Fort Worth Animal Care & Control is getting ahead of this year’s egret migration season. They’re helping residents get ready before the migratory birds arrive.
Over the years, several Fort Worth neighborhoods have been heavily impacted by egret colonies. Egrets can create major noise, odor, and sanitation concerns. And once their nests have been built, they’re federally protected, making their removal difficult and costly.
To get ahead of the migration, the City of Fort Worth will visit select neighborhoods to share prevention tips and to demonstrate how to use deterrent materials effectively.
The first meeting will be on Jan. 28 at the Southwest Community Center. That meeting is set to start at 6 p.m. Residents who have dealt with egrets before, or want to protect their property, are encouraged to attend.
Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, egrets become federally protected once they’ve nested or laid eggs. At that point, residents cannot disturb them or remove nests. FWACC holds a special permit to remove hazardous nests in limited emergency situations, but the goal is to avoid reaching that stage whenever possible.
Through proactive outreach and community participation, FWACC aims to minimize the need for emergency intervention, reduce the impact of these birds on our neighborhoods, and protect the birds themselves.
For a complete Egret Prevention Guide, visit the Code Compliance website.
For more information about migratory bird regulations, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Division of Migratory Bird Management page.