Saving Grace Aims to Reduce Feral Cat Population

Saving Grace Aims to Reduce Feral Cat Population

feral catROSEBURG, Ore. — Roseburg animal shelter Saving Grace is starting a program to help control the feral cat population in Douglas County, called Operation Fix ‘Em.

To help get the program started, Saving Grace got a $10,000 grant from PETCO to fund the operations to spay and neuter the cats, and reduce feral numbers.

“Communities that have been practicing trap-neuter-return of feral cats are slowly over time seeing progress on the issue of community cats in their communities, so this is something we’ve been wanting to do for a long time,” said Executive Director Wendy Kang.

Feral cats sometimes come into the shelter, but often don’t do well in homes. So, Kang said the best option is to catch, fix, and release.

“So, for feral cats, really, their best option is to be able to stay where they are, but not producing more kittens, and creating more problems for humans,” said Kang.

Kang said that in communities like Portland, they’ve been doing this program for 10 years and are seeing their feral population decrease.

Saving Grace’s veterinarian says there’s another benefit as well.

“We’re stopping unwanted cats getting a lot of unhealthy issues at home.. because if you spay and neuter them, you don’t have a lot of cats out there that are going to spread disease amongst themselves,” said Veterinarian Steve Frack.

They’ve fixed 46 cats so far, and have enough money to fix about 240 more.

However, they said they can always use more donations and help with Operation Fix ‘Em.

Kang said, “One of the things we need is more people to volunteer and help us with the trapping. We also need to identify more of the colonies that are in Douglas County.”

If you’d like to volunteer, donate, or adopt an animal, you can call the shelter at (541) 672-3907, and visit their website.

 

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)

Kanazawa Station uses falconry to drive away problematic pigeons

Kanazawa Station uses falconry to drive away problematic pigeons

A falcon takes off in a flurry of motion from the arm of a falconer at Kanazawa Station in Ishikawa Prefecture as tourists stand enthralled.

Surrounding landmarks such as Tsuzumi-mon, a wooden gate in the motif of traditional Japanese hand drums, and a modern glass dome named Motenashi, after the word for hospitality, provide a compelling backdrop for the remarkable exhibition.

Set amid such conspicuous structures, its small wonder that Kanazawa Station was recently lauded for its beauty by a U.S. travel magazine.

“Cool!” one spectator cheered. “Impressive!” commented another.

Though it has all the trappings of a tourist attraction, the avian display is actually driven by a crucial mission: keeping pigeons, and their regular aerial bombardments, away from the station.

Pigeon droppings had been a source of concern for city officials since the dome, which was completed in 2004, was in its design stage. From around 2008, local pigeons began using it to shelter from inclement weather as well as from their enemies. For a city that hosts one of the world’s most beautiful train stations, this was a serious concern.

At first, the city tried nets, then wires and pigeon repellent — all to little effect. Their droppings, meanwhile, continued to sully the buildings and were the scourge of tourists.

In dire straits, a section chief at the city government’s road management department, Masahiro Fujita, consulted with a bird control company managed by a falconer in an attempt to get a handle on the situation. The grand opening of the extended Hokuriku Shinkansen Line was not far off.

From June 2015, trained falcons began to circle Kanazawa Station twice a week, and after two months, the area’s roughly 100 pigeons had disappeared. Each day of patrolling costs ¥30,000, and the city set aside nearly ¥500,000 for the campaign under its budget for the current fiscal year to March 2017.

“No large-scale construction work is needed. It only involves one person and a falcon,” Fujita said, emphasizing the method’s cost efficiency.

To the delight of the local tourism industry, the falconry also proved a hit with visitors to the city of Kanazawa, which is an old castle town.

The falconry is also attracting attention from overseas visitors. Falconer Takayuki Yoshida was questioned and photographed so much that he set up a signboard with an explanation in Japanese and English.

“I like it. It goes well with the atmosphere of the station,” said Satoru Kawauchi, a 36-year-old visitor from Tokyo who watched the patrol.

According to the Japanese Falconers’ Association, a nonprofit organization, falcons have come to carry out a wide range of assignments, including tackling problems with wild bird droppings at factories and reducing the number of aircraft bird strikes. Some falconers have started businesses, an association official said.

 

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)

Wanted felon captured after jumping fences

Wanted felon captured after jumping fences

caught man jumping fenceDustin A. Duffy, 28, of San Angelo, was arrested on multiple charges after he ran from San Angelo Police Sunday evening, according to a news release.

Police were dispatched to the 3200 block of Guadalupe Street around 6:40 p.m. for the report of unwanted subjects on church property, according to the release. When officers arrived, Duffy, ran from police and jumped a fence at a residence in the 3200 block of San Antonio Street. Officers pursued and watched Duffy jump another fence into a neighboring backyard, according to the San Angelo Police Department.

Duffy was located hiding in a backyard next to a shed. He was taken into custody without incident, according to SAPD. Duffy was charged with two counts of criminal trespass, evading arrest detention with prior conviction, possession of controlled substance Penalty Group 3, and an outstanding parole violation warrant. He was transported to the Tom Green County Jail without incident.

The second subject, a 31-year-old San Angelo man, was cooperative and released from the scene, according to SAPD.

 

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)

Paranoid Indian investigators arrest ‘spy’ pigeon

Paranoid Indian investigators arrest ‘spy’ pigeon

pigeon patrolIndian officials are so paranoid about Pakistan that they took a pigeon into custody on suspicion of espionage on Friday.
According to Indian media reports, investigators from the army and the state intelligence in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district were inspecting the bird which had a text resembling the Urdu language written on its wings.
The bird was handed over to police by a local who spotted the “suspicious text.
“11 digits and some Urdu text were written on its wings which after translation stood for ‘Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday,” said a police official.
In 2015, Indian authorities had captured what they claimed was a ‘spy’ pigeon from Pakistan.
Police in Chandigarh had claimed that the white pigeon bore markings in Urdu and a seal. The pigeon was taken to a local veterinary hospital for an x-ray but no clues were discovered establishing any links with Pakistan.
According to Indian media, the pigeon was flying in the border area during a meeting between Punjab Police and the Indian Army.

 

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)

Man who poaches city pigeons for a living reveals his method

Man who poaches city pigeons for a living reveals his method

pigeon patrolA pigeon poacher who grabs his prey by hand in a Soho park and sells them to Manhattan merchants claims he’s just a misunderstood bird lover.

“I’ve been poaching pigeons on and off for about 40 years in New York City,” said the unapologetic poacher, who spoke to The Post on the condition of anonymity. “It’s pretty good money; I’ll make $5 a pigeon.

“I’ll sit on a park bench and throw out some food,” he continued. “Within seconds a bunch of pigeons will gather, and with both hands I’ll grab about five at a time around their necks and put them in a black garbage bag. I don’t use a net, my bare hands work fine.

“Pigeons are easy to catch,” the birdman explained. “When pigeons walk around, it’s easy for string to get tangled up around their feet. It cuts off their circulation. That’s why you see so many with missing toes.

“Those are the easiest to catch.”

He nabs his birds in broad daylight and occasionally encounters a disgusted animal-lover.

“I do get confronted by people who’ll come up to me and say, ‘What are you going to do with those pigeons?’

“Have sex with them,” is his usual retort.

“Then they’ll leave me alone,” he said.

The poacher explained how the pigeon market in New York City — home to an estimated 1 million of the birds — works: A client will call him to place an order for 10 to 20 pigeons, he said, and will place orders up to a half-dozen times a year. One order always comes right before the Chinese Lunar New Year.

‘With both hands I’ll grab about five at a time around their necks and put them in a black garbage bag. I don’t use a net, my bare hands work fine’
– pigeon poacher
“In Chinatown they will do a ceremony where they release the pigeons into the wild,” he said. “In their religion, they think it’s bad karma to take from the earth without replenishing it. So this is their way of replenishing the earth.”

Jenny Wong, a spokesperson for the Chinatown Community Cultural Center, claimed to have no knowledge of such a practice.

The poacher also said he sells the birds to “poultry markets” but would not name them.

He admits the pigeon-poaching black market often leads to the birds being sold to rural hunting and shooting clubs for target practice. But he claims he does not sell to those places.

The poacher, without a hint of irony, spoke of pigeons as rat-like creatures before blurting, “I’m a bird lover. I’m a member of the American Mason Pigeon Association.” The Post could find no such group.

Even no-kill birdnapping is a crime, legally and morally, say animal-rights advocates.

“It’s a Class A misdemeanor and it’s punishable for up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000,” said Elinor Molbegott, counsel for the Humane Society of New York. “All birds, including pigeons, are entitled to protection.”

 

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)

Birds of prey chase away garbage-eating seagulls from Toronto landfills

Birds of prey chase away garbage-eating seagulls from Toronto landfills

pigeon patrolBald eagles aren’t just an iconic national symbol south of the border — here in Toronto, they’re the noble and brave protectors of garbage dumps.

Local landfills are plagued by garbage-eating seagulls. They harm themselves by eating unnatural food sources and can harm the environment by carrying trash outside the landfill.

The city’s eco-friendly solution to that problem? Massive birds of prey that swoop in and scare the seagulls away.

“We train these raptors to chase the gulls away,” said Stephen Bucciarelli, president of Predator Bird Services Inc. “It’s essentially their job to do it. But to them it’s not going to work, they just have fun all day flying around.”

This one-year-old bald eagle is just one of the predatory birds that scares seagulls away from Toronto landfills. It’s still young and will grow to have a white feathered head as it becomes mature.

Falconry is a practice that dates back thousands of years. The predatory birds, including hawks and falcons, were trained to catch prey as food for humans before guns became a common tool in hunting.

Within the last 40 years, companies like Bucciarelli’s have used falconry as a form of bird control.

“We’ve learned how to manage these birds so they are really comfortable at work and effective at it,” he said.

A one-year-old bald eagle is one of the predators that soars across Toronto landfills.

Stephen Bucciarelli is president of Predator Bird Services Inc. The company trains birds of prey to scare away other, smaller birds.

“He’s just learning the ropes of flying in the wind and he’s doing really well,” Bucciarelli said, adding that the eagle and its winged colleagues are so effective at their job that gulls don’t even frequent the landfills anymore — they’ve learned to stay far away.

It’s a win-win because the seagulls don’t know what’s good for them, he said.

“It’s not good for birds to eat unnatural food sources, so if we’re scaring them…they’re going to be eating from natural sources like fish rather than things leftover from humans,” Bucciarelli said.

Seagulls that are harming the environment and themselves by eating unnatural food sources at landfills better watch out. This bald eagle is serious about protecting city territory.

 

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)