Pigeons in cowboy hats. Cute. Right? WRONG. It’s animal abuse. No, seriously, it might be.
For reasons that remain unknown, someone has been securing tiny cowboy hats to the heads of pigeons in the Las Vegas area.
The millinery mystery came to light when local bloke Bobby Lee caught sight of the birds wearing something they definitely aren’t supposed to be – hats – on his way to the supermarket, at which point he whipped out his phone to film a video that’s since racked up hundreds of thousands of views across social media.
Check it out:
When interviewed by local news stations about the strange occurrence, the incredibly baffled Lee said he had no idea who was putting the hats on the birds but did note – rather suspiciously – that The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo was held in town at the exact same time.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, which organises the annual event, has denied any part in the whole hatscapade.
So if not the cowboys, then who the fuck? Judging by the jaunty, devil-may-care angle of the hats and the carefully thought-out colour palette (red and grey just work), my money is on someone in fashion. But how the fuck? Little bits of ribbon tied under their chins, or something more sinister?
Animal welfare agencies fear that the hats have been glued on with some kind of adhesive, which sounds both time-consuming and kind of mean.
Pigeon rescue group Lofty Hopes have been canvassing area for five days, handing out business cards and requesting that residents call if they see the birds so they can organise safe hat removal.
It appears their pleas are falling on deaf ears, though, with excited residents instead taking to social media to share their sightings.
I finally found one!!! @LasVegasLocally pic.twitter.com/j2u90R2esL
— 𝙺𝚊𝚜𝚜🪬 (@_kaaaasssss) December 9, 2019
Charles Walcott, a Cornell University ornithologist (read: bird expert), reassured The New York Times that the pigeons don’t seem to be fazed by their new headgear.
“I think the thing that I would emphasise is I can’t see that it is causing any great harm to the pigeons,” he said. “They look like happy pigeons to me. It is hard to know, of course, because they will not talk to us.”
Too real, Doc. Too real.
Worst case is that the hats will remain on until the pigeons molt come spring… in March 2020.
Until then, I tip my hat to them.
