CITY OF BURTON BEGINS EFFORTS TO REMOVE VULTURE POPULATION

  

The City of Burton is embarking on a campaign to eradicate a large number of vultures that have been troubling local residents.

Last month, the Burton City Council moved to hire Jacob Hetzel, a wildlife biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife, to get rid of the buzzards, who have made the water tower their home and often target trash receptacles around town.

In a newsletter published by the city on Thursday, the campaign is described as one of two phases.  The first one involves making sure residents and businesses who use dumpsters for garbage disposal are keeping the lids closed at all times.  The second will have the wildlife biologist using pyrotechnics to scare the birds away, with lethal removal being an option for those that persist.

The city says the second phase is a 3-5 day process that will take place roughly an hour before sundown.  It says it will attempt to inform homeowners when the process begins so that they can bring in any pets that might be afraid of the loud noises caused by the pyrotechnics.  In addition, the wildlife biologist will reach out to landowners if there are any issues on private property. 

The contract that was approved by the council has a cost of $250 per visit, and will last until terminated by the council or until the birds are no longer a problem.