GULFPORT, Fla. — Gulfport residents have noticed an increase in peacocks in their neighborhood.
During an April Gulfport City Council meeting, a resident raised concerns that the peacock population could become too large.
Then, at last week’s city council meeting, residents came to speak in support of having the birds roaming their neighborhood.
Peacocks can be seen from treetops to yards.
“We had two (peacocks) a year-and-a-half ago. Now, I saw 20 in one gathering,” said resident Anne Lampru.
Lampru has lived in Gulfport for about two years, and she said the peacocks like to snack on her vegetable garden.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said peacocks have become established in communities across Florida by escaping from properties or by being released.
“This is Florida, and these birds were here long before all of us were,” said Denise Moseley, co-founder and treasurer of the nonprofit group Birds In Helping Hands.
The group helps injured animals, including peacocks, get back into the wild. Moseley said there are two reasons why there could be more of the colorful animal.
“This new influx is basically because there aren’t habitats where they should be, and it’s bird season,” she said.
Gulfport residents said that the peacocks can be seen from treetops to yards. (Spectrum News/Randy Levine)
FWC said that the birds can be a nuisance to people because they can strike reflective surfaces like cars and windows.
“You can say that they’re a nuisance. You can call them all kinds of different things, but they’re still wildlife and they’re going to be out in the wild,” Moseley said.
Gulfport City Council is not considering any action in relation to peacocks right now.
“As with most things, there’s different opinions on the spectrum, and there are those that love them, and there are those that are not appreciating them, and then there’s variables in between,” said Gulfport Vice Mayor Marlene Shaw.
If the birds are disturbing your property, the vice mayor and FWC are recommending natural deterrents like covering any reflective surfaces or using sprinklers to safely scare them off.
Lampru resorts to a light spray from her hose.
“They go away nicely and I bid them farewell, ‘Have a nice day,’” Lampru said.
Lampru loves the birds, just not when they are in her garden. She said they are working on a compromise.
“As long as he stays in that half. He can have that half of the yard, this is my half, please,” she said.
FWC does not manage peacocks.
Private landowners and local municipalities can legally remove them from their private property in accordance with any local laws and animal cruelty laws.