Urban pigeons are among the most persecuted urban wildlife despite their complex social lives, with most lethal control programs failing to reduce populations long-term.
Urban pigeons face persecution through lethal control programs that are both ineffective and welfare-harmful. Poisoning with avicides causes distress before death and kills non-target species including raptors that prey on pigeons. Trapping and gassing is more contained but causes panic and distress. Population recovery after lethal control is rapid as surviving pigeons breed to fill available food resources. Non-lethal population management through pigeon food reduction, contraceptive grain programs, and dovecote management is more effective long-term. Pigeons in racing contexts face welfare challenges from long-distance transport, racing stress, and high disorientation losses. Pigeons are more cognitively sophisticated than commonly assumed and deserve better consideration in management decisions.