COLD LAKE - The City of Cold Lake held a special meeting in part to address a resident's complaint about the pigeon population in the community.
Matt Jamael, a resident of Cold Lake South, has raised concerns over pigeons being disease carriers and the potential problems the birds might cause if not managed properly.
Jamael expressed frustration, seeking a satisfactory resolution to the issue.
During the July 16 meeting, CAO Kevin Nagoya acknowledged the City's current lack of a pigeon eradication and population control program.
"The City of Cold Lake has advised that at this time we do not have a pigeon eradication and population control program," Nagoya stated. He noted the uniqueness of Cold Lake's skunk removal program and the expectations of residents for similar services for other animals.
"In this regard, it's a question of whether the City of Cold Lake wants to pursue a pigeon eradication, population control type of program. There's a few perspectives in regards to this matter, and that's what the report goes through," said Nagoya. He highlighted various concerns, including community safety, aesthetics and health, noting that other birds such as seagulls, ravens, and magpies also carry similar diseases.
"Another piece to that is that you can see within the body of the report there are people who like to have pigeons, feed pigeons, and some who like to keep and breed pigeons," Nagoya added. He emphasized the need to consider animal rights and the implications of such a program, questioning, "Is that the proper thing that the municipality should be doing in this regard?"
Mayor Craig Copeland also weighed in on the issue, reflecting on the various options presented. "When I look at the different options on the birders list, of course, some people don't like the other bird, not the raven, but magpies. They do a lot of damage to your other birds in your bird community," he said. Copeland expressed a preference for hiring an expert to study the pigeon population and provide recommendations for control or eradication.
Coun. Bob Mattice supported the idea of studying the pigeon problem further.
"We live in an area where we have to coexist with wildlife... whether it's bears or anything, and you just have to work within the constraints," he said, suggesting a mitigation strategy rather than outright eradication.
Coun. Bill Parker raised concerns about the effectiveness of eradication efforts. "I think if we start looking at eradicating the birds out of the city, we're just simply going to have other populations moving in from the rural area, coming in looking for food or other ways of being there," he observed.
Coun. Vicky Lefebvre emphasized education as a solution. "I just think all we need is a little bit of education for our citizens.”
She recommended simple measures to deter pigeons from roosting rather than spending large amounts of money on eradication.
Coun. Chris Vining echoed this sentiment, suggesting a bylaw to prevent feeding pigeons directly within the community.
"I think this is an education issue."
Coun. Ryan Bailey expressed concerns about the unintended consequences of trying to displace one type of bird, highlighting the need for a balanced approach.
Bailey made a motion to take no immediate action, opting instead to passively monitor community feedback regarding the pigeon issue. The motion was passed unanimously.
