Dive Summary:
- Beginning in May, the New Hanover County Landfill was granted a federal depredation permit that allows two specially-trained landfill workers to shoot a pyrotechnic gun at a large flock of seagulls.
- An estimated 6,000 birds were flying overhead, causing a violation of a regulatory requirement for animal control and creating sanitary issues for personnel and customers.
- The county has expenditures around $8,000 that it has spent in an attempt to eliminate the flocks, and it has also used sonic cannons, trapping and distress calls.
From the article:
... Seagulls have always been a problem for the county landfill, but the problem has grown since the county incinerator shut down in 2011. ...
... "We've tried everything. Each one of these devices has an impact," said Sam Hawes, the landfill manager. "We have to use all of them and change them up to keep up with the birds." ...
... The county had to go through the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and then to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to secure the permit. ...
