A Passel of Possibilities for Solving Pigeon Problem
In Sunday’s Real Estate section, my colleague Daniel Yi related in humorous detail how he bought a home in Torrance only to discover he was sharing his property with pigeons. Lots of noisy, ugly pigeons.
He has tried everything to get rid of them: a fake owl, a glue-type roof coating and a low-powered BB gun (the last of which drew a visit from a gun-drawn policeman who informed him that the weapon is illegal to fire in Torrance, though not to purchase).
Since the article ran, Yi has heard from outraged animal lovers as well as other pigeon combatants.
The latter group had more suggestions: install a sprinkler system on the roof, blow them away with an air gun, hire a hawk-handler.
A man called to say he knew a trapper, which sounded like a humane answer, except that the birds would then be sold to a skeet-shooting range to serve as live targets.
One reader suggested an old-fashioned remedy: a cat.
Also recommended was the book “Canceled Flight” by A. V. Jones, who is listed as “the world’s foremost expert on the subject of pigeon killing.”
There are house pests and there are house pests: Looking up “Canceled Flight” on Barnes & Noble’s website, I noticed this title in the category “People who bought this book also bought ... “ : “Do Elephants Jump?” by David Feldman.
Not sure whether the pigeon-hater saw elephants as the solution or whether they were a separate problem.
Incidentally: If Yi wanted a pigeon-hunting cat on a temporary basis only, Scott Boone of Pasadena found a possible solution near Salem, Ore. (see photo).
Actually, Boone added, the sign probably refers to a Caterpillar tractor. Nevertheless, he’s considering posting the snapshot above the food bowls of his felines as a reminder that some cats do more than eat and sleep to earn their keep.
Special Only in L.A. Travel Issue! For you wanderers, I submit (see accompanying):
* A three-day cruise where you apparently cross several time zones because the trip consists of 12 nights (Bob Hudson of Perris).
* A cruise ship that is either available for a trip or is for sale (Ken Kuehl of South Gate).
* And a notice for guests who don’t want to share their room with wiggly visitors (ex-Fullerton resident Kathy Orris).
Sign in, please: As for an item here on high school athletic teams, John Aston, the stadium announcer for South Gate High (the mighty Rams), recalled the time that Los Angeles Poly showed up to play and nobody in the press box knew its nickname.
“We could see that the coaching staff were all wearing Hawaiian shirts and pukka-shell leis,” Aston said, “so somebody suggested that the team must be the L.A. Poly ‘Nesians.” Such a blending of names wouldn’t be unprecedented. Poca High of West Virginia is the Dots. That’s right: the Poca Dots.
miscelLAny: Actually, L.A. Poly High is the Parrots (returning the column to the subject of irritating birds).
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Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LATIMES, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012, and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.
