Fairfield to pay $26,000 to remove nuisance peacocks

FAIRFIELD, Calif. — The City of Fairfield is preparing to pay more than $20,000 to remove dozens of peacocks that have become a nuisance. 

The mayor said the birds have taken a toll on the residents as they deal with cleanup and damage control.

Most of the birds live in the Rollings Hills area of Fairfield.

The mayor of Fairfield said the subject of the birds has been one the toughest the city has had to deal with. At one neighborhood meeting, a man even attacked a woman over the issue. So, the city is now having to compromise with residents.

Fairfield Mayor Catherine Moy said the birds were left behind about two decades ago. 

“The City of Fairfield inherited some land from a woman who gave it to us. It was an old ranch and what came with that were some Peafowl, peacocks, and peahens. I believe there were fewer than 10 at the time. And so she just wanted them to be cared for,” said Moy.

What started as a small flock has now turned into about 115 peacocks. They’re beloved by many. 

“I did see peacocks but the thing that really kind of shocked me was there weren’t any like boundaries for them,” said Michael Rim, who is visiting the area from Fairfield. “They’re just kind of out here and about living. And so that was really interesting for an exotic animal like that.” 

But Moy said they’re considered evil by a group of people who no longer want them there. Complaints include birds poking holes in people’s roofs, pecking dents in people’s cars and destroying a freshly poured driveway. 

After two neighborhood meetings, the peacocks have to go.

“That compromise is that we will have 50 birds at the most. That’s it, 50 birds. And that the rest of them will be trapped humanely and rehomed at ranches and homes around,” said Moy. 

The cost to remove the peacocks is $400 per bird, and 65 birds are being removed. That’s around $26,000 footed by taxpayers.

The city has hired Raptor Events to relocate the birds. 

“The birds are safely caught in very large cages. Each cage is 10 by 10 feet. And it’s large enough to house several birds at once or trap several birds at once. We always do same-day pickup,” said Jonathan Gonzalez, president of Raptor Events, LLC.

Residents said they understand why some may want the colorful birds gone, but they said it’s a shame it has come to this. Fairfield City Council approved the plan to remove the birds this week. They expect the 65 birds will be removed by the end of March.

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