Pride of rampaging peacocks attack cars they mistake for love rivals

[Snowden]

Pride of rampaging peacocks attack cars they mistake for love rivals


By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 4:56 PM on 25th June 2008


A posse of peacocks which caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to cars are to be rounded up after residents got fed up paying up for repairs.

The seven-strong gang of the colourful birds arrived in the quiet village of Hurstpierpoint more than two years ago.

But after scores of attacks on cars - leaving them with deep scratches - residents decided enough was enough.

Attack: A peacock strikes after seeing its reflection in a blue car

And this week the local council flew into action - catching two females, called peahens - by baiting cages with cat food and peanuts.

But two males, peacocks, and three peahens are still on the loose, launching kung-fu style double foot kick attacks on cars in a three street radius in the West Sussex village and causing drivers to swerve to avoid them as they wander down the middle of the road.

The pride are believed to attack the cars - especially blue ones - to fend off male rivals during mating season after seeing their own reflections in the paintwork.

Caught: The brightly coloured bird scratches a car

Resident Peter Bennett, 65, said he had called in the council - along with dozens of other residents - after the birds scratched his light blue Ford Ka dozens of times.

He said: "They are beautiful birds, but to be honest they have become a real nuisance. The amount of time I spend touching up scratches on my car is ridiculous.

'They frighten young children and wake everybody up at 3am with bloodcurdling mating calls.'

Damage: Scratches left by the birds

The retired undertaker, who is married to Doreen, 69, added: "They attack the reflection they see of themselves in the cars.

'They have attacked my light blue Ford Ka dozens of times and I spend hours every week touching up the scratches or taking it to the garage for work.

'They must have damaged scores and scores of cars in the village and the damage done mounts up to thousands of pounds.

Angry: Neighbours Peter and Doreen Bennett of Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex

'It's too high a price to pay, even though they are beautiful birds to look at.

'I'll be glad to see the back of them.'

The birds also eat flowers and ruin people's gardens by scratching up plants.

Resident Evie Davey said she loved the birds but that she was sick and tired of the early morning squawking and the attacks on residents' cars.

Catch the peacock: An irate couple try to snare one of the birds

Mrs Davey, who is in her 70s, said: 'I do like them, but they are naughty.

'They scream and wake everyone up and they have damaged a lot of people's cars after fighting their own reflections. '

Deputy clerk of Hurstpierpoint Parish Council Jo Kearns said that they were working with residents to rid the area of the pesky birds.

Troublemaker: One of seven rogue peacocks alongside parked cars

Speaking today, she said: "We have caught two peahens so far, with the help of residents.

'They are very difficult to capture and we have to try to lure them into cages with their favourite foods - cat food or peanuts.

'They arrived about two or three years ago and the problem is some residents really love them and feed them, so they stay where they are.

Prowl: One of the women eyes up a new target

'But other residents have obviously got sick and tired of them standing in the middle of the road, damaging cars, frightening children and digging up flower beds and plants.'


She said the two birds captured so far had been handed over to an animal lover with a smallholding in nearby Lewes and that the other five birds - the national symbol of India - would be given to the same person when they were caught.

She added: 'Peacocks are not protected birds, so the RSPB or RSPCA are not really interested in dealing with them as they are not under threat or in danger.'

Mischief: One of the peacocks sniffs at some flowers

Pride of rampaging peacocks attack cars they mistake for love rivals | Mail Online

[Woodmonkey]

That's the problem when people feed wild animals - they tend to stay and cause problems. They are beautiful though.