FAQ - Peafowl Mitigation Program

Residents and the Village place humane traps around the Village. The program uses humane veterinary procedures to manage the population over time. Every bird handled by the program is examined, treated, tagged, and safely returned to Pinecrest.  

Please contact Redline Iguana Removal directly by telephone. Redline is the Village's trapping contractor and the team that set the trap on your property, and they will coordinate the pickup and transport of the bird. You can reach Redline at 954-842-3051.

Male peacocks undergo a minimally invasive vasectomy performed under anesthesia by Dr. Harris. The procedure requires a single three-millimeter incision and takes only minutes. There is no aftercare required. Female peahens receive a similarly low-impact sterilization procedure. All birds are temporarily held in a secure, comfortable environment for three to four days while they recover.

In birds, the testicles are attached directly to the aorta, making traditional castration either incomplete or life-threatening. Vasectomy is the medically sound alternative. It also preserves the peacock's testosterone, meaning males keep their signature tail feathers and vibrant appearance, which matters to residents who value the birds as part of Pinecrest's character.

Every bird that undergoes sterilization is tagged with a distinctive colored ankle band before being returned: 

• Blue band - Vasectomized male peacock

• Yellow band - Sterilized female peahen 

• Orange band - Female examined but not yet sterilized (requires treatment) 

• No band - Untreated bird 

This page is updated regularly with current program data. Since the program launched, hundreds of peafowl have been retrieved and transported to Dr. Harris for treatment, with both males and females now receiving the procedure as part of the Village's ongoing commitment to humane population management. See the dashboard on this page for the latest numbers.  

The Peafowl Mitigation Program has been active since September 2023, and for most of that time the focus was on vasectomizing male peacocks. In November 2025, Dr. Harris developed a humane endoscopic tubal transection for female peahens and began performing it as part of the standard program.  The 60 sterilized females reflect those treated after that procedure was established, and they are marked with a yellow band. 

Females retrieved before November 2025 who did not receive the procedure have been marked with an orange band so the Village and Dr. Harris can track which birds still need to be treated. The goal is for all peahens to receive the procedure going forward as part of the Village’s continued commitment to humane population management. 

If you see peacocks being fed in your neighborhood, please report it by contacting Code Compliance at 305.234.2121 or codecompliance@pinecrest-fl.gov. Feeding the birds, even with good intentions, disrupts their natural behavior and makes the program harder to carry out. Every report helps us reach residents who may not yet be aware of the ordinance or understand how feeding affects the birds' wellbeing. Our first priority is education and outreach.

Feeding disrupts natural behavior patterns, draws birds into concentrated areas, and directly interferes with the trapping process that makes the program work. It also puts the birds at greater risk of being struck by cars or attacked by other animals when they congregate in high-traffic areas. Whether you want to see the population managed or simply want the birds to thrive, the most helpful thing you can do is let them feed themselves. 

No, and the Village isn't promising that it will. Population management through sterilization is a long-term strategy, comparable to feral cat trap-neuter-return programs used in communities nationwide. Results build over breeding seasons. The Village Council reviews the program on an ongoing basis and will determine when the population has been sufficiently reduced or provide additional direction. 

Yes. Sterilized females can still lay eggs, but the eggs won't be fertilized and won't hatch. If you're seeing eggs on your property, that's normal. What you won't see, over time, is a new generation of chicks. As more peahens are treated, expect significantly fewer baby peacocks after each breeding season.

Peafowl can carry avian influenza and West Nile virus. An unmanaged, growing population increases the risk of disease transmission. The program also reduces the frequency of incidents involving peacocks in traffic or conflicts with pets. 

The program is a partnership between the Village of Pinecrest and Dr. Don J. Harris, DVM, an avian and exotic animal specialist who has served as the veterinarian for this community since the days of Parrot Jungle. Village Council Resolution 2023-52 authorized the Peafowl Mitigation Policy, which was subsequently approved by the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners. The program is managed by Santiago Casamayor, Assistant to the Village Manager of Pinecrest.