CINCINNATI —  The owners of the stadium where the Cincinnati Bengals play have withdrawn a request seeking city approval to shoot pigeons that have been pooping on fans during games.

Eric Brown, managing director of Paul Brown Stadium, said in a letter to the city manager that officials are going to "continue to explore various alternatives to dealing with this patron issue."

City Manager Milton Dohoney on Friday granted permission to shoot the birds if other methods to discourage the pigeons didn't succeed.

Brown initially asked the city to allow stadium employees to use an air-powered rifle to kill pigeons roosting in the beams and pipes above the stands, raining down poop onto fans and their food and drinks.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals spoke out against the plan Friday, encouraging Mayor Mark Mallory to reject the stadium's request. PETA offered to help develop other solutions such as netting, noise makers and porcupine wire that discourage birds from roosting.

Mallory's office said the mayor also opposed shooting the birds.

Team officials have said they're looking into other ideas, such as strobe lights, netting or noise makers to get rid of the birds.