Gosh, you'd think PETA would be too busy euthanizing the animals in their shelters to worry about things like that.

Look no further.

i really isn't cool to blow dart pigeons. they should blow dart the crazy fucks who FEED pigeons.

IT really isn't cool. IT.

I don't want their blood money. In fact, I'd rather have injured pigeons.

I bet we can raise more money than that to fund pigeon-shooters.

Is blowdarting pigeons or other pests actually illegal?

I've always assumed these are escaped pigeons from a failed exterminator attempt, like maybe trying to get rid of the ones in the bus tunnel or Westlake mall.

I had a neighbor who used to shoot the pigeons that were shitting onto local HVAC intakes, and hence causing a disease risk.

He would locate where the pigeons were nesting, and request access to houses that were straight across from the eaves and windowsills in question. Then, he'd go up there at night, duct tape a powerful flashlight to the end of his air pump powered BB-gun, turn the light on and lean out of the window, aim the light at the sleeping pigeon (they won't fly at night for fear of owls), and then fire a BB into the bird's head or neck. Unlike the darts, they usually succeeded in killing the birds. Generally, a local cat or raccoon would carry off the carcass before he could get back down to the street.

Also, during the daytime, he would shoot the eggs in their nests.

It's ok, just keep ignoring the environmental impact of eating meat.

when i was in Penzance (Cornwall) people did some truly diabolical shit to the pigeons and seagulls, mostly bored younger guys on the dole. one sicko captured a pigeon and superglued Barbie boots to its legs and it lived for quite awhile, flying around in hot-pink plastic knee-highs.

Someone should shoot the bitch that runs PETA in the head with a dart.

That bitch is a strait up terrorist.

@10, that's the saddest/funniest bird-related thing i've heard today. I bet the landings were rough.

@9: Because people eat pigeons? I'm not sure I follow your logic.

Screw PETA. They have to be the biggest bunch of murdering hypocrites ever. And it's not "euthanasia" unless the animal is "hopelessly sick or injured" and done "in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy" (Merriam-Webster medical dictionary). PETA kills thousands of animals for space, or convenience, or to make a political point that people are no damned good. That's not euthanasia. It's murder.

2000 bucks? I know that 'destruction of wildlife' is a $500 fine (some kid at school used Alka-Seltzer on a seagull. Long story short it blew up over the cheerleader table and he got fined) so that's like a 1500 dollar profit. I'm in.

@11: that's a straight-up threat. you might want to bounce shit like that off your lawyer before you post it.

@9: I don't eat meat for exactly that reason but PETA still annoys the fuck out of me.

For starters look for small, brown colored, dark haired people with pigeon bones in their ears and noses (might be chicken bones).

Wow Seattle! It's so unlike you drooling far-left liberal shut-ins to a) support the senseless harming of animals (who cares if they are pigeons?), and b) advocating for the "shooting" of that "bitch that runs PETA."

#11 - Somebody is shooting darts at helpless, defenseless animals, but somehow, PeTA is the terrorist in all of this? Please explain that logic to all us?

#16

You are clearly retarded...

Been watchin' a little too much Wapner, eh?

I think PETA has some questionable practices, but I also find it repugnant that they are bashed so heavily. At least they give a shit. As if caring about the welfare of animals was a principle to be mocked? Seems like some self hate shit to me.

No, #22, PETA deserves bashing because they are exploiting people's love of animals to raise gobs of money, and then slaughtering cats, dogs and other sentient beings as quickly as they can get their hands on them.

This whole "pigeongate" ordeal has taught me two things:

1. People (on Slog, of course) generally don't have trouble with the concept of someone working to control the pigeon population, because they are disease-infested and shit everywhere.

2. People (on Slog, of course) generally feel that inflicting non-fatal blowdart wounds on pigeons is a bit over the top and more than a wee bit cruel.

What we need is a well-regulated group of volunteers that will work to reduce the pigeon population by non-inhumane means, sort of like a pigeon killing militia.

So noone has answered the key question here...

Is it really illegal to blow dart a pigeon?

No it is not. 'Nuff said.

Nice tactic for publicity again by People Eating Tasty Animals.

#13, it has nothing to do with the pigeons.

The "logic", or I guess lack of logic, is that you seem to dismiss an entire organization and their arguments based on their willingness to objectify women... er, let women objectify themselves (your inability to differentiate this deserves another comment, so I won't digress).

I clicked through to your blog. You clearly figured out what their argument is:

to demonstrate how much water it takes to produce meat

but you chose not to comment on that. In fact, in the year or so that I've been reading Slog, I haven't seen you so much as mention the environmental impact of the meat industry. Why, I wondered?

I figured out why. You eat meat. Lots of it. Now, I eat meat, I won't deny that. I also don't go around likening myself some kind of environmentalist, preaching to others and complaining about relatively benign pet causes like plastic bags and hummers and bike lanes.

My original comment was only to point out the comedic value of you summarizing PETAs environmental argument to "um, something", which I presume merely served to keep your own cognitive dissonance in check.

@25 - no, it probably isn't. But in our state it's illegal to have sex with them.

Besides, who knows where that blow dart has been ...

Dear PETA:

It's Erica.

Send me my check.

Dear PETA:

I think I know who the "Seattle Pigeon Shooter" is - do the initials e.c. ring a bell?

Please contact me re: where to send the reward.

Er, that should be "the initials e.h." Sorry for the confusion.

@23

You're so right. All PETA does is exploit caring people and slaughter animals. How could I be so blind? I hate them now.

@27 Good Point Will.

My bad.

DEATH TO OUR PIGEON OPPRESSORS!

p.s. fuck peta

#23, PETA is hardly the largest or least humane group that euthenizes animals. You better start calling King County evil before PETA.

I hate PETA's marketing, but they're the only ones bringing up important issues like taxing beef, the #1 human cause of global warming.

@32 - no prob.

@34 - I agree - they get thru the media filters a lot more than all the "well meaning" groups ever do.

OMFG - people, objectivity of women, yes it happens, BUT only to the women who let it happen TO them. Do you not get that? There are a lot of women who bank on their 'objectivity' on themselves. Pamela Anderson, who is a large spokesperson for PETA is one? Yes. She is. What is the problem? A lot of men in our society bank their 'objectivity' on their sexuality also.

Let's be frank. Stop with that bullshiz? K?

Now, as far as animal rights are concerned? What voice do they have? Are you really willing to admit to yourself that an animal killed (for your dinner) does not feel emotions or pain? Google the rest if you think not.

#14 & #23 prove what you are claiming with facts. Now read what I say below:

#22 - Thank-you! And if euthanizing animals if they are sick and mistreated beyond medical help for their benefit then I agree with you.

#24 You contradict yourself.

Anyone past #35 I have not read.

Thanks ECB for the post.