Categories: NOAA

Peacock Killings In Cape Canaveral



CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — A rash of recent peacock killings have occurred in the Ocean Woods neighborhood of Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Alex Herrera said that one peacock has been confirmed killed by shooting.  “Although we have heard of other third-party allegations of poisoning of peafowl, those allegations can not be confirmed until a necropsy is performed,” Herrera said.  “We are working with the State Attorney’s office on this case and will arrest and prosecute anyone who has committed cruelty towards these animals.”


According to the City of Cape Canaveral, peafowl are considered domesticated animals and not wildlife by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and not protected by any wildlife laws.  They are an invasive species that are difficult to trap, are rather prolific, and they survive very easily on their own.


The City acknowledges both points of view regarding peafowl: “…they are a beautiful attraction to a neighborhood and an excellent insect control.  On the other hand, they can be noisy, leave a mess on your porch, eat your vegetables and flowers, damage car paint, and at times be aggressive.”  The City recommends using sprinklers or a garden hose to remove peafowl from a resident’s lawn.


Brevard County Animal Services does not remove peafowl or deal with any birds of any kind which caused the City of Cocoa Beach to authorize funding for a private trapper to remove peafowl from a neighborhood two blocks south of Minuteman Causeway last month.


View Comments

  • I live right there and have always wanted to eat one.I'm sure they taste like a pheasant or a big turkey.

  • Peacocks, although beautiful, are in fact listed as an invasive species in the state of Florida. Just because they have been allowed to survive and thrive in the Cape Canaveral area and others does not mean that they should not be treated as other invasive species. The Burmese python is also a beautiful species and also listed as invasive by the state of Florida and the importation was recently banned by the state. Now the state has an active eradication program of the python and other invasive species why should the city of Cape Canaveral police and/or Brevard sheriffs dept. be distributing fliers in the Ocean Woods neighborhood threatening prosecution of anyone caught killing peacocks. Torture or poisoning aside, I think the state and brevard county would be greatfull for the help since they can't afford to hire a professional trapper.

  • The Peacocks are beautiful and they have always been a part of Cape Canaveral since I grew up there. I would hope anyone who is harming the animals would most definitely be prosecuted, because frankly, you are a sick individual if you are taking the time out of your day to kill something so beautiful.

  • I live right there and have always wanted to eat one.I'm sure they taste like a pheasant or a big turkey.

  • Peacocks, although beautiful, are in fact listed as an invasive species in the state of Florida. Just because they have been allowed to survive and thrive in the Cape Canaveral area and others does not mean that they should not be treated as other invasive species. The Burmese python is also a beautiful species and also listed as invasive by the state of Florida and the importation was recently banned by the state. Now the state has an active eradication program of the python and other invasive species why should the city of Cape Canaveral police and/or Brevard sheriffs dept. be distributing fliers in the Ocean Woods neighborhood threatening prosecution of anyone caught killing peacocks. Torture or poisoning aside, I think the state and brevard county would be greatfull for the help since they can't afford to hire a professional trapper.

  • The Peacocks are beautiful and they have always been a part of Cape Canaveral since I grew up there. I would hope anyone who is harming the animals would most definitely be prosecuted, because frankly, you are a sick individual if you are taking the time out of your day to kill something so beautiful.

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