Arkansas State Director of USDA Wildlife Services Robert Byrd spoke at Monday’s city council meeting to present effective solutions to growing population of black vultures in the area.
A PowerPoint presentation showed the birds’ propensity for damaging everything from cars to houses, and even a helicopter. Byrd explained that the vultures especially liked to rip off rubber weather stripping and shingles, as well as being an issue for those who raise livestock.
In lieu of lethal methods, illegal under the 1918 Migratory Bird Act except by permit, Byrd presented several options that wildlife services have implemented in the past. All methods modified vulture roosting habitat and included sprinkler systems, removal of dead trees, and what he described as “fancy fireworks” to disturb vultures with loud noise as they roost. He explained that harassment works but said that such noisemakers may not be best for downtown.
Byrd said the cheapest option would be to hang an effigy where the birds roost to deter them, hanging a dead vulture upside so that the birds can see it. He said that the most common effigy was to have a hybrid of a fake vulture with real bird components, specifically wings. When asked by alderman Harry Meyer how the wings could be sourced if killing the bird was illegal, Byrd explained that the wildlife service would be able to assist the city with the permit process as well as provide the wings. He said that the service keeps vultures that may have died during wildlife rehabilitation for this purpose.
Byrd said that permits for lethal deterrence were only issued if all other options were exhausted. He also showed examples of signage that he suggested the city put up if they went with hanging an effigy.
German Alley update
Cliff Street resident, Susie Allen and other residents of German Alley and Cliff Sts., spoke during Public Comments. Allen described that in the last week a vehicle had attempted to go down German Alley and had ended up perpendicular in the road due to ice. She voiced support of closing a part of German Alley to turn it into a dead end, saying that even if the street is one-way up, it would take too long for changes to GPS data. Other residents spoke of the danger posed on the street and the need for council to do something quickly.
Mayor Butch Berry said that he had spoken with department heads, and none had issue with turning lower German Alley into a one-way going up but did have issue changing lower Mountain St. Berry said that he would be looking into adding signage to keep trucks off the streets. He also said that he had attempted to contact Google to get directions in town changed but had no luck so far. He said he would continue to pursue that, as well.
Other Items
- #2318 and #2319 increasing the City Clerk’s salary to $48,000 per year and Mayor’s salary to $40,000 per year passes first reading.
- A motion to allocate up to $700 to provide better doghouses for the pound failed 3-1 with McClung being the only dissenting vote. Berry said he would look into providing better housing for dogs in police custody during winter weather.