The City Council has hired a specialized company that will use birds of prey to scare away seagulls
The cats will be sterilized and subsequently released or given up for adoption The City Council has received "exceptional authorization" from the Regional Goverment" for catching various species of animals in the town of Benidorm" and thus to control the population of seagulls, pigeons and stray cats. The councillor for the Environment, José Ramón González de Zárate, indicated that this authorization was received on October 17 and runs until March 31. Zárate recalled that the City Council "has been working for some time on the control of these species" to "decrease its population", controlling these animals, not to eliminate them." So, he insisted that these actions are "an effective and ecological response to limit the presence of these seagulls in the city" and to solve the problems caused by this circumstance. Both the Civil Guard and the Generalitat, will be responsible for overseeing all activities, carried out by a specialized company hired by the City Hall. The most widely used is "loose raptors" mainly hawks, that with their flight frighten and scare the seagulls. It is also planned to use flashing lights and a speakers that play a loud sound. In addition, there will be a "birth control". Zárate indicated that the Ministry has used for years this method in the area of the Natural Park Serra Gelada. For pigeons two methods are used: red shot guns, with 10 meters reach-in parks and influx; selective and feedlots and cages trap, which "will be installed on roofs and in surrounding areas of gathering of these animals, with the consent of the neighbors." To catch stray cats it will also be used feedlots cages. Zárate clarified that "when a cat has fallen into the trap, it will be taken to an animal shelter, where it will be sterilized and vaccinated." Then the animal will be released, and in the case of young cats it will be decided whether to enter into an adoption program or not. Zárate indicated that this control program will begin running in areas where there is a significant presence of gulls, pigeons or stray cats. However, he has asked citizens "if they detect that there is problem in any particular area, they should inform the departments of Health and Environment to be included in the 'planing' work".
