Los Angeles - It's showdown time in Hollywood for the flocks of pigeons whose poop is mucking up the areas landmarks, including the world-renowned Walk of the Stars. According to the Los Angeles Times on Monday, civic leaders are planning to mix a bird contraceptive called OvoControl P with pigeon food placed on rooftop feeders as a humane way to lower the birthrate of the birds.
"We clean doo-doo all the time and are proud of it," said Laura Dodson, president of the Argyle Civic Assn, the Hollywood group leading the effort to try the new contraceptive. "But our streets are getting bombarded by the poop way too much."
Supporters of the plan include the Humane Society of the United States and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which favour the contraceptive over electric shock gates, spiked rooftops, fatal poisons or other mitigation methods.
"We would much rather they use contraception than poison or anything harmful," said Maggie Brasted, director of urban wildlife conflict resolution for the Humane Society.