Pigeons are trapped under a net outside the Niles Walmart on Golf on Wednesday, Oct. 30. (Photo by George LeClaire)

Several local residents and at least one animal rights organization became concerned after pigeon trapping activities were spotted in parking lots along Golf Road last week.

Witnesses who reached out to the Journal & Topics with video of the activities showed Dallas, TX-based company CatchEm All Pigeons operating in parking lots of two shopping centers in Niles: in front of Walmart in the 8500 block of Golf Road on Wednesday, Oct. 30, and on Thursday, Oct. 31 in front of the Jungle of Niles plant store, located in Golf Glen Shopping Center in the 9000 block of Golf. 

According to witnesses, the company laid some kind of bird seed or bait in a central area in those parking lots, waited for pigeons to gather, then fired what was described as a series of small “rockets” pulling nets over the birds, trapping them under the nets. Workers then went under the nets with crates and took the birds one by one into the crates.

“Nobody is killing any birds,” said the owner of CatchEm All Pigeons, who only identified himself as Lovell, when contacted by the Journal & Topics by phone. Lovell said the birds are trapped, put in crates, then “relocated to the countryside.”

When asked for further details regarding the process, Lovell would not elaborate nor discuss his methods for deploying the nets. 

“We always contact police” to let them know when employees are removing birds in an area, he said. 

“The company seeks permission from property owners/managers to trap and relocate the pigeons. The village does not issue a permit for this,” said Niles Deputy Police Chief Nick Zakula.

On prior notification, Zakula said, “NPD patrol was made aware through a call for service and spoke with a company rep, as did the animal control officer. Pigeons are not a protected or regulated species. This is not a criminal investigation.”   

Police speak to CatchEm All Pigeons workers last week along Golf Road where they were trapping birds. (Photo by George LeClaire)

A concerned resident the Journal spoke with, who identified himself as Eugene, said he called Niles police who responded to the scene. Officers spoke with both CatchEm All Pigeons workers and Eugene, but did not take anyone into custody or present charges.  

Eugene said he did a Google search of the phone number on the company van and found CatchEm All Pigeons selling pigeons on an online hunting forum in Texas. The Journal found the same results. Lovell said he does sell some birds as “homing pigeons.” 

A group called Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue posted a “call to action” and video of the trapping activities in front of Jungle of Niles on Instagram, urging supporters to contact the property management company Glazer Properties.

A poster identifying themselves as Jungle of Niles responded on Instagram saying, “We had nothing to do with this, we are the tenant and we’re not notified on any of this.” 

A worker puts a pigeon in a crate from under a net in a parking lot along Golf Road in Niles last week. (Photo by George LeClaire)

Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue said, “Jungle of Niles, a local business and tenant at one of these properties, joins us in condemning this cruelty and calling for its cessation. We thank them for being an ally advocating for the humane treatment of pigeons.” 

The Journal was unable to immediately contact Glazer Properties, but media reports did quote a written statement from the company saying, “As an established owner and operator of commercial real estate for over three decades, our organization takes exceptional pride in operating our properties in an environmentally conscious and responsible manner. These alleged actions do not align with our values and standards. We will treat anyone acting in this way as a trespasser and will continue to investigate the matter.”

Glazer Properties said they did not contract the company, nor did the company ask permission to trap the pigeons.

Pigeons perch on power lines along Golf Road in Niles. (Photo by George LeClaire)