University Daily Kansan, October 1, 1981
Page 3
Bird lovers, residents clash over pigeon issue
By JOE REBEIN Staff reporter
Lawrence pigeons are caught in the middle of a citywide battle.
On the one side, property owners see them as pests that corrode buildings spread disease. They bring chemical treats to battle the latter and other traps to repel the birds.
AT TUESDAY NIGHT'S City Commission meeting, commissioners tried to placate the opposing sides by banning the city's use of the chemical
But the humane society wants to see that the birds are not abused and that the proper methods are used to remove them from buildings.
Avitrol and by starting a search for alternative methods to stop pigeons from roosting on grain elevators, City Hall and other favorite pigeon haunts.
Avitrol is a chemical that was approved 15 years ago by the Environmental Protection Agency for the control of birds not protected by federal law.
The Farmer's Co-op Elevator, 325 Locust St., has used Avitrol since August to stop pigeons from roosting on its elevator and contaminating its grain.
Ron Holdredge, manager of the elevator, said the chemical was effective in controlling the pigeons.
BUT OFFICIALS from state and local animal welfare agencies said at
the commission meeting that the birds were suffering before they died and that a more humane method to control pigeons had to be found.
KU's pigeon control program, which utilizes a chemical that sterilizes the birds but does not kill them, was singled out as a possible solution to the problem.
Jim Mathes, assistant director of facilities operation in charge of landscaping, said the University used corn stalks as drug to keep the number of birds down.
the big sloping roofs on the south side of Dyche Hall."
"We really don't have much of a problem," Mathes said. "About the only place they like to perch is around Snow and Spooner halles. They also like
MATHES SAID they usually put out the treated corn in early spring or late fall, when the birds mate. He said that they had not put out any treated corn this fall, however, because the pigeons had not been a problem.
Mathes said it was tough to control the birds with treated corn because the pigeons went to rural areas to feed. He said that once birds established a feeding pattern, it was hard to lure them with treated corn.
Mathes said, however, that he would not have any quains about using Avitrol if the birds became a health problem at KU.
FACILITIES OPERATIONS had used Avinol but stopped in September 1979 after several dead pigeons were found on campus. They continued to use Ornitrol, which prevents the embryo from forming in a pigeon's eggs.
"Pigeons carry mites or lice that can carry human diseases," he said. "You have to find some way to get the pigeon numbers down."
Mathes said pigeon feces were corrosive to stone buildings and could cause problems with electrical wiring. Mathes also said the building is also damaging to air conditioning units.
Mathes said the pigeon problem would be more acute downtown, where there are fewer birds.
the-roof air conditioning units and other features susceptible to pigeon feces.
Jeanne Hauser, veterinary technician at the Animal Care Center in Haworth Hall, said Avtrol was an effective diode diagnosis if the correct dosages were used.
THE DRUG IS much safer than strychnine and other chemicals that would kill the birds, which pose a human and other animals, Hauser said.
Hauser said the center had received phone calls from people wanting to know how to treat birds that had eaten poisoned grain.
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