Animal rights activists condemn the trapping of pigeons in golf course parking lots

Several local residents and at least one animal rights group became concerned after pigeon trapping activities were spotted in parking lots along Golf Road last week.

Witnesses who contacted the Journal & Topics with video of the activities showed the Dallas, Texas-based company CatchEm All Pigeons operating in parking lots of two Niles shopping centers on Wednesday, Oct. 1: in front of Walmart in the 8500 block of Golf Road. 30, and on Thursday, Oct. 31 in front of the Jungle of Niles plant store, located in the Golf Glen Shopping Center in the 9000 block of Golf.

According to witnesses, the company placed some type of birdseed or bait in a central area in those parking lots, waited for the pigeons to gather, and then fired a series of small “missiles” that pulled nets over the birds and trapped them. under the nets. Workers then went under the nets with crates and took the birds into the crates one by one.

“Nobody kills birds,” said the owner of CatchEm All Pigeons, who identified himself only as Lovell, when contacted by the Journal & Topics by phone. Lovell said the birds are captured, put in crates and then “moved into the countryside.”

When asked for more details about the process, Lovell would not elaborate or discuss his methods for deploying the nets.

“We always contact police” to let them know when workers remove birds in an area, he said.

“The company is seeking permission from property owners/managers to capture and relocate the pigeons. The village does not issue a permit for this,” said Niles Deputy Police Chief Nick Zakula.

After prior notice, Zakula said, “The NPD patrol was notified via a call for service and spoke with a company representative, as well as the animal control officer. Pigeons are not a protected or regulated species. This is not a criminal investigation.”

A concerned resident the Journal spoke to, who identified himself as Eugene, said he called Niles police, who responded to the scene. Officers spoke with both CatchEm All Pigeons employees and Eugene, but did not take anyone into custody or file charges.

Eugene said he searched Google for the company bus phone number and found CatchEm All Pigeons pigeons on an online hunting forum in Texas. The Journal found the same results. Lovell said he sells some birds as “carrier pigeons.”

A group called Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue posted a “call to action” and video of the trapping activities for Jungle of Niles on Instagram, urging supporters to contact property management company Glazer Properties.

A poster identifying himself as Jungle of Niles responded on Instagram saying, “We had nothing to do with this, we are the renter and we are not being notified about this.”

Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue said: “Jungle of Niles, a local business and tenant of one of these properties, joins us in condemning this cruelty and calling for its end. We thank them for being an ally advocating for the humane treatment of pigeons.”

The Journal could not immediately contact Glazer Properties, but media outlets cited a written statement from the company saying: “As an established commercial real estate owner and operator for more than three decades, our organization is exceptionally proud to operate our properties in an environmentally conscious and responsible manner. These alleged actions are not in line with our values ​​and standards. We will treat anyone who acts in this way as an offender and continue to investigate the matter.”

Glazer Properties said they did not contract the company, nor did the company request permission to trap the pigeons.