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Operation Chicken Snatch Key West, Florida. Haven to a variety of life. So, it's not surprising that another unusual group has found Key West and has moved in with gusto. 
Ralph Heath, founder of the sanctuary, with his adopted Key West rooster. (Tara L. Gallagher) Chickens. Yes, chickens. In recent years the chicken population has exploded due to the illegal sport of cockfighting. Excess and injured birds are dumped. The birds have procreated so there are at least 2,000 fowl fouling the tiny town, and many claim that is a conservative number. There are chickens on restaurant tables, in gardens and yards, blocking traffic, and crowing in the early morning. During full moons many complain that the roosters crow all night and run across rooftops. "Four years ago it was cute; there were just a few chickens running around, but now they've multiplied," said Janet Matheny, Operations Manager of the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary of Key West. Roughly half of the human population does think they're pretty darn cute and that everyone should leave them alone. Unfortunately, the other half wants them evicted. Permanently. Some feel so strongly that chickens, especially roosters, have been turning up at shelters with 4-inch darts protruding from their bodies, pellet holes, and injuries resulting from being kicked, hosed, and even poisoned. After discussions with representatives from both sides, it was decided to relocate the birds rather than have them destroyed. The plan was to capture as many chickens as possible, concentrating on roosters to cut down on procreation and the early morning wake-up calls. The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores offered to relocate them to farms and homes (that wanted them as pets only) in rural areas. Operation Chicken Snatch was born. Key West city workers and Sanctuary employees banded together to "grab that chicken." Capturing the fowl was difficult. The wily creatures eluded their captors during the day. Ha! But at night they were nabbed as they perched on rooftops and trees dreaming chicken dreams. The birds lived at the Key West Sanctuary and the local Humane Society until the travel date when each bird (hens and chicks together) was put into an individual cage. The ingenious cage design, utilizing a slatted fish crate turned on end so the birds could stand fully was designed and built by Janet. Cages were complete with food, attached water dishes, and a piece of fruit. The long drive from Key West to Indian Shores was done at night to keep them cool, and there were frequent stops to mist the chickens with water and check their condition. To date, both Sanctuaries have relocated more than 800 birds, and the operation continues. Temporarily, the war has ceased and peace once again reigns over Key West. For information on how to help our work, please contact us at: Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, 18328 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores, FL 33785, phone (727) 391-6211 or visit our website at www.seabirdsanctuary.org |
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