Survey

A number of years ago, few if any peafowl (peacocks and peahens) lived in the Chapman Woods neighborhood. Today, many inhabit the neighborhood and surrounding communities.

Some residents experience the negative impact that these otherwise beautiful birds can cause including:

• Interrupting traffic flow
• Eating flowers
• Destroying landscaping, etc.

The peafowl continue to reproduce and their numbers are growing in the community. These conditions have prompted some community members to call for a reduction in the population by humane removal of a certain number of peafowl to farms and ranches.

The safe and humane removal would be conducted by Mike Maxcy, a contractor who has worked with other communities such as Ranchos Palos Verdes, La Cañada Flintridge and San Marino, on the relocation of peafowl. For the Chapman Woods community, Mr. Maxcy would make his services available to residents who wish to have peafowl removed from their property. Mr. Maxcy would set up 10x10 humane traps containing food and water on the property of the residents who request the service. After a period of 24 hours, Mr. Maxcy would collect the peafowl that have entered the trap. The birds would then be relocated to pre-vetted farms and ranches where they would live out their lives. Mr. Maxcy would provide the removal of up to 25 peafowl in the Chapman Woods community with the goal of reducing the population.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger has heard from many concerned constituents on the subject of this issue. In an effort to determine the level of interest in moving forward in addressing this matter, she has asked the Department of Animal Care and Control to conduct a survey.