At approximately 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Trooper David Vido of the Indiana State Police Lafayette Post responded to a call of birds in a dumpster. Trooper Vido arrived at the White County rest park on I-65 at the 196 mile marker to find several boxes of live pigeons. The pigeons were packaged in cardboard produce boxes.
Trooper Vido with the assistance of wildlife rehabilitators Kim Hoover of Pulaski County and Kelly Thomas of “A Critters Chance” recovered a total of 57 pigeons that had been thrown away. Hoover stated the pigeons most likely came from an homing pigeon race, where the birds are taken to a designated location and fly back to their roost. Hoover states that it is rumored to have large sums of money tied to betting on when and if the pigeons will return.
Due to the poor condition of the pigeons they were unable to fly when they were recovered. Hoover has received pigeons to rehabilitate before but never more than one or two at time. “In my 40 years of being a certified wildlife rehabilitator, this has been a first,” Hoover said about recovering this many animals in one instance. As a result of injuries and malnutrition five of the pigeons were deceased at the scene and an additional two had since passed. The remaining 50 pigeons are recovering and will be available for adoption as they regain their health in the upcoming weeks.
A special thanks to Kim Hoover and Kelly Thomas for the assistance. Both rehabilitators are 501c3 companies. For adoption inquiries or more information please contact A Critters Chance in Indianapolis at (765)430-5610.