At a recent Cordell City Council meeting the issue of downtown’s pigeon population was discussed at length. City officials reported that they had consulted with Oklahoma Wildlife Services, who sent a representative to observe areas of concern and offer a plan which would help mitigate the large numbers of pigeons congregating on buildings around the square and other places in town.
Wildlife Services’ representative noted that Cordell has always had a copious pigeon population, and the demolition of the ‘mural building’ displaced part of that population. He said it is important to understand that it is impossible to completely eliminate every pigeon, as there are always more moving into the area.
Also, summer is the worst season for reducing pigeon numbers because food is plentiful with fields of grain being easily accessible.
It was agreed that a professional removal program which utilizes both trapping and poisoning would be the best course of action.
Wildlife services said that as far as property owners are concerned, trapping them is legal and permitted and individuals may choose to try it themselves, but there is no approved poison for pigeons that private citizens are allowed to use.
Oklahoma state law says that business owners are responsible for upkeep of sidewalks adjacent to their buildings, so it is each property owner’s responsibility to clear their sidewalks of messes caused by the pigeons.
City Council members will consider contracts for professional removal at the August City Council meeting. The meeting will be held on Monday, August 18th at 6:00 p.m. at the community room behind City Hall.