Students have been finding dead pigeons in and around United Methodist Hall for the last few weeks.
MaKayla Baxter, music theater freshman and Methodist Hall resident, said she saw a headless pigeon corpse in the hall’s lobby a few weeks ago.
“I saw a decapitated pigeon on the bottom of the stairs outside of the main entrance,” Baxter said. “I definitely would have much rather not seen the one that I saw.”
Baxter said most residents are upset by the pigeons’ presence.
“I just heard about them being inside the lobby and outside the doors, and I don’t know what really is happening to them,” Baxter said. “I just hear about dead pigeons everywhere, and people would really rather not see that. It makes them uncomfortable, and it makes them sad.”
Baxter said she wants to know why this is happening and what is being done to prevent it.
“I think if there is any way to prevent that, it would be ideal,” she said. “Not only for our comfort’s sake, but for the pigeons. I, personally, don’t know what exactly is happening to them, but I think it’s really unfortunate because it’s happened several times.”
Baxter said the issue could be a health concern for the residents of Methodist Hall.
“As far as I know, the pigeons have been left for long periods of time,” she said. “I think that if that pattern keeps up, it could get to a point where it’s a health concern.”
Dayton Drummonds, film production freshman and Methodist Hall resident, said he saw two dead pigeons in the courtyard.
Although Drummonds saw the two dead pigeons, he said he has not seen any since.
“When I saw the pigeons, I wasn’t immediately concerned,” Drummonds said. “It seems like it’s been better since the first few weeks of school.”
Andy Wiley, associate director of facilities, said the dead pigeons are mostly being killed by local hawks.
“Most of the dead pigeons around Methodist are due to the native hawks in the area,” Wiley said.
Baxter said her heart goes out to all of the pigeons that die due to this issue.
“I just feel bad for the pigeons. I feel really bad for the pigeons. I don’t know what’s happening to them,” she said. “It just makes me sad.”
If students find dead pigeons around or inside Methodist Hall, Wiley said they should call facilities or housekeeping at (405) 208-5383.
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