COLUMN: Pigeon problem polarizes homeowners

DEAR MIKE: I have to take umbrage to your recent article in which you refer to pigeons as filthy, disease-spreading vermin. This shows an appalling lack of understanding of how animals enrich our lives.

Pigeons spend a lot of time preening and cleaning themselves. More time, I would add, than you probably do.

As far as your advice for "removing" them is concerned, why don't you suggest a statue of an owl or a hawk or some other natural enemy of the pigeon to be placed where pigeons may not be wanted? It would certainly be more humane (and that word should apply to humans like yourself) than trying to injure or kill the birds who, after all, are only looking to eke out an existence in this world like the rest of us. -- Denis B.

DEAR DENIS: I received a large quantity of mail regarding pigeons after the original column was printed. About 60 percent were tough-talking pigeon haters, and about 40 percent were pigeon zealots. I am truly surprised that so many people took the time to write about their love of pigeons. My point was to use chicken wire or bird spikes to force the pigeons to go somewhere else.

I read all the letters, and carefully considered their arguments. To answer them summarily, I would say this: No, I haven't fallen for "pigeon propaganda" and no, I don't hate all of God's creations. Pigeons simply are not welcome at my house.

The reason I didn't suggest a statue of an owl is that in the long run, they don't work. I know that somewhere out there is a plastic owl with no pigeons around it, but let's face it, pigeons are not stupid.

Once they figure out that the statue is not a threat, the pigeons will turn it into a droppings-covered snowman. I also know people that have used rubber snakes to try to scare pigeons and they don't work either.

I did get some useful letters though. One reader from New York said that at Yankee Stadium, they string fishing line across the pigeon's flightpath. I would think this would be a fairly easy thing to do at a residence assuming that you could place the fishing line in areas that would impede the pigeons. If the home's roofline is such, you could attach "L" brackets to the fascia using screws and then tie fishing line to the brackets.

Another reader from San Diego said that many outdoor restaurants there use inexpensive welcome mats secured to the roof edges. She said these mats have little plastic nubs that pigeons find irritating to their feet.

Home centers carry a variety of welcome mats that cost $5 or less. You could easily cut these into strips with a utility knife and stick them in place using a tube of adhesive caulk. If the pigeons congregate under an eave, try sticking a mat up there. It may work and it may not. I guess you have to hope for pigeons without calluses.

Homeowners have the right to choose which guests can visit their home. Just as I don't think twice about stepping on a cockroach, I don't think twice about what ever became of those pigeons that used to call my home theirs. I know what happened to them, they live on my neighbor's roof.

Michael D. Klimek is a licensed contractor and president of Pro Handyman Corp. Questions may be sent by e-mail to: prohandyman@

lvcm.com. Or, mail to: 2301 E. Sunset Road, Box 8053, Las Vegas, NV 89119. His Web address is: www.prohandymancorp.com.

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