Summary

This petition asks the City of Lubbock to address a recurring seasonal bird infestation that creates sanitation and public health concerns each winter, typically from October through April. The issue affects heavily traveled pedestrian areas, particularly along the Glenna Goodacre Boulevard and Avenue X corridor, though it is not limited to those streets. The petition seeks humane, non-lethal, and long-term solutions, with tree removal considered only as a last resort if all other reasonable alternatives are unsuccessful.

Submitted to:

City of Lubbock

Lubbock City Council

City of Lubbock Code Enforcement

City of Lubbock Urban Forestry

Lubbock Public Health Department

Date:01/12/26

Location Affected:

The Glenna Goodacre Boulevard and Avenue X corridor in Lubbock, Texas, including surrounding sidewalks, business entrances, and pedestrian walkways. While this petition references these streets due to their high pedestrian traffic, the concern is not limited to these locations and may affect other areas of the city with similar conditions.

Petition Statement

We, the undersigned residents, business owners, employees, students, and visitors of Lubbock, Texas, respectfully submit this petition to request immediate attention and action regarding a recurring seasonal bird infestation affecting public spaces, sidewalks, and business entryways in our community.

While this petition references the Glenna Goodacre Boulevard and Avenue X area due to its exceptionally high pedestrian traffic, particularly from nearby businesses and Texas Tech student foot traffic, the issue is not unique to this corridor and may occur in other areas of Lubbock with similar environmental conditions.

This issue occurs annually during the winter months, generally from October through April, when large populations of birds roost overnight in specific trees located near businesses and heavily traveled pedestrian areas. During this period, there is a daily and substantial accumulation of bird droppings on sidewalks, walkways, building entrances, and surrounding public spaces.

Although the issue subsides during warmer months, it returns every winter without fail. The seasonal nature of this problem does not negate its impact. Rather, it demonstrates the need for a planned, proactive, and permanent solution so the same unsanitary conditions are not repeated year after year.

Current mitigation efforts, such as frequent pressure washing by property maintenance, have proven to be temporary and reactive, as the contamination reoccurs nightly. This approach does not adequately address the underlying cause of the issue.

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Public Health and Safety Concerns

The affected areas are heavily trafficked by pedestrians, including Texas Tech students, local employees, customers, and visitors. Individuals are required to walk through contaminated areas before entering nearby businesses, raising legitimate concerns related to public sanitation and hygiene, exposure to bacteria, fungi, and airborne contaminants associated with bird droppings, slip and fall hazards on sidewalks and entryways, ongoing damage to property and building exteriors, and negative impacts on local businesses and the overall appearance of the area.

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Clarification of Intent

This petition does not seek the removal or destruction of trees.

This petition does not seek to harm or kill birds.

The purpose of this petition is to request humane, non-lethal, and environmentally responsible solutions that address the root cause of the seasonal roosting behavior while preserving both public health and local wildlife. Tree removal, if ultimately deemed necessary by the City, should be considered only after all reasonable alternatives have been evaluated.

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Requested Solutions

We respectfully request that the City of Lubbock evaluate and implement humane, evidence-based, long-term bird deterrent strategies appropriate for seasonal roosting patterns, including but not limited to the engagement of licensed falconers or birds of prey to naturally discourage and relocate roosting populations, installation of tree deterrent systems such as spikes, reflective devices, or approved light and sound deterrents, seasonal or environmental habitat redirection methods, collaboration with wildlife management professionals experienced in humane bird control, and any additional non-lethal methods recommended by qualified environmental or wildlife experts.

These alternatives should be fully explored prior to any consideration of tree removal.

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Basis for Request

This petition is submitted because the issue is recurring and predictable, not isolated; it presents ongoing public health and safety concerns; it negatively affects local businesses, employees, and pedestrians; current responses rely on temporary cleanup rather than prevention; prior outreach to city officials regarding this matter has not received a response; and allowing the issue to resolve naturally each spring only postpones the problem until the following winter.

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Request for Action

We respectfully ask the City of Lubbock to acknowledge the recurring seasonal nature of this issue, engage appropriate wildlife management and environmental professionals, develop and implement a humane, proactive, and long-term mitigation plan, communicate transparently with affected businesses and residents, and commit to addressing the root cause rather than relying on repeated short-term clean-up.