Meridian Removes Grackle That Took Advantage of a Broken Door

PARTNER

National Supermarket Chain

• This nationwide retail chain operates community-focused grocery supermarkets noted for cleanliness and service. Their Largo, FL, location called Meridian with a bird problem.

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OBJECTIVE

Remove a grackle that entered through a broken door.

• While the automatic door was being repaired, it was locked open to allow customers to enter. A grackle slipped in during this time.

• The grackle was behaving aggressively, swooping down on people and leaving droppings, leading to customer complaints.

• Store employees tried to catch and remove the bird for three days, without success.

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SOLUTION

Within three hours, Meridian Technician Reid E. had removed the grackle from its hiding place.

• Kissimee-based Reid E. arrived and interviewed employees and the store manager to understand the bird’s routine.

• Reid discovered the grackle had exploited a hole in the wall to hide in an electrical room from which it would launch attacks.

• After much observation, Reid set nets in likely flight paths and flushed the bird from its cache and into a waiting net.

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RESULTS

The store was now grackle-free.

• Even though the grackle caused problems for the store, employees were glad to see Meridian release the bird in the parking lot, unharmed but deterred from entering the store again.

• Reid also answered customer questions during the capture process.