STURGIS, S.D. – Sturgis Police plan to use non-lethal methods in hopes of discouraging a group of turkey vultures from congregating in the area of Pine Street. Sturgis Police Geody Vandewater says they will be using a bird banger noise maker in hopes of encouraging them to relocate to the surrounding hills where they can roost without causing issues. He says they have been causing property concerns and creating unpleasant odors. “But they’re causing quite a ruckus, so we’re going to be doing some hazing methods to shoo them out of there, Vandewater said. “ We’ve done this hazing in the past. It’s a non-lethal way of scaring them out of the area just to get them to move on, but we’ll be doing that again. Their feces/droppings are causing quite the disturbance for the owners of the trees that they’re roosting in.” Vandewater says this is not the first time they’ve had problems with the birds. “We had this problem quite a few years ago and we actually worked with the federal Game, Fish and Parks to, secure I think it was 20 or 30, federal permits to euthanize these things legally, and, took care of the problem for a while. But, we’ll be partnering with Game, Fish and Parks to try to do some hazing methods hopefully, and hopefully they’ll be gone and then we’ll have to figure out a plan come spring when they return.” He says residents in the area will hear some loud noises as they use bird-banger noise maker over the next several days. Vandewater says “we appreciate the community’s patience and understanding while we work to resolve the situation. If you hear a loud bang in the Pine Street area, there is no need for concern, it is part of this temporary wildlife management effort.” Share via: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn More