---
title: "Man Trains Crows to Attack MAGA Hats"
description: "A man who goes by the username \"biz_dave\" says he successfully trained crows to attack MAGA hats by hiding treats underneath them."
date: "2026-01-18"
modified: "2026-01-18"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/future-society/crows-attack-maga-hats"
categories:
  - "Art"
  - "Environment"
  - "Future Society"
  - "Science & Energy"
---

# Man Trains Crows to Attack MAGA Hats

![A man who goes by the username "biz\_dave" says he successfully trained crows to attack MAGA hats by hiding treats underneath them.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/crows-attack-maga-hats.jpg>)
*biz\_dave via Threads*

For almost ten years, red MAGA hats have been an immediately identifiable sign of one's political affiliation with president Donald Trump. The white-on-red design has become a powerful symbol for his supporters and their retrograde agenda, drawing [comparisons to the Confederate flag](<https://www.npr.org/2019/01/27/689191278/the-symbol-of-the-maga-hat>).

And as Trump's polling numbers continue to plummet, with the majority of Americans [calling the first year of his second term a failure](<https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/16/politics/trump-economy-first-year-cnn-poll>), more and more voters are becoming disillusioned.

In a particularly creative expression of anti-MAGA sentiment, a man who goes by the username "biz\_dave" says he successfully trained crows to attack MAGA hats. As [detailed in a series of posts on Threads](<https://www.threads.com/@biz_dave/post/DTc_o4FDnFH>), the self-proclaimed "big nerd" and "very part-time artist" stuck some tasty treats, including "peanuts, chicken scraps, mealworms, and dog kibble," underneath a MAGA hat.

He explained that it took four months to get the crows to regularly come down to feed on the treats.

"Once they were coming regularly, it was only about three months to get them to the hat removal stage," biz\_dave wrote.

Footage shows the black feathered creatures swooping down and [plucking off the red hat](<https://www.threads.com/@biz_dave/post/DTSvEhIDory>) to access their tasty meal.

"Some folks want to befriend crows, or get them to bring trinkets," he [wrote](<https://www.threads.com/@biz_dave/post/DTSvEhIDory>). "I have... other goals."

The self-proclaimed artist [noted](<https://www.threads.com/@biz_dave/post/DTfk3lYDBVR>) that his "favorite part has been discovering new and interesting behaviors from these amazing creatures," showing off footage of a crow vocalizing, before ripping off the red hat.

Crows are considered to be exceptionally intelligent, with some experts [arguing they could be the cleverest animal](<https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191211-crows-could-be-the-smartest-animal-other-than-primates>) on the planet other than primates. Some research has even found they possess the [complex problem-solving skills of a seven-year-old child](<https://www.thoughtco.com/crows-are-more-intelligent-than-you-think-4156896>).

They've been observed using hooked tools [they created](<https://www.nature.com/articles/379249a0>) to retrieve grubs and insects from inside trees, [identify people](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOkj7lJpeoc>) who have previously posed a threat — [effectively holding grudges](<https://www.discovermagazine.com/crows-are-smart-just-like-humans-they-hold-grudges-and-use-tools-47665>) — or use [gestures to communicate](<https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191211-crows-could-be-the-smartest-animal-other-than-primates#:~:text=using%20gestures%20for%20communication>).

In 2022, scientists found that crows [can understand recursion](<https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/crows-perform-yet-another-skill-once-thought-distinctively-human/>), the concept of embedding structures inside other structures.

In short, it's no wonder it only took a couple of months for the crows to learn to attack the red MAGA hats.

It's still unclear if the animals have struck a Trump fan in the wild yet.

"Do we know if they have taken anyone's hat yet?" one Threads user [asked](<https://www.threads.com/@callysmom/post/DTjebjCDrqO?xmt=AQF0mEdvdSNeMxWoWfPABBTm2oFl0iNMITC4nHx6hA_fpw>).

"Nothing confirmed," biz\_dave [replied](<https://www.threads.com/@biz_dave/post/DTjfX5JjbAw?xmt=AQF0mEdvdSNeMxWoWfPABBTm2oFl0iNMITC4nHx6hA_fpw>). "Anxious for reports."

**More on crows:** [*Scientists Claim to Have Proved That Crows Have Conscious Experiences*](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-proved-crows-conscious-experiences>)

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)