COCONUT GROVE, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are investigating after, they said, a peacock was found shot dead in a Coconut Grove neighborhood, raising concerns among residents.
A woman who lives in the neighborhood, who asked not to be identified or show her face on camera, said she was out watching the exotic birds in the area of LeJeune Road and Lybyer Avenue, Sunday. Suddenly, she said, she heard gunshots.
“All of a sudden, a peacock falls from the tree, dead,” she said.
With a dead peacock in a neighbor’s backyard, the concerned neighbor called police and filed a report. She also took pictures of the dead peacock.
“I knew there was someone shooting at the birds,” she said.
“It’s obviously very disconcerting,” said area resident Guillermo Faccioli.
Peacocks are a common sight in Coconut Grove. A 7News viewer sent in a video showing one of the birds displaying its plumage.
But the birds can also be a nuisance, residents said. They can be noisy, and they can also scratch vehicles when they land on them.
The woman said the shooting is someone’s sick way of dealing with a peacock problem. It’s been a contentious topic in Coconut Grove, triggering calls for the city to control the population.
But Faccioli said the solution should not involve firearms. “We just learn to live with them. They’re a beautiful part of our ecosystem,” he said.
The woman who found the dead peacock said she loves these birds and hopes police are able to stop anyone taking aim at them. “They do not respect nature, from nature or from human beings,” she said. “You cannot take lives. That is how I feel.”
Police said anyone caught hurting or killing peacocks could face serious charges.
If you have any information on who may have shot this peacock, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
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