The Waitaki District Council confirmed yesterday it had reopened the file on the ‘‘wild'' peacock whose midnight ‘‘screams'' have disturbed some residents in South Hill.
And although there had been some suggestion of shooting, the council's regulatory services manager Lichelle Guyan said in an email a bylaw enforcement officer had been assigned the file and would work with all parties to bring the runaway pet peacock safely home to its owner.
‘‘We acknowledge that a nuisance is being caused to the complainant and will work with all parties involved to seek a satisfactory outcome so that George is safely and correctly housed,'' she said.
On Wednesday, the Otago Daily Times reported George the peacock, who has apparently taken up residence in the South Hill neighbourhood over the past eight months, had proved uncatchable during the daytime and Barbara Byers said it now screamed through the night ‘‘like a child being beaten ... outside your door''.
Yesterday, South Hill resident Linda Jamieson contacted the ODT to express her support for the bird she had been calling ‘‘Hank''.
‘‘Hank (aka George) has become a delightful, welcome visitor to our home,'' she wrote.
‘‘OK, he does make a lot of noise some nights and yes he does poo on our deck and eat our bok choy, but he is also a very gentle, inquisitive, beautiful bird.
‘‘It concerns me that Hank has been made into a wild rogue by your article and that shooting him has been mooted.''
Mrs Guyan said the file was originally closed after several visits to the owner's property, resulted in no sightings.
‘‘Unfortunately, officers have not heard any noise nor seen George at the time of their visits. As there had been no further complaints raised, the issue was closed.''
After a further complaint on Tuesday, the file was reopened.
It was the responsibility of the owner to provide proper care and welfare for George, she said.
One option was to hire a pest control company.
‘‘We appreciate that George is a family pet but is also causing disruption in the neighbourhood and we will work closely with all parties concerned to find a resolution within a reasonable period of time.
‘‘Should this not occur, we will look at alternative means to resolve the issue.''
