Las Vegas NowI-Team: Pigeon Police Under Fire Again

I-Team: Pigeon Police Under Fire Again

The Pigeon Police are back making headlines. North Las Vegas-based Nevada Pigeon Control has been told by the city to get the birds out.

He knows the pigeons and he knows the problem, but Nephi Oliva can't seem to get out of his own way. "We're not following any set path that anyone has laid before us. We are forging that path," he said.

Since the I-Team first profiled Oliva, the city of North Las Vegas cracked down, questioning his methods. "What he's doing is violating a number of laws," said Sgt. Tim Bedwell with North Las Vegas Police.

Sgt. Bedwell says Olvia can't call himself a public utility, he can't brandish badges, and his late night pigeon raids have to change. "It's a public safety issue with them regarding dressing up in black at night and wearing masks and night vision goggles and running around with a firearm," he said.

Most of all though, he can't keep the birds at his sanctuary. So earlier this week, he put the birds into hiding. He says the birds are safe and secure, just not at the former location.

Oliva says the plan for a larger sanctuary has stalled. He's trying to get space at a few local shelters. Until he can find a proper, licensed sanctuary, there aren't going to be birds coming through.

"They're out of the environment. Why does anybody care that we're not killing them? We solved your problem. What we do with the pigeons is on our hearts and no one else's," he said.

Pigeon control wants to apply for a variance to allow for 30 pigeons on a temporary basis. The city says this is the pigeon police's final warning.