Urban Wildlife

Urban Pigeon Management and Welfare

Urban pigeons face lethal and inhumane control attempts that are both ineffective and cruel, while fertility control represents a humane and evidence-based alternative.

Key Facts

Rock pigeons are found in virtually every major city worldwide
Lethal control removes 30-70% of populations which recover within months
OvoControl birth control bait reduces pigeon populations humanely over 2-3 years
Pigeons carry diseases at rates comparable to urban wildlife, not higher than assumed

Welfare Considerations

Pigeons subjected to trapping, poisoning, or shooting experience fear, injury, and painful deaths. These methods fail to reduce populations sustainably because the food resources supporting them remain available. OvoControl and similar fertility control programs reduce populations humanely without killing birds, while habitat modification reduces harborage and breeding opportunities.

What You Can Do

Support your city adopting fertility control programs for pigeon management
Oppose pigeon spikes and electrified deterrents that cause injury rather than exclusion
Do not feed pigeons in ways that concentrate them in conflict with urban users
Advocate for evidence-based humane pigeon management in city wildlife plans