by Pigeon Patrol | Jul 8, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
The latest animal concerns have targeted skunks, which are far more populous in our area’s only city, especially in summer, than one would think.
The city had a $25,000 contract with a local man to provide animal control, including trapping and removing skunks. But as councilors prepared a tough 2016 budget, that funding was cut.
Resident Patti Hackett pointed out to councilors that about 70 skunks were captured in the city last year. She noted that skunks pose a rabies threat on top of the obvious irritation: the stink that prompts people to hold their breath and slam shut their windows. And dog owners can attest to the tenacity of that odor once it attaches to fur.
Improper garbage disposal is contributing to the problem of nuisance animals, and the city should clamp down on residents who don’t have trash secured in garbage cans with lids.
We aren’t suggesting fines; a city-sponsored education campaign, such as leaflets sent in the utility bills detailing the problems caused by exposed trash, could mitigate the problem.
The city is looking into a skunk-trapping campaign this spring. Some “lucky” crew could be paid around $10,000 to seek out known skunk dens and snag the creatures before they start breeding.
The Press-Republican believes that every community that has a fairly large population concentration should offer some kind of animal control.
Many towns contract with local animal shelters or have part-time officers or pay by the job to remove nuisance animals. A few wildlife rehabilitators help out with certain types of creatures.
Certainly a city the size of Plattsburgh can afford $25,000 for animal control in a $53.1 million budget. That amount is justified when measured against the service rendered — ask anyone who has watched a smelly skunk waddle through the back yard.
Maybe the city can share this service with the Town of Plattsburgh, whose residents are also in the line of spray.
But the most acute animal problem in larger communities is not the distinctively marked black and white invaders — it is feral cats.
Overrunning neighborhoods, getting into garbage and, most sadly, suffering starvation, exposure and sickness, wild cats present an overwhelming concern that few municipal governments are properly addressing.
Because shelters and a smattering of other aid programs exist, public officials act as though they are off the hook as cats continue to breed, live and die in corners of our neighborhoods.
It is inhumane to the cats and frustrating and heartbreaking for humans.
Every municipality with a population center, especially the City of Plattsburgh, should be investing in trap, neuter and release programs to reduce the feral-cat population.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jul 5, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting
A new ban in this New Mexico city is ruffling a lot of feathers.
Carlsbad’s city council passed an ordinance prohibiting feeding pigeons, with punishments that could mean fines or even jail time.
The Cavern City blamed pigeons for spreading disease, damaging buildings and ruining outdoor experiences in the ordinance.
Many of the public health risks come from an abundance of pigeon droppings across the city.
The ban’s goal is to drive the pigeon population down by cutting off their food supply.
Pigeons have become a major issue for this New Mexico city, officials noted.
Pigeons have become a major issue for this New Mexico city, officials noted.
“It will help move them away from the city, move them out of the middle of this city,” Woods Hougton, program director for the Eddy Count Extension Office, told KRQE. “They’re called trash birds because they communicate a lot of known diseases to both livestocks and humans.”
The feeding ban will only apply to feral pigeons, as “domesticated birds used for recreation, racing, or show,” as well as injured pigeons being rehabilitated are excluded from the new ordinance.
Enthusiasts with feeders will be allowed to keep their birdhouses as well — as long as it doesn’t attract more pigeons.
While violating the feeding law can result in a harsh punishment, council members have said they hope it will not escalate to jail time.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jul 3, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting
Pigeons roosting under the Santa Cruz Wharf were determined to be a major source of the high bacteria levels.
City crews are taking action this week to keep the fowl from fouling ocean waters.
“What we’re doing now is some bird-exclusion work” said Santa Cruz Wharf Supervisor John Bombaci.
Cowell Beach’s dirty water confounded the city for years, and the city’s Cowell Working Group conducted several studies to find a source causing high bacteria levels that made the area unsafe for swimming.
On Thursday, crews were busy installing stainless steel fencing underneath the Santa Cruz Wharf. The fencing extends more than 200 feet, from the beginning of the water, to the end.
“We’re using it to barricade out nesting areas for pigeons down in the transition zone, the tidal area on Cowell Beach,” Bombaci said.
Cowell Beach’s waters exceeded bacteria standards for 200 days in 2015.
“There may be other natural occurring things that we probably won’t be able to control, so we’re looking at the controllable sources, and this is one of the most obvious,” said Scott Collins, assistant to the city manager.
High bacteria levels always spike in the summer.
“The summer is when most people are on the beach. So our goal is to goal is to get all the infrastructural needs met, all the barriers installed, before summer,” said Nik Strong-Cvetich, executive director of Save the Waters Coalition.
The cost for fencing underneath the wharf was $50,000.
Ocean water quality will be tested regularly at Cowell Beach to determine if the anti-bird efforts are making a difference.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jul 2, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeons in the News
CARLSBAD, NM—We are not talking just a few pigeons, we are talking hundreds on roofs, in parking lots and everywhere you turn in Carlsbad.
“It’s just a tremendous number of pigeons. There’s probably thousands that congregate to this position. We have an RV storage facility, so it’s just a real problem that needs to be addressed,” said James Knott, Carlsbad Business Owner.
Over the past few years, the birds have become more of an issue for the community.
“It’s a constant problem with the deterioration of the roof, and so the pigeon debris creates acid and causes leaks. That’s very costly for us,” said Knott.
But thanks to a new ordinance, the city of Carlsbad is hoping to control the pigeon population.
“The new ordinance looks at the feeding of feral pigeons. The new ordinance is focused mainly on education to teach people how to educate them not to feed these birds,” said Steve McCutcheon, Carlsbad City Administrator.
The birds are also causing a big stir throughout the city because they pose many potential health risks to humans. The birds carry different types of parasites and fungi.
The new ordinance will go into effect in five days.
Anyone caught feeding the birds could face a $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jul 1, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeons in the News
CARLSBAD, N.M. — A New Mexico city in cracking down on people feeding pigeons.
KRQE-TV in Albuquerque reports that the Carlsbad city council recently approved an ordinance that bans residents from feeding or providing environments that attract the birds.
The city says the ordinance will help eliminate some of the health risks associated with pigeon droppings.
Those caught feeding or harboring the birds could face fines up to $500 or even jail time.
Eddy County Extension Office program director Woods Houghton says pigeons communicate a lot of known diseases to both livestock and humans
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jun 29, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Pigeon Patrol's Services
MOVE over Ospreys — there’s another bird of prey over Swansea.
Specially trained hawks are being introduced to keep a watchful eye over Swansea Market, where they will be deployed above the roof area of the historic attraction to act as a deterrent to troublesome gulls.
Swansea Council says the nesting and scavenging of gulls has been a problem on the roof area of the market for a number of years, with issues including bird droppings, roof damage and blocked guttering.
And shoppers have even been targeted by greedy gulls attempting to snatch food from their hands.
The task will be carried out by national licensed supplier of bird control, Hawksdrift, based near Builth Wells.
The business trains hawks from a young age, to ensure they are socialised and not a danger to humans, and is responsible for similar work at Aberwystwyth University, as well as taking part in falconry displays, and taking the birds into schools for pupils to learn about them.
Representatives were due to visit the market on Friday to speak with traders and answer any questions they may have about the work – although the date is to be rescheduled following today’s fire at the venue.
Hawksdrift director Layla Bennett said the hawks do not attack the gulls to disperse them, but do so by scaring them.
She said: “A common misconception is that the hawk deterrent works by them attacking or even eating the gulls, but that is not the case.
“It is about scaring them. They will be flying over the roof, to deter them from nesting. Just their presence in general acts as a deterrent. They do not have to attack or hurt the other birds.
“Gulls are becoming an increasing problem in urban populations. They are more confident around people, and they are exceptionally intelligent birds, who will swoop down and sometimes even attempt to take food from people. In places like Swansea the main type you have are the lesser black backed and herring gulls”.
The Harris’ hawks are due to visit Swansea Market around once a week over the spring and summer months, and include 11-year-old Sharpe, sisters Lizzie and Jenny, aged four, and youngster Saxon, who is almost a year old.
Layla said: “All of them are reared in a special manner in order to socialise them from a very young age. They are captively bred and reared.
“They are also trained to get them used to everyday objects and issues they may come across, such as high visibility clothing, hard hats, fire alarms going off and fork lifts trucks.
“And dispersal of gulls by scaring is a very environmental friendly.”
Hawksdrift will provide regular site visit reports and statistics through an online management information system, so Swansea Council can monitor progress.
Their introduction follows completion of recent upgrade work at the market, including refurbishment of the existing barrel roof and renewal of the roof gable glazing.
The award winning venue is the largest indoor market in Wales, and opens six days a week, with more than 100 stalls selling local and traditional produce.
The refurbishment project was funded by Swansea Council and the Building Enhancement Programme, which is supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.
This isn’t about harming the gulls.
GULLS are not only a nuisance to shoppers visiting Swansea city centre, but they also damage the appearance its buildings — and are guilty of fouling the streets.
Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s cabinet member for enterprise, development and regeneration, said: “We recently heavily invested in a major project to refurbish Swansea Market’s roof for the benefit of traders and shoppers for many years to come, so it’s crucial we continue to do all we can to preserve the attraction.
“Gulls have been an issue outside the building in the area of the market roof for several years now, affecting its appearance and causing damage and maintenance concerns. The company we’re bringing in are experts in this area, having successfully addressed similar problems at many buildings in other parts of the UK. What they offer is an innovative, effective, natural and environmentally-friendly solution to an on-going problem.
“This isn’t about harming the gulls in the area of the market roof because nobody wants that. It’s about using highly-trained hawks to act as a deterrent to the gulls and keep them away from the building. Traders will be updated on the effectiveness of the scheme over coming months.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
