RI, MA EHS Pest Control Blog

If you enjoy feeding the countless pigeons you encounter on your daily adventures, you may want to start tossing food to your feathery friends on the sly.

Image credit: Inquisitr

According to The Huffington Post, Alderman James Cappleman of Chicago’s 46th ward said he wants to impose stricter penalties for those individuals who keep feeding the bothersome birds. In short, tossing bread to the pigeons would become illegal.

The proposed ordinance would certainly make someone think twice before throwing bread crumbs to a loft of pigeons on the sidewalk. In addition to a $1,000 fine, the offender may cool his or her heels behind bars for roughly six months.

“This is our way of saying this is really hurting the community. It’s hurting the businesses. We have to put a stop to it,” Cappleman explained to the Chicago Sun-Times. He added the pigeon population in his ward is growing to the point that some people are afraid to walk through L train stations.

“[The Chicago Transit Authority] has said the pigeon excrement is about a fourth of an inch thick and they’ll clean it and within a week, it’s back to the way it was before,” Cappleman said.

According to UPI, the alderman isn’t alone in his opinion regarding those who continue to feed the pigeons. Bobby Williams said he too feels these people are only adding to the problem.

“They’re a nuisance,” the concerned citizen explained. “They’re everywhere. You know, you could stand there waiting on the bus and they’re all over your feet. I think it should be illegal to feed them.”

NBC Chicago reports that some folks don’t feel the pigeons are as big of a problem as others claim. In their eyes, it just comes with the territory.

“I don’t see the problem with it. The birds stay in one area, that’s it,” resident Chuck Brown said.

George Williams,
General Manager - Staff Entomologist

Pest Control, RI, Pest Control, MA

ST. LOUIS — Heavy storms and scorching temperatures have failed to deter rock bands from performing at an outdoor stadium in St. Louis, but a bombardment of pigeon droppings proved too much for the Kings of Leon.

The band halted the Friday night concert at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre after three songs when the infestation of birds in the arena's rafters dropped their onslaught of feces.

A statement from the band's management company, Vector Management, said bassist Jared Followill seemed to be a particular target of the pigeons, whose droppings were a potential health hazard.

"I'm surprised they stayed on for as many songs as they did," Andy Mendelsohn of Vector Management said in the statement. "Jared was hit several times during the first two songs. On the third song, when he was hit in the cheek and some of it landed near his mouth, they couldn't take it any longer.

"It's not only disgusting — it's a toxic health hazard," Mendelsohn said. "They really tried to hang in there. We want to apologize to our fans in St. Louis and will be back as soon as we can."

The crowd grew restless after the band walked off, then an announcement was made that the show was over for "safety reasons." The concert promoter, Live Nation, did not respond to interview requests on Monday but said fans will get a full refund.

Mendelsohn said band representatives had been warned of a "significant" pigeon infestation in the rafters, but were told efforts were being made to correct the problem.

The opening bands, The Postelles and The Stills, performed and were apparently hit with their share of droppings too.

"We couldn't believe what The Postelles and The Stills looked like after their sets," Followill said in the statement. "We didn't want to cancel the show, so we went for it. We tried to play. It was ridiculous."

Health experts say pigeon droppings have been associated with three diseases: Histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis and psittacosis. Histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis are fungal diseases with symptoms that can include fatigue and fever. Psittacosis is a rare infectious disease characterized by fever, rash, chills, headache and sometimes pneumonia. Only about 50 cases of psittacosis in the U.S. are reported annually.