The Kramer’s parrot, an exotic and invasive species, is increasingly present in the municipality of La Laguna, which is why, for the first time, the City Council is going to take measures to control its expansion, including it in the new pest control service and collection of animals that the Consistory, through the Environment area, has just put out to tender for the first time, since until now this service was being carried out through various minor contracts.
This was confirmed yesterday by the councilor responsible for the area, José Luis Hernández, who explained that “since I arrived at the council I realized that we had to solve this and we got down to work”, now putting out to tender this new contract that It has been divided into three lots: one for the control of the population of pigeons and the removal of feral birds, including roosters and chickens fundamentally; another for the removal of exotic fauna, which now includes the Kramer’s parrotand a last one for rat extermination and disinsection in open public spaces.
Companies can attend one of the lots or several, which allows “specialization and that small and medium-sized companies can have options,” said the mayor, who added that, in addition, “it will give us much more flexibility and guarantees for this service , which is essential”. The tender is for a total of two years, with the possibility of extension for another two, and a global budget of 248,202.56 euros, without IGIC. By lots, the budget is 67,863.80 euros for the control of pigeons and removal of feral birds; 28,405.58 euros for the withdrawal of exotic fauna; and 151,933.18 euros for rat extermination and disinsection.
Regarding the removal of foreign exotic fauna, the service includes for the first time the capture of exotic and invasive birds, such as the Kramer’s parrot. “Until a little over a year ago it was very testimonial, but for a few months it has been a problem that has increased enormously”, especially in areas such as “the Camino Largo, in the town, and where there are trees you can already see considerable flocks”, explained the mayor. “If we let this go on for a year or two more, it becomes a problem for us -he added-, and we are now at a time when perhaps it can be controlled with trapping”. In this case, the birds are captured and not slaughtered.
Regarding the batch of rat control and disinsection in open public spaces, it includes species such as rats, mice, cockroaches, fleas, ants, bees, wasps and the like.
Meanwhile, in the control of the population of pigeons and the removal of feral birds, roosters and chickens are included, which “is an increasingly recurrent problem, especially in these spaces on the border between urban and rural areas, such as in the La Verdellada ravine, and they begin to grow disproportionately and there are problems that must be tackled,” said Hernández.
As for the pigeons, the specifications include the placement of 25 cages for their capture, determining the City hall the locations. However, the councilor explained that a recent report from the State Prosecutor’s Office sent to the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces establishes, regarding the capture and/or slaughter of pigeons in urban areas, that it must be authorized by the environmental body. jurisdiction of the territory. A procedure that is yet to be finalized. “In any case, this report will be released to the company that wins the tender and we will see how we organize this issue of the request,” said the mayor, who pointed out that the tender was sent before the appearance of this report.
Hernández also pointed out that the use of contraceptive feed was finally ruled out, since, although “it seemed quite interesting, they passed us a study where it was said that there could be collateral damage for other species and that made us slow down a bit” and by not having the clear results, and having to take out the tender, “we have continued with the only method we have now,” he said.
