Urban feral pigeons are frequently managed through lethal culling despite evidence that non-lethal approaches are more effective long-term. Welfare-positive population management treats pigeons as sentient animals deserving humane treatment.
Urban pigeons are among the most persecuted urban animals — frequently poisoned, trapped, and culled — despite evidence that these methods fail to achieve lasting population control. Pigeons are intelligent, sentient birds that experience pain and fear. Humane population management through contraceptive feed, egg replacement, and food source reduction achieves more sustainable results while avoiding the welfare cost of lethal control. The public perception of pigeons as pests obscures their intelligence and social complexity. Welfare-positive urban wildlife management treats them as animals deserving of ethical consideration.