Unwelcome pests? Pet peacocks running rampant in one Phoenix neighborhood
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Exotic birds or annoying pests? It’s a debate in one Phoenix neighborhood as three pet peacocks fly onto neighbors’ roofs and cars and wander in the streets near 36th Street and Van Buren.
It turns out that it violates the Phoenix City Code to have a peacock as a pet, and the people who live in this area say their neighborhood is known for these peacocks. They appear to be friendly, and other pets in the neighborhood don’t seem to mind them, but some neighbors do have safety concerns.
“They’re yelling at all hours of the day,” said neighbor Noel Chavira. “Sometimes it’s just chaos with them.” Other neighbors say the peacocks rarely stay in their yards. Chavira has lived here his whole life and says they have been around for years. “They’re friendly,” Chavira said.
“They are pretty. I like them,” said another neighbor, Daniela Estrada. We translated her comments from Spanish.
Chavira says he’s noticed the bright-feathered animals damaging some of his cars in the last month. Chavira owns a car dealership and sometimes brings home cars for sale to check and ensure they run smoothly. The peacocks have other ideas for the vehicles. “I’ve gotten scratches all over the hoods, the roofs, and chips in the paint,” Chavira said.
Chavira says protecting his home and cars from peacocks is a hassle. “When you try to scare them off, it makes it worse because they’re just running around all over your car,” Chavira said.
Other neighbors, like Daniela Estrada, don’t mind wildlife being so close to home. “They are here, and sometimes they climb, but with us, it causes no problems,” said Estrada.
Arizona’s Family tried contacting the peacocks’ owner, but we did not hear back.
The city says any neighborhood complaints can be made on the myPHX311 website and app for potential code enforcement.
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