Legend has it that cockfighting abounded in Key West and was a Hemingway favorite. Then it was outlawed in 1986 and the roosters were set free.

Unfortunately, in 1998, Hurricane George spread the fowl all over our tiny, pristine Paradise and they have been multiplying ever since. You know why a rooster crows, don't you?

Mitigation has failed miserably and a city employed chicken catcher quit in the 2000s after swift backlash from chicken enthusiasts.

Presently the only Key West Chicken law on the books prohibits feeding them on public property, leaving them to ravage, plunder, multiply and poop islandwide.  

This brings us to the present and a group of sleepless Albury Street neighbors who have taken the law into their own hands to protect their property, foliage and sanity by banding together to hire a Humane Trapper to transport them to a preserve and preserve sanity.  

Only problem is that seemingly well intentioned animal lovers/chicken enthusiasts are opening the trap doors and releasing the prey.  

I call it The Albury Street Chicken Wars. Stay tuned and keep your eye on the price of eggs!