered an omen of death at times.
Whether or not this is true is up for debate, but it may explain that uneasy feeling you get when you see crows flocking around you.
5. It Is A Sign Of Good Luck
Conversely, some people believe that crows are very powerful animals, and if you keep seeing them it means they are in some way significant to your life.
This does not have to be a bad thing at all. Crows are intelligent and striking creatures, and if you keep seeing crows it might mean you have something in common.
Again, this may seem like just a bit of superstition, but many cultures throughout history have believed in the significance of animal species for each individual.
6. It Is Carrying A Message From The Afterlife
Because of their dark color and spooky associations, crows are often thought of as messengers of the afterlife. Some people think crows have a connection with the deceased.
Though this may seem scary, many people see it as a reassuring sign that we remain connected with people even once they have passed on out of this life.
If you notice a crow following you, you might find comfort in thinking that it is carrying a message from a loved one who is no longer with you in the world.
7. It Is Representing Endings And Beginnings
Most likely due to their close association with the afterlife, crows are frequently seen as symbols of endings and beginnings.
If you are at a crossroads in life, you may find comfort in seeing a crow. Although it means that some part of your life is ending, something new will be around the corner.
It is unknown if the power of this message increases with the number of crows that you see, but catching a glimpse of a crow could be a sure sign that something new is around the corner.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why deer are so dumb, why dogs like you, and why photographers can’t touch animals.
Conclusion
Crows are very noticeable, and if you have one that is regularly following you it only makes sense that you will wonder why. There are a lot of reasons to explain this behavior.
Though the biological reasons are most accurate, the cultural and historical ones hold merit, too. Pay attention to the crows and see what meaning they may bring to your life.