A plan to address a pigeon problem at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½'s Family Housing Newton Court complex will get underway this week.
The Family Housing Tenant Council, an elected body of representatives living in family housing, recently reviewed a list of pigeon prevention methods and approved the option of trapping and relocating the pigeons.
The Tenant Council also approved a strict policy to address and hold accountable residents who may harbor, feed or attract pigeons to their balconies or patios.
The increased number of pigeons in Newton Court has been a problem since last July. It is speculated that prolonged mild weather, along with increases in restaurant and other food sources and nearby renovations, forced the pigeons to migrate to new areas. Housing staff and families became concerned that the pigeons posed health and safety risks.
The Family Housing office staff worked with Housing Services to investigate the many options available for decreasing the number of pigeons in the area.
According to Marie Gall, Family Housing's manager, several different removal options were explored.
"From September to November various structural devices such as spikes, gels and spirals proved to be costly and only changed the location of the pigeons, while doing nothing to decrease their numbers," Gall said.
"Other environmental devices, such as high-pitched ultrasonic deterrent or predator hawks were dismissed due to the harmful effects they have on birds and animals in the Family Housing area."
After the Tenant Council approved the trapping plan, the department of Housing forwarded the proposal to the department of Environmental Health and Safety for review. Officials there determined that the trapping and relocating of the pigeons was considered a safe, effective and humane method of decreasing the number of pigeons in the area.
Rocky Mountain Pest Control has been contracted to do the work. The project is expected to begin March 15 and last 8-12 weeks. The cost is approximately $50 per service visit.