Pigeon problem worsening in Downtown Le Mars
A pesky problem has persisted in the form of pigeon poop in Downtown Le Mars. The storefront of Bling-N-Fashions has been a persistent “drop zone” for a group of about 30 pigeons in the last couple of months.
Dana Wendt, the owner of Bling-N-Fashions, took to Facebook on Monday to voice her concerns. The post gained traction, and the issue was brought up during Tuesday’s Le Mars City Council meeting by Councilman Mark Sturgeon. He stated that, “If there’s anything we can do, I’d like to.”
Wendt spoke to KLEM about the issue, which started from someone feeding the pigeons.
Each day, multiple times a day, Wendt finds herself cleaning up the sidewalk outside of the store. Despite her best efforts, the mess always comes back. The flock of pigeons usually pops up around sunset, and by the time the store opens the next morning, the cleaning routine needs to start all over again.
Wendt has gone to multiple city officials for help, but she’s unsure if the proposed solutions will be effective.
Spiked wiring and owl figurines have been put up in windows and outside the exterior of the building to no avail. Wendt is hesitant to put up an awning outside of the store after pouring in money for other renovations. The store is still reeling from the Central Avenue water main break in January, which forced the store to close for several months. Simply put by Wendt, “It’s been a tough year” for Bling-N-Fashions.
Both residents and tourists alike have noticed the problem. One young trick-or-treater last weekend pointed out the “disgusting” poop. Out-of-towners have also expressed concerns, stating that the issue deters them from shopping in Downtown Le Mars. Wendt hopes that the public push for help will result in a feasible solution for her store.
