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Andalusia residents can’t shoot pests
Published Monday, September 28, 2009
Andalusia residents are no longer allowed to hold a permit to shoot nuisance animals — namely squirrels — inside the city limits, assistant police chief Mike Bowlan said Monday.
“In years past, the department has issued permits for residents to dispose of nuisance animals,” Bowlan said. “That meant if a resident had a problem with squirrels, they could come to the police department and get a permit and shoot (the squirrels).
“Now with the growing number of complaints, we’re going to suspend that program,” he said. “I don’t know if it will it will be for indefinitely or at least until we can come up with better guidelines for the program.”
Bowlan said the new mandate also applies to city residents in possession of the Alabama Department of Conservation’s crop damage permit, which gives citizens the authority to dispose of deer caught damaging crops.
Bowlan said with the city’s population growth, it has become increasingly unsafe to discharge a firearm within the city limits.
“There are so many situations that can happen when discharging a firearm inside the city,” he said. “Most especially, the danger of hitting a person or a building or home. In the neighborhoods, we have kids climbing in trees and they’re not wearing hunter orange. It could be very easy for a stray bullet to accidentally hit someone.”
Bowlan said if law enforcement is called to a residence because of the discharge of a firearm, those responsible will “more likely than not” be cited, as the action is prohibited by city ordinance.
Residents with animal nuisance problems should report the problem to the police department at 222-1155, “so we can get some traps out there,” Bowlan said.
Comments
Posted by lo1an2go (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If people are that bothered by small animals they could set traps that wouldn't hurt the animal and maybe the animal control could pick them up and turn them loose in the country. At the rate this country is going we may have to start eating animals like this to survive. This probabaly sounds gross to alot of people but our ancestors did to survive.
Posted by biscuitsandhoovergravy (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well that is terrible news. This is gonna deprive me of some of my favorite vittles. Have yall ever had the pleasue of settin down to a plate of squirrel and rice? It dont get any better. What about a big helpin of squirrel brains and eggs? I better get up and go plant a bigger turnip patch now and figger out how to replace that sweet meat I used to enjoy so much.Do yall know where I can git a good soup bone? I loaned mine to a neighbor and she cooked it in a pot of collards and rurned it.
Posted by sweetnannie (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Your so funny biscuits...lol.. believe it or not I use to cook squirrel for my boys after the hunt. Never ate any though. I live in the country now and hate them messing up everything at my house, but at least I can get rid of the rodents. That's what they are rodents. Just one more restriction for the Andalusia city residents to have to obey. No wonder more and more are moving outside the city limits. I wouldn't want to live there for sure anymore because of all the laws, permits, restrictions, and codes. Just how much control to they need anyway.
Posted by supprtVets (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Andalusia's area of expertise is collecting massive amounts of sales taxes as all the business for a 40 mile radius is located there. This makes them an easy AAA plus for their bond market. Andalusia is real good with dollar bill business, they just don't have it together with every day life. They probably have this assistant chief training for 'Chief' since Williams is getting old, and the new guy has to show some 'authority', to start with the squirrels. I agree, Andalusia is not a good place to carry on a good simple life anymore, too many restraints from police and codes. The country is 'better'.
Posted by Patrick (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Could the paper get some the number of complaints made each year for the last five years? When Mr. Bowlan said the number of complaints had increased, what does that mean. Did the number of complaints go from 1 to 2 or from 7 to 10? Does Mr. Bowlan have a valid reason for suspending the program. The article does not give enough information for the public to decide.
Posted by DastardlyFellow (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I really don't know of many children who climb trees these days. Most kids are found inside on the computer Tweeting or playing Halo on their Xbox.
Posted by ccresident09 (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with not allowing people to discharge firearms within the city limits. I guess I really didn't know people WERE allowed to. It is dangerous and I'm glad now it is against the law. These pests should be trapped not shot within the city limits anyhow.
Posted by patwilliam (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, I don't live in the city, I live in the country, but I can't imagine living in the city and my neighbor shooting squirrels out of my trees...that's just ludicrous that someone can actually do that. It would scare me to death, cause not everyone knows how to operate a firearm, and probably a lot of the ones shooting were minors, and it's too easy for a stray bullet to go through a neighbors window, injure, or actually fatally wound the occupant, and kids do still climb trees, my grandchildren do...so I think it's a good idea to stop this practice. Let the city purchase traps and citizens can sign them out and catch the pests and then call the city to dispose of them....that's a good idea. And yes, I have squirrels in my trees here, and I don't allow anyone to shoot them, I think they are one of God's beautiful creatures...and yes, when I grew up, we did eat them, fried, in gravy, and yes, the brains too....my dad and sister and me fought over the heads...that was a lot of years ago....I'm done...
Posted by sayitaintso (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 6:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sell a permit... say for $50
Posted by sayitaintso (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 6:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sell a permit... say for $50
oh yeah, in your trees only!
Posted by sweetie (anonymous) on September 29, 2009 at 7:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ha-Ha !! biscuitsandhoovergravy,you are a mess!! Do you think the squirrels have joined forces with ACORN to get this "ban" implemented?? uhm.... I'll be on the look out for you a new soup bone. Keep us laughing ...
Posted by dusty18 (anonymous) on October 1, 2009 at 5:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not a tree hugger. Squirrels are a pain. And having even more rules and permits bothers me. But what bothers me even more is where that bullet or shot goes when someone does miss or the bullet goes all the way thru. Its gonna come down somewhere. I dont support goverment intervention in any way. But some people dont use common sense and we all have to pay for it.
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