WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: The ‘famous fowl’ still wandering

| Pets | Safety | West Seattle news

Two weeks after our previous update on West Seattle’s wandering guinea fowl, we’ve received two new photos today – and since they’re still meandering into streets, we’re warning you again to be mindful. Above, a texter saw them early this morning northeast of The Junction, reporting, “The two famous fowls slowed down my morning commute”; below, Spenser saw them later near West Seattle Bowl, a favorite spot of theirs:

If you’ve missed previous reports, they’re not lost, they are reported to have a home from which they roam. We first mentioned them last September (when they numbered at least four).

sgs July 16, 2024 (3:10 pm)

Can we hear something from the owners? Please speak up! Let us know why you think your animals are safe wandering the streets. Thanks.

Lola July 16, 2024 (4:12 pm)

If you have read other posts they have said they come home at night. They do go home to sleep or to rest. I love seeing them. They are not bothering anybody except maybe you?
- JackieC20 July 16, 2024 (10:06 pm)
  
  Nope, they’re definitely not safe literally walking the streets where not everyone will be kind to them or see them in traffic. I’d also like to better understand the WHY. Tks.
  - JR July 17, 2024 (6:47 pm)
    
    Because you’re apparently not well versed in Guinea fowl. They are not chickens. They are difficult to confine and do not do well under confinement. It would border on cruel to keep them penned. It is not in their nature nor recommended care. Keeping guinea fowl inside a small suburban backyard enclosure would be something akin to keeping a dog in a dog crate 24/7.
    - Sunnysideup July 18, 2024 (8:45 am)
      
      Thank you for an educated and compassionate viewpoint!
    - Poster One July 18, 2024 (10:44 am)
      
      If these birds need to roam and need space, they should be on a big farm/chunk of land. Not in the city

anonyme July 16, 2024 (3:57 pm)

This is both irresponsible AND illegal under Title 9 of the Municipal Code:

9.25.084 – Offenses relating to control.

It is unlawful for the owner to:

Permit any animal, except cats and pigeons, to be at large or trespass upon the property
of another.

Derek July 16, 2024 (4:35 pm)

Speeding is against the law too and it happens every day
Ballot July 16, 2024 (4:37 pm)

Thanks for the reminder that we need to pass an ordinance that bans cats from freely roaming as well.
- Kitty Meow July 16, 2024 (10:16 pm)
  
  You might as well try boiling the ocean. The ordnance or the cat corralling. Keep us posted on your progress.
Derp July 16, 2024 (5:53 pm)

So are roosters and they are all over West Seattle. Or privileged people at Lincoln Park with their dogs running loose or in the water. Omg the madness… 😆 🤣 😂 😹

SLJ July 16, 2024 (5:12 pm)

I like seeing them, but they’re often in the road–twice I’ve seen traffic go around them on California. I’m concerned they’re going to get hit by a car one of these days.

K July 16, 2024 (5:32 pm)

I couldn’t care less about a municipal code being broken.My concern is the welfare of the birds. I would hate to see them hit by a car. We all know how fast some people drive around here

Chuck July 17, 2024 (10:53 am)

Whats wrong with a dog chasing a stick or a ball in the park or sound?

Elissa July 16, 2024 (8:00 pm)

Michael July 16, 2024 (8:38 pm)

This is so cute!
AW July 16, 2024 (9:51 pm)

Yayyyy! This is great!
Laura July 17, 2024 (7:50 am)

🤣🤣🤣 love it
Husky July 17, 2024 (2:28 pm)

Thank you, Elissa, this is lovely and made us smile!

WSCurmudgeon July 16, 2024 (8:50 pm)

Anonyme is correct in citing the Seattle Municipal Code. The owner can be cited for endangering the animals and creating a nuisance for others. Because the birds often wander in the streets, one can foresee a situation in which a motorist takes a sudden evasive action, perhaps hurting a bird, or another vehicle or person. The birds’ owner can become liable for damage to third parties.

Zestfullyclean July 17, 2024 (1:25 am)

Guinea fowls or guineafowl birds native to Africa raised as livestock birds they aren’t overly inbred so their genetics are good and they have more resistance to diseases they can forage with success and can easily live off the land without human intervention. They are beautiful animals and quite harmless and can also be used as a bird that sounds an alarm to other creatures of encroaching danger enjoy these new creatures they are harmless for now.

Julian July 17, 2024 (6:43 am)

One of these days the coyotes and these birds are going to cross each other’s paths.

Derek July 17, 2024 (9:43 am)

Dogs and coyotes share the same ancestors. Anyone’s pooch could start attacking these. There used to four of them so I’m sure it’s happened.