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Pest company manager says gull problem at Latina's can be handled

By Howard B. Owens

The gull problem at Latina's is "hand-able, but a large-scale problem," according to a manager for Pest RX, a company out of Clarence hired by LKLWL Properties to assess the situation and recommend a solution.

"It's not like it's a one-shot deal," said Jeff Waiter. "It's not like we're going to come in here for however long and we'll never see a seagull again. We're going to have to work with the property owner and work on a long-term solution."

Both Waiter and Pest RX owner Jeff Phelps said they still need to put together a plan, but the preliminary solution includes fixing the drainage on the roof, getting rid of standing water, and coming up with an "exclusion" system, something to make it harder or scarier for the gulls to land on the roof.

Just ensuring it's a clean, dry roof will do a lot to deter the gulls.

"The first thing is, the standing water has to go," Phelps said. "Once that's gone, we'll do a power wash and clean off the roof, but to keep them off permanently, there's a lot of obstructions there.

"We're trying to put our heads together and come up with a plan," he added.

It shouldn't be necessary to get the DEC involved at this point, Waiter said. He said the team spoke with the DEC this morning, they have a copy of the DEC manual and so long as they're not disturbing eggs or active nests, no DEC permit is required.

He said they found no eggs and only old nests on the roof today.

"We can definitely make the place tidy without a DEC permit," Waiter said, "so long as we don't harass the young or the eggs."

Photo: From left, Phelps, Waiter and another Pest RX employee.

Paul Susat

I live in Florida and we have a solution for pesky gulls down here used by most of the resturants that have outdoor seating. String fishing line in a criss-cross fashion about 3 or 4 feet above the roof. the gulls won't be able to land and will find a new place to nest.

Jul 20, 2010, 1:16pm Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

Hey Paul, that is too inexpensive and too simple of a solution. This is NYS and there has to be some type of red tape, excessive taxing, and pork barrel spending in order to find a solution. (sarcasm).

Jul 20, 2010, 2:08pm Permalink
Dawn Zeh

I guess my next concern is where the gulls go; they may not be on the Latina's roof any more after it's fixed, but they'll still be around so where will they start landing and nesting next? Are they actually fixing the problem, or just moving it?

Jul 20, 2010, 3:35pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

It stands to reason that they're just moving it. I went to Aldi's to grab a few things the other day and I couldn't help thinking that the buildings over in that plaza would provide a nice refuge for the gulls if they were ever forced away from Latina's.

Jul 20, 2010, 3:39pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

It's going to be up to each property owner to maintain their property so as to be as little interest to the gulls as possible.

It's unrealistic to expect them to leave the area, but if they're not all congregating in a few select locations, especially downtown, it will have less of an impact on the community.

Jul 20, 2010, 5:14pm Permalink

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