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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit APEAFOWL MANAGEMENT PLAN PLAN PURPOSE The purpose of this Management Plan is to humanely manage the peafowl population affecting specific neighborhoods within the boundary limits of the City of Miami. GOAL The goal of this Peafowl Management Plan is to maintain the peafowl population within certain neighborhoods, while creating an environment that supports the coexistence of peafowl with the character of the City. The goal will be achieved by implementing the following two strategies: • Deterrent Measures and Public Education • Humane Trapping and Relocation of up to ten percent (10%) of peafowl in a calendar year in order to maintain the peafowl population. The percentage of peafowl relocated will be determined annually based on the previous year's population count and/or based on the number of complaints received by the City. PEAFOWL MANAGEMENT PLAN The intent of this Management Plan is to provide educational guidance for City Staff and residents on how to deal with and manage the peafowl population within the City. The guidelines and provisions of this Plan do not supersede federal, state and county regulations or policies. The City will update and modify the Plan on an as needed basis, as determined by the frequency of resident complaints and survey data conducted periodically by professional wildlife stewards. PUBLIC EDUCATION The City Administration shall create a public education component for this plan. Trapping and Relocation No person shall prevent or interfere with the trapping or relocation of peafowl, either on public or private property, by releasing any captured peafowl or by damaging, disabling or disengaging any peafowl trap or enclosure. To humanely maintain the peafowl population this section of the Management Plan describes a citywide trapping and relocation program. The program proposes the trapping and relocating of up to ten percent (10%) peafowl per year in order to maintain the peafowl population level. The trapping and relocation program consists of the following 5 stages which are described below: • Peafowl Census • Selection of Trapping Vendor • Seasonal Trapping • Trapping Protocol • Relocation Stage 1: Peafowl Census Every year, the City in partnership with Florida International University will conduct a census survey to assess the peafowl population trends based on past census reports. The census will occur in February and/or March where significant peafowl complaints or sightings have been documented. Neighborhoods may be added, deleted or modified for future census years based on previous census results or the success of previous trapping efforts. The census will be used to determine whether to proceed with any trapping in the subject calendar year. If trapping is deemed necessary, the census will dictate the number of peafowl (up to ten percent 10% in a calendar year) to be trapped. Stage 2: Selection of Trapping Vendor Based on the outcome of the census report, if the City determines trapping is necessary to control the peafowl population, if a service agreement is not in effect, the City will go through the Request for Proposal (RFP) process to select an outside vendor. In considering a vendor, the City will factor experience, capability and cost. The City Council will enter into a Service Agreement with the selected vendor. Stage 3: Seasonal Trapping The general nesting/hatching season of peafowl is not considered a humane time period to conduct trapping of peahen because chicks flock with their peahen before being able to function on their own. Therefore, seasonal trapping of peahens (female) will take place November through February. Since peacocks (males) can be trapped all year long, if deemed necessary by the City, the trapping of peacock (males) may occur outside the July and December trapping window. Stage 4: Trapping Protocol The neighborhoods selected for trapping will be determined by the City based on peafowl population trends memorialized in the census reports, as well public input. The humane trapping of peafowl will occur as follows: • Traps will be made from chicken wire, or other similar material deemed acceptable by the City. • Traps will generally be approximately 8'(L) x 6'(H) in size intended to hold approximately 6-8 birds at a time. • Traps will be placed on City property or private property based on agreements between the City and the property owner. Private property will be selected by the City based on input from the trapper. • Traps will be serviced on a regular basis, but no less than once a week by the City's trapping vendor. • Traps will be maintained and monitored in accordance with any Federal, State or County Laws. • Traps occupied by peafowl will be serviced within 24 hours. The property owner where the traps are placed will be required to notify the City and the trapping vendor within 24 hours of the trap being occupied by peafowl. • The trapping vendor will also be able to gather peafowl using large, soft hand-held "fishing" style nets as this method is considered a very effective and quick way to quickly and humanely remove the young and fearless birds from the trapping regions. • The trapping vendor will be required to provide the City with dated photo documentation of each bird trapped, as well as information as to its relocation destination. Stage 5: Relocation Once peafowl are trapped by the vendor or removed from a trap by the vendor they will be relocated to appropriate sanctuary or other facility as reviewed and approved by the City and licensed trapping vendor. Under no circumstances will the trapped peafowl be euthanized or treated inhumanely.