San Francisco Giants might use falcons to stop unwanted guests www.privateofficer.com
SAN FRANCISCO CA JULY 31 2011 — The San Francisco Giants always draw a crowd when they play at home, but a bunch of flying party crashers are creating a bit of a mess. Seagulls and pigeons who can’t wait for a free meal are pestering fans.
The Giants say their seagull problem is beginning to cause quite a flap around the stadium. The scavengers are showing up earlier, and taking more liberties. But help could soon be taking wing. The Giants are considering hiring a falconry team to help the seagulls find the door.
“You get to use the falcons and hawks where you can’t use any other type of bird abatement where you don’t want to kill them,” says Wingmaster Falconry’s Jim Fustos.
The company uses falcons and hawks to intimidate birds from landfills, shopping malls and even resorts. Wingmaster owner Steve Vasconcellos says the key is training his birds to train the seagulls. For instance, Vasconcellos says his birds would be trained to intimidate but not attack.
“It’s the presence of the falcon in anaggressive flight mode that actually stimulates that fear factor in the seagull,” he says.
The Giants say they’re weighing the options, including trying to get falcons to set up house on a light pole.
