Leaflet Asks Residents Not to Feed Pigeons in Hitchin Town Centre
| Published: 20th September 2008 21:38 |
Don't feed pigeons - that's the message behind a new leaflet being given out in town centres by North Hertfordshire District Council in response to complaints from the public.
Called ‘A Pigeon's Tale' it has been specially written on behalf of Wilbur, a feral pigeon who lives in a town but would prefer not to be fed by members of the public. In the leaflet Wilbur explains that pigeons are so pampered that they are breeding far more quickly than in the past and are suffering from overcrowding, a junk-food diet and accidents in built-up areas, including being run over and catching legs in manmade structures.
"There need to be fewer of us. If we're honest we're country lovers and the town isn't our natural home," says Wilbur, pointing out that pigeons carry disease and attract vermin. He urges the public to follow two simple rules:
- Do not provide food for pigeons and they will look elsewhere.
- Dispose of food waste responsibly so pigeons and other creatures can't get it.
Without surplus food, pigeons will stop over breeding and become a pleasant feature of our busy towns instead of a nuisance. At present the damage they cause to buildings such as churches can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The leaflets, featuring Wilbur on the front, will be given out and distributed in town centres throughout North Herts.
Cllr Bernard Lovewell, NHDC Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health, said: "Whilst some people might like to see a few pigeons in our towns they are swamping us at the present time and causing a lot of practical problems. "No-one want to resort to drastic methods to get rid of them. If residents just stop feeding them and throw any leftover food away properly, it will make a big difference."
The Council is also putting up new 'Do not feed the pigeons' signs in the Market/Churchgate area of Hitchin.
Further detailed information about the pigeon population can be found on the NHDC web site.
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