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They have been kept as pets for thousands of years and have been used by many cultures as symbols of immortality, royalty, and creativity.

Peacocks aren’t a wild species such as bears so they fall outside of the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Sustainability

“They’re in a grey area,” Rehal said.

Photo by Mark van Manen / PNG

Area resident Parm Brar said earlier that he had come to the end of his tether after dealing with the bird’s piercing calls and voluminous excrement for years. Without a permit, he cut down one of the trees where they roost on his property. He’s already been fined $1,000 and could face another $9,000 in fines.

“What is clear in the city of Surrey is that no one shall cut down a tree without a permit,” Rehal said.

“It was a 100 year old tree, a very healthy strong tree that was cut down without a permit and that’s unacceptable.”

Rehal said Surrey plans to bring the community together to develop a solution. He thinks that will happen sometime this month.

Trapping isn’t as easy as it sounds, he said. Peacocks are intelligent and require more than a couple of traps. Traps would also have to be placed in the yards of several area residents.

“We’ll have a forum to talk about their concerns and how to manage it and come up with a solution,” he said.

“The thing is we need to find the right authority to deal with it. We also need full community support.”

Photo by Mark van Manen / PNG

Gail Wallin, executive director of the Invasive Species Council of B.C., describes peacocks as an introduced but not invasive species. An invasive species is defined as one that displaces a native species.

She said introduced species such as goldfish and pigs are often kept as pets and then released outside by people when they move or no longer want them.

“Pets like peacocks can become feral,” she said.

“They have gone back to some of natural instincts. They become aggressive. They’re no longer the pets they once were.”

In a temperate climate like Metro Vancouver, some introduced species such as peacocks can easily breed and reproduce. They weren’t a problem when there were one or two of them; but now they’ve become an established species it’s much more difficult to remove them.

To start Invasive Species Action Month in May, the Invasive Species Council is focusing on an initiative called Invasive Animals: Don’t Let It Loose!

Wallin said that dealing with the problem starts with members of the public not releasing any pets outside. Take them back to the pet store where they were purchased. Or contact science centres or zoos if the animal can be used for educational purposes.

“If all else fails, have a qualified veterinarian euthanize the animal in a humane manner,” the ISCBC says.

“It’s far kinder than letting it starve to death in the wild or destroy the homes of native animals and plants.”

kevingriffin@postmedia.com

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