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S.F. Pigeons Drop Like Flies
Officers, merchants mystified []

Steve Rubenstein, Chronicle Staff Writer

  Tuesday, April 21, 1998

The best minds in town were trying to figure out yesterday who or what was killing the pigeons of San Francisco. 

The bodies of 39 birds turned up early yesterday in three San Francisco neighborhoods. Authorities said they were baffled. 

``One of my officers saw one pigeon literally fall from the sky,'' said Captain Vicky Guldbech of the Department of Animal Care and Control. 

``This is very, very odd. We've really seen nothing like this before.'' 

A street sweeper found the first small corpse early yesterday in Maiden Lane, feet up. 

``At first I thought it was shot,'' said sweeper Jack McGann. ``But then I found the other three, and that many dead pigeons points to poison.'' 

Minutes later, someone else noticed 15 more pigeon corpses in Union Square, near the stage, and called the cops. Several officers rushed to the scene, and a captain showed up, too. 

Small shrouds were placed over the bodies of the deceased. 

``It's sad if someone did this,'' said Linda Mjellen of the Union Square Association. ``On the other hand, it's not sad to see pigeons gone.'' 

Guldbech said there was no evidence of deliberate poisoning. She said disease or toxic plants could be the cause. 

Later in the morning, the bodies of 10 more dead pigeons turned up the Castro district. Another 10 pigeons went feet up near 13th and Division streets. 

Animal control officers found no spiked birdseed or other suspicious substances commonly associated with pigeon poisonings. 

``It's suspicious, but we really don't know anything,'' Guldbech said. 
. . .
Necropsies are scheduled for 9 a.m. today at the Animal Care and Control hospital on 15th Street. 

 

The Gate ©1998 San Francisco Chronicle  Page A26 
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