EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a letter was written to Mayor Jimmy Weekley, copied to Police Chief Buz Dillon.
I am writing to you to enlist your help in what I consider to be a serious problem in my neighborhood. Recently someone purposefully and (?) illegally released chickens and roosters at the end of Government Road (near the entrance to the Hawk Missile site). Now we have these birds for the first time on the Salt Ponds and in Little Hamaca Park. They are evident throughout the neighborhood including my back yard on Bahama Drive.
The introduction of chickens in this environmentally sensitive area is a potential disaster. Aside from the nuisance factor, chickens pose a threat to native flora and fauna. They scratch and uproot seeds and young plants. They compete for food and drive out other ground-dwelling birds and animals. Domestic fowl harbor bacteria (Salmonella), parasites (Coccidia), viruses, and even fungi in their droppings. Chickens are a reservoir for insect-borne viruses like St. Louis encephalitis (that's why they are tested in sentinel flocks). Health risks increase when the chicken population expands.
Until now the area of Little Hamaca Park and the Salt Ponds was one of the last natural places in
Key West or Stock Island free of these domestic birds. I would ask that city ordinances be upheld. I believe
that chickens should be trapped and relocated. I offer my assistance at any time in this endeavor.
The chicken-hating birdwatchers are just another segment of the selfserving forces that are hell bent on destroying what little charm that Key West has left! Key West could be the most attractive and unique destination in the U.S. and the world—but it will never happen because of the miserable and selfish people that are killing it off just to satisfy their own personal agendas.
It doesn't make sense that those people living next to Little Hamaca Park are complaining about roosters crowing and keeping them awake. They are also next to the airport and the continuous roar of airplanes shaking the earth day and night. How do they hear the roosters over the airplanes???
I love the chickens and so do the Tturists! I protest the removing of the chickens to the socalled
"farm on the mainland"! We all know that means "processed for dog and cat food"! The birdwatchers
should relocate themselves to Cape May, N.J., and the other "anti-chicknists" should go live anywhere but here!
There are many reasons already to rid Key West of chickens, viz. environmental, animal, pest, pet, fowl, bird, wild and domestic controls, etc., etc., but none more important than our own health.
We already have health problems with interrupted and shortened sleep because of screeching roosters and squawking hens at all hours of day and night. The large numbers of chickens running loose in this city may well lead to more serious health problems.
The local Audubon Society referred to the transmittal of disease. Monroe County health office advised against handling chickens without gloves because of salmonella and lice. It appears to be timely for responsible officials in Key West to inform us of health risks, including sleep disorders, because of the large and increasing numbers of chickens in our city streets, yards and restaurants and recommend action in our best interests.
We agree with, and signed, the petition to relocate the chickens in Key West to the former missile site.
However we also agree with the Audubon Society and their reasons for opposing it. What may be
required is a knowledge and understanding of the health risks to people by large numbers of chickens running
loose in neighborhoods where we live and eat. Based on that knowledge we need a solution to the problem.
But whoever is responsible for Key West chickens, please keep us informed and advised.
The chickens must gooooo! I live in old town and they are everywhere . . . crowing at all hours of the night. Let's get rid of them! With the dogs, cats & chickens, this island is turning into an fecal dumping ground !!!