Herring, Horses, and Havoc: A Day at Brunswick Markets Gone Awry
"An object made contact with my posterior"
The siren call of the Brunswick markets, especially in spring, lures in locals and tourists alike. The sun shines, and the tempting stalls beckon. On a seemingly ordinary day, Ina Justke, a resident of Brunswick, decided to enjoy a leisurely shopping spree at the market on Nibelungenplatz in the Siegfried Quarter on a Friday (23rd of May).
But the day took an unexpected turn for the worse. Instead of fresh produce, Ina found herself with an unwelcome addition—a head wound. The culprit? An unpredictable, rapid, and seemingly angry raven!
Beware the Skies Above Brunswick: A Raven Terrorizes the Streets
Before even reaching the market, the unimaginable transpired. "I was walking down Guntherstraße, near the crossing of Siegfriedstraße/Guntherstraße, headed towards the market, when all of a sudden I heard an ominous cry, followed by a blow to the back of my head," Ina narrated to our editorial team. The assailant: A raven—wild, quick, and without warning!
A Shocking Revelation: Not an Isolated Incident
The attack was far from playful: "The wound was bleeding and painful," lamented the shaken Brunswick resident. The raven took to a nearby traffic light after the attack, observing Ina from afar. She quickly grabbed her phone and snapped a photo of the attacker. Things, however, didn’t end there! Upon arriving at the market, Ina inquired if she was an exception. The vendors responded affirmatively—several patrons had been attacked by the raven earlier that morning. But that wasn’t all.
Another Day, Another Attack: Ina's Double Trouble
On the journey back home, Ina witnessed another victim of the raven’s wrath—a man this time. And just when she thought she had escaped the encounter, she was targeted again. "Upon reaching the 'dangerous' pedestrian area, I was attacked again," she wrote. This time, she managed to fend off the raven with a bouquet of flowers.
Ina reported the incident to the police, who promised to forward it to animal welfare. The outcome remains unclear at present. Ina suspects there may be a raven’s nest in one of the nearby trees, and the raven may be shielding its young. "It’s possible there’s a young bird in the ground area that can’t fly yet, which would make it extremely vulnerable," muses Ina. The true reason behind the raven’s aggressive behavior is yet to be unveiled.
Warn or Not to Warn? The City of Brunswick Stays Silent
Despite the attacks, warning market-goers of the ravens seems more complicated than anticipated. According to a city representative for Brunswick, "it’s impossible and inappropriate to warn people about every potential danger. Where do you draw the line? Ravens are everywhere." The fire department has marked off the area surrounding the suspected nest with caution tape.
Past Encounters: The Yawning Abyss of Forgotten Raven Attacks
Other raven incidents seem unlikely to occur. The incident at the intersection is seen as an isolated case, much like the raven incident in Bürgerpark a few years ago (as reported). "Raven attacks can happen during the breeding and fledgling phase of young crows, when they are still being fed and fiercely protected by the adults," clarifies the city of Brunswick.
The sudden appearance of people near young crows cannot be prevented in advance. Due to the numerous nests in the city, entire areas cannot be preemptively cordoned off, and such measures would be disproportionate. However, people can take precautions to keep their distance from these young birds.
In Ina’s case, the attack resulted in only a minor injury—a superficial wound. Nevertheless, she required a booster shot of her tetanus vaccine to feel better, and the headaches likely won’t disappear anytime soon. One thing is certain: She won’t forget that fateful day at the Brunswick markets any time soon!
- Despite the unfortunate incident, shopping at the home-and-garden and lifestyle sections of the Brunswick markets is still a tempting proposition, as the allure of fresh produce and unique finds continue to attract locals and tourists alike.
- The recent encounter with an aggressive raven in the Siegfried Quarter has led to a wave of concern over the general-news aspect of the city's home-and-garden market, as several patrons have reported being attacked by the same bird.
- As the sun sets on Nibelungenplatz, shopping for home-and-garden and lifestyle items at the Brunswick markets is no longer just about scoring a deal on spring flowers or renovation materials. With the advent of crime-and-justice issues such as the raven attacks, citizens must be aware and cautious during their shopping expeditions.
