Councilman pushes pigeon birth control

NEW YORK, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- A New York councilman is pushing birth control for the pigeons infesting the Staten Island ferry terminals.

Councilman James Oddo, who represents Staten Island, points out that other strategies to drive out the pigeons, including spikes, nets and strips that provide a mild electric shock to any bird that lands on them, have had little success, The New York Post reported. OvoControl-P has another advantage -- the blessing of animal rights' groups.

Pigeons that have ingested OvoControl-P produce eggs that do not hatch because the drug interferes with development of a layer separating the yolk and white. Oddo, who is anti-abortion, has no problem with limiting pigeon reproduction.

He believes Staten Islanders should not have to worry about pigeons and pigeon droppings when they take the ferry to Manhattan.

"There is a morale factor here," he said.

The drug has not yet been approved for use in New York although it has been tried in Los Angeles and a similar one used on geese in New York.