CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Bengals turned to laser pointers Monday night in another effort to shoo pigeons that have been pooping on fans at Paul Brown Stadium.
Employees were to aim hand-held laser pens at the pigeons during the Bengals' game with the New England Patriots. The birds have been roosting in the stadium rafters, and fans at earlier games had complained about the droppings getting into their food and drinks.
The Bengals hope the pigeons will become so irritated by the lasers that they'll fly away from the beams and pipes above the stands, team spokesman Jack Brennan said. Team employees have used the laser pointers before but with only limited success, he said.
The Bengals had asked permission from city officials on Friday to allow stadium employees to use an air-powered rifle to kill pigeons. City Manager Milton Dohoney granted permission to shoot the birds if other methods to discourage the pigeons didn't succeed.
Mayor Mark Mallory and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals opposed the plan, and the team withdrew the request Sunday. PETA has offered to help develop other solutions such as netting, noise makers and porcupine wire that discourage birds from roosting.
