Los Angeles County May Criminalize Feeding Peacocks

The Washington Post reports:

These birds have pitted neighbor against neighbor, leading to shouting matches, talk of poisonings (of the birds), road rage (aimed at the birds) and sleepless nights (caused by the birds).

Now the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is preparing to act. It could vote as soon as Tuesday on an ordinance to prohibit intentional feeding of peafowl. The measure is modeled after a law in the nearby community of Arcadia that makes the offense punishable by a $1,000 fine or six months in jail.

Enthusiasts say the peafowl are a blessing, with their gorgeous plumage enlivening neighborhoods. Others view them as a curse. Their raucous mating cries awaken residents before sunrise, they gobble up gardens and tear up shingles, and males peck violently at parked cars when they mistake their own reflection for a romantic rival.

Read the full article.

@ericawerner has covered chaotic debates for years, but she’s never had a story quite like this one. Best to turn the volume ON as you scroll through so you get the complete experience. https://t.co/ufLZBESaEV

— Damian Paletta (@damianpaletta) June 6, 2021

Peacocks! They roam free by the hundreds in Pasadena and other towns northeast of LA. They travel in packs, standing in yards, landing on roofs or strolling down the sidewalk. And they shriek! @ericawerner https://t.co/SxfefzN37O

— LenaSun (@bylenasun) June 6, 2021