They may not be native to the Florida Keys, but peacocks have long called Islamorada’s Plantation Key home.
Drivers traversing the Old Highway around MM 88 often see the large, colorful birds strutting along and across the road. Longtime residents say the peacocks have been seen in Islamorada for many decades.
Their residency in the village almost came to an end, however, after a local homeowners association was seeking to have bounty hunters remove the birds, which have been flocking onto their property. It caused quite a stir in a community with residents who’ve come to adore the peacocks’ existence on the island.
A large response from the community to protect the peacocks led the Port of Call Townhouses Homeowners Association’s board of directors to hold off on their removal.
“While our efforts to humanely remove and relocate the overpopulated and non-native peacocks from our property were in full compliance with Florida law, we have chosen to pause these efforts,” reads a statement from the homeowners association’s attorney to village officials on July 8, the same day bounty hunters were set to round up the peacocks via snaring, for transportation to a Georgia farm.
It all began more than a week ago when information surfaced regarding the impending removal of the peacocks by two bounty hunters. It was directed by the board of the directors for the quaint townhouse neighborhood Port of Call, which consists of 10 privately-owned residences on the oceanside. The move came following issues they were facing with the birds on their property. They say upwards of 60 to 80 peacocks are wreaking havoc on the property.
Per the homeowners association’s attorney, the root cause of the peacock problem was the continuous feeding of the animals by two owners within the community — a violation of the association’s rules. Despite multiple violation letters sent by the association and its legal counsel, the letter states, these owners continue feeding the peafowl and exacerbating the issue.
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission characterizes peacocks as nuisance birds, meaning they have no specific protections.
“If the landowner or HOA is seeking removal and there is no local ordinance or regulation prohibiting it, the property owner may remove the birds themselves or hire a third party to do that work for them,” states FWC.
Further, FWC says any live-captured nuisance wildlife must be released legally or euthanized humanely within 24 hours of capture or trap inspection.
Per FWC, nonnative fowl species, including peacocks, have become established in municipalities across the state by escaping from properties or by release. They can exhibit nuisance behaviors when their numbers multiply or when they are being fed by people, which has been the case for Port of Call.
“As a result, our owners are left to contend with the waste they produce, along with their territorial behavior toward children, vehicles and pets, as well as noise disturbances and safety
concerns,” reads a statement from the homeowners association. “Unfortunately, the feeding of these wild animals by residents, visitors and guests has also led directly to their overpopulation on our grounds.”
Village Manager Ron Saunders stated in his weekly newsletter that he spoke with FWC officers, who said no permits were issued or needed regarding peacocks. Saunders said the village’s legal counsel researched the issue and found the Monroe County animal control ordinance applies within the village. The ordinance requires any seizures and impoundments must be done “in a humane manner” and any person who seizes an animal must “exercise utmost care to treat the animal humanely and to avoid any injury.”
Mayor Sharon Mahoney said the council will review its ordinances related to farm animals at a July 22 meeting at the Founders Park Community Center.
“This is part of a broader effort to ensure our codes reflect the needs and values of our community as a whole,” she wrote in the recent village newsletter.
