Store awnings cause serious problems for birds

The awnings at Cub Foods at Lake Street and Minnehaha Avenue is creating a serious problem for birds. (Photo by Michelle Lee)

On Fri., March 10, a South Minneapolis resident called Southside Pride to notify the paper about a disturbing situation at the Cub Foods store at Lake Street and Minnehaha Ave. Netting attached to the underside of the store’s front awning has become a gathering place for birds. Pigeons have ripped a hole through the netting and gather on one side of the store’s front entrance, and sparrows congregate on the other side. The caller reported seeing live sparrows trapped in the netting, including bird that she said was “gnawing at its leg to escape.”

Southside Pride went to Cub Foods to see for itself, and noticed four dead sparrows trapped in the netting. All had their heads wedged in the mesh.
LeeAnn Jorgenson, a marketing spokesperson for Cub Foods corporate office said the company is aware of the problem and has contacted Ecolab, the company that manufactured the netting. Jorgenson said action immediate action was being taken to remedy the situation, but declined to comment specifically about what that action might be.

“We are aware of the problem and we have notified the company that helps maintain the awning. It’s been an on-going problem. We are looking into it with the vendor; who has put up approved netting, and will correct it and soon as it can be corrected. We are looking at other options [other than the netting].”
The netting was installed to prevent bird droppings from hitting patrons and defacing the store, but that problem has persisted.