Video shows pigeons being trapped in Niles, Illinois parking lot; animal advocates livid

Animal advocates furious after pigeons are trapped in Chicago suburbs

NILES, Ill. (CBS) -- Videos of a pigeon trapping in north suburban Niles has animal advocates crying foul.

The advocates say an out-of-state company scooped up dozens of the birds. They are concerned about how the pigeon abduction happened, and what happens next.

"We have never had anything like this before," said Jacqueline Tsevis of Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue. "Nobody has ever called us on this."

That's Jacqueline Tsevis reacting to a video sent to her group, Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue, showing dozens of pigeons caught in a net in a Niles shopping center. In the video, someone was then seen taking the birds from the trap and collecting them in open containers.

"There was a removal team coming in and using nets that shoot out of like cannon guns, so they're very large," said Tsevis. "They shoot out, and they would cover a whole flock like this—hundreds at the same time."

One of the big questions is why all this is even happening.

CBS News Chicago checked with the property owners of the Golf Glen Mart strip mall, at Golf and Dee roads in the northwesternmost corner of Niles. The owners of Golf Glen Mart said they were "appalled" by the alleged actions of a Texas company, "CatchEm All Pigeons."

Glazer Properties said in a statement that they did not contract the company, nor did the company ask permission to trap the pigeons.

"As an established owner and operator of commercial real estate for over three decades, our organization takes exceptional pride in operating our properties in an environmentally conscious and responsible manner," Glazer Properties wrote. "These alleged actions do not align with our values and standards. We will treat anyone acting in this way as a trespasser and will continue to investigate the matter."

Animal advocates said one of their volunteers found the company trapping pigeons at a second Niles location, and got calls about them operating in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood.

Niles police said they "spoke with a company rep, as did the Animal Control Officer." But police said Pigeons are "not a protected or regulated species," and thus, "This is not a criminal investigation."

"We believe they did not get water and food for over 24 hours, which, that is illegal," said Jodie Wiederkehr, executive director of the Chicago Alliance for Animals. "Unfortunately, they have no protections, but the law in Illinois is that they have to be provided food and water."

Animal advocates said they are now worried about what happens next to the pigeons.

CBS News Chicago called and left messages with CatchEm All Pigeons, but had not heard back Friday evening.

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