Mystery Woman Caught Snatching Pigeons in NYC
A woman, dubbed the “Mystery Pigeon Woman,” has been taking a “weak” bird from outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art and keeping it in her car for several days.
Known locally as a bird trapper, she freely admitted to capturing numerous birds in the area to safeguard them from potential dangers like hawks and loose rat poison. “I have three people today,” she mentioned, with one bird particularly weak, while she was parked in her cluttered green Subaru Outback.
She nonchalantly remarked that she couldn’t cut bread for the birds since she didn’t have a big knife, shrugging it off with a casual demeanor.
Despite multiple calls to city services from concerned locals, her actions continue unabated. Activists worry that her unusual behavior might endanger the birds or spread diseases. According to individuals familiar with the situation, she has been engaging in this practice for at least five years, often seen yelling at children or clashing with passersby.
It’s worth noting that in New York City, picking up pigeons is illegal and deemed a form of animal abuse.
One local sanctuary operator voiced concerns that pigeon droppings could pose health risks and that the actions of this woman could inadvertently contribute to spreading diseases.
Despite filing numerous complaints with authorities about the bird-catching incidents, the responses from police have been quick and lack follow-up, usually concluding that no violations were found.
Animal safety advocates continue to be troubled by the situation, with one critic pointing out that birds are at significant risk, as they can suffer immensely when left in hot cars.
The woman, Grace, who immigrated from Poland nearly a decade ago, has denied feeding the birds anything aside from bread and water. However, experts warn that even the water could be harmful.
Concerned citizens believe that she should relinquish the pigeons to a proper sanctuary or rehabilitation center to prevent them from suffering further.
If her actions are indeed harming these animals, it’s crucial for someone to step in, as one sanctuary operator stressed.
