[QUOTE=anyrose]
Let’s include those damn ubiquitous geese that have taken over every office complex parking lot in the Northeast US. Those boids have been known to threaten humans (myself among them)
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I used to take the stories about how the ancient Romans had used geese as guard animals with a grain of salt. But after a few up close and personal experiences with the critters I have only one question:
How the fuck did they train the geese to let desired people pass? They’re fucking hard core, and go after everyone!
[QUOTE=lissener]
Pigeons, to the extent that they serve any purpose at all, serve only the purpose of cleaning up the edible debris that inevitably accumulates in a city. The population of pigeons should be exactly the right size to keep their local city clean; when the food runs out, the population should diminish. By feeding pigeons extra food, you are supporting a pigeon population that is out of balance with the “natural”–i.e., inevitable, pre-existing–food supply.
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I understand the theory, I was just curious if any other city that had instituted a ban on pigeon feeding had achieved the desired result.
My middle school had a big seagull problem, since all the spoiled rich kids were so bad about leaving their uneaten food on the ground at lunchtime and we were about 5 miles from the ocean as the seagull flies. They didn’t actually attack us, though, they just carpet-bombed us with bird shit.
[QUOTE=Fear Itself]
I understand the theory, I was just curious if any other city that had instituted a ban on pigeon feeding had achieved the desired result.
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It’s not a city-wide ban, just on a small area where they (presumably) are a particular nuisance. A similar approach was taken to deal with them in Trafalgar Square in London, and has been very successful.
[QUOTE=Fear Itself]
Is there any evidence that stopping the public from feeding pigeons will result in fewer pigeons? Or is this a “common sense” thing, not subject to the scientific method?
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The experts seem to think so. This article is fairly long but discusses pigeon control in Los Angeles and how much pigeon feeders contribute to the problem. (The answer: “A lot”.)
Let’s include those damn ubiquitous geese that have taken over every office complex parking lot in the Northeast US. Those boids have been known to threaten humans (myself among them)
[/QUOTE]
Hahaha! When I worked in Central Jersey near Seaside Heights a goose flew in our office door and shit on the rug.
There’s one of those crazy bitches near where I work. Not only does she feed the pigeons, she feeds the squirrels, too! I’ve had evil dreams of putting on a blonde wig and carrying a shopping bag full of strychnine to feed the blessed little creatures.
[QUOTE=An Arky]
There’s one of those crazy bitches near where I work. Not only does she feed the pigeons, she feeds the squirrels, too! I’ve had evil dreams of putting on a blonde wig and carrying a shopping bag full of strychnine to feed the blessed little creatures.
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You know some people in the big impersonal city get to a point in their life where the feel lonely and feel the need to interact. Most likely the rest of the human population just doesn’t have the time of day for them. You can spend hours interacting with pigeons and that just has to be therapeutic for them so healthwise there’s a plus.
Canada Geese on the other hand pollute our beaches with closely spaced turds resembling dogshit while the parents of little half naked and orally inquisitive toddlers have to tell them that they can’t play in the sand.
Its high time to declare a season on these shit mongers. There is no positive health benefit with these guys unless we eat them.
Guess us Michigan girls have a soft spot for urban wildlife.