The Ada County Landfill had a seagull poop problem.
For years, nearly 2,000 seagulls swarmed the landfill just north of Boise, looking for meals in its food waste.
The Idaho Statesman reports that in the process, these invasive birds blocked the vision of workers operating large machinery and presented them with a health risk, so the gulls had to go.
But getting rid of them was no easy feat.
It turned out the best way to get rid of the birds, was with more birds.
In June, the landfill started working with The Hawk Proz, that brings in hawks and falcons to scare invasive bird species away.
In six weeks, the number of gulls at the landfill has plummeted.
Gulls are very social, so if just a few are targeted, the whole group feels threatened.
In the first days of its program, Hawk Proz had to “set the tone” with the gulls, rotating seven of its hawks and falcons in and out to catch — and usually release — seagulls.
After three months, birds usually get the picture, and largely stop coming back.
