Stool Pigeon

St. Mark's Square in Venice is considered by many to be one of the world's most romantic wedding destinations. The centuries old church offers a stunningly gorgeous ceremony site from which the happy couple can burst forth, showered in rice thrown by the wellwishers, leaving behind an impromptu wedding feast that is quickly gobbled up by the Square's some 40,000 resident pigeons.

Venice's mayor is considering a ban on the rice. No, he's not worried that the pigeons might blow up. In fact, it appears that would be a welcome outcome after learning that the local rats with wings population is directly responsible for the slow but steady erosion of the Square's most treasured landmarks. A handful of rice is thrown, pigeons eat and multiply and happily instruct their young to use the church exterior to sharpen their beaks, just like mommy and daddy do. Banning the rice is thought to be one method of curtailing the problem after "lacing the rice with contraceptives" didn't seem to do the trick.

Um, scusi?