Families in Brevard County are reporting issues with dozens of peacocks on Merritt Island.“We thought the peacocks were cool at first, but quickly learned that they’re quite the nuisance,” Rick Jones said.In the last two months, neighbors in the Woods at Crooked Mile have brought several concerns to county commissioners over the peafowl population.”They’re very loud. And they’ll go all day and night,” Jones said. “In the middle of the night, they’ll scream, which I think is the biggest problem for people, especially during mating season.”One neighbor said she’s counted between 40 and 50 peacocks, with new chicks continuing to hatch.“They poop everywhere, and it’s pretty big poop,” Jones said.These issues were brought up at two commission meetings in May and in July.”Each agency has said it falls outside its authority or referred us to someone else,” Matt Albert said at the last meeting. “Meanwhile, the peafowl population continues to grow.”Even some commissioners have had run-ins with the birds.“I hit one with my car one afternoon, right in front of me. I couldn’t sleep that night, I felt bad. I think it survived,” Commissioner Thad Altman said. “Those are tough animals. dented my car. I get out of my car to find it, and it ran away like wow.”But the community wants something to be done.”Peacocks are sort of in the middle of a no man’s land legally, but we probably need to give you more information,” Altman said. “We probably need to give you more information, so I’m glad you’re here, and we’ll get on it.” We reached out to Commissioner Thad Altman for follow-up. We also reached out to Commissioner Goodson, who represents that district. A spokesperson from Goodson’s office said they are looking into the situation.
MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. —
Families in Brevard County are reporting issues with dozens of peacocks on Merritt Island.
“We thought the peacocks were cool at first, but quickly learned that they’re quite the nuisance,” Rick Jones said.
In the last two months, neighbors in the Woods at Crooked Mile have brought several concerns to county commissioners over the peafowl population.
“They’re very loud. And they’ll go all day and night,” Jones said. “In the middle of the night, they’ll scream, which I think is the biggest problem for people, especially during mating season.”
One neighbor said she’s counted between 40 and 50 peacocks, with new chicks continuing to hatch.
“They poop everywhere, and it’s pretty big poop,” Jones said.
These issues were brought up at two commission meetings in May and in July.
“Each agency has said it falls outside its authority or referred us to someone else,” Matt Albert said at the last meeting. “Meanwhile, the peafowl population continues to grow.”
Even some commissioners have had run-ins with the birds.
“I hit one with my car one afternoon, right in front of me. I couldn’t sleep that night, I felt bad. I think it survived,” Commissioner Thad Altman said. “Those are tough animals. [It] dented my car. I get out of my car to find it, and it ran away like wow.”
But the community wants something to be done.
“Peacocks are sort of in the middle of a no man’s land legally, but we probably need to give you more information,” Altman said. “We probably need to give you more information, so I’m glad you’re here, and we’ll get on it.”
We reached out to Commissioner Thad Altman for follow-up.
We also reached out to Commissioner Goodson, who represents that district. A spokesperson from Goodson’s office said they are looking into the situation.