Pigeons Evicted From Metra Underpasses

Dear Neighbor,

49th Ward residents will no longer have to carry umbrellas or wear wide-brimmed hats when walking under Rogers Park Metra viaducts thanks to the installation of new "pigeon spikes."

Pigeons have nested under the Metra viaducts for years, creating an unsightly and unsanitary mess.   

Now every Metra viaduct in the 49th Ward, from Howard Street south to Pratt Boulevard, has rows of plastic spikes that prevent pigeons from roosting on ledges over the sidewalks.  The spikes do not harm the birds; they simply prevent them from roosting.  I sponsored the installation of the pigeon spikes after investigating various alternatives to addressing the pigeon problem and the droppings that accompany the birds.

The spikes proved to be the most cost-effective and permanent solution to the problem.  Union Pacific authorities gave the City permission to install the spikes, and I sponsored the installation from my aldermanic menu money--the discretionary fund for infrastructure improvements--at a total cost of $40,000 for all ten Metra viaducts in the ward.  To my knowledge, we are the first ward in the city to sponsor the installation under train viaducts of these pigeon control devices.

The pigeon spikes hopefully will lower our clean-up costs and make travelling by foot under the viaducts a little more pleasant.

Please let my office and me know if you think the new pigeon spikes are working.

Sincerely,

Joe Moore