Urban feral pigeons are among the most visible wildlife in cities, and their management raises significant welfare questions about culling, contraception and coexistence.
Feral pigeons exist in cities because humans created the conditions that sustain them. Individual pigeons experience disease, injury, predation and food insecurity in urban environments. Management approaches that prioritise lethal control cause significant welfare harm at scale. Contraceptive management programmes have the potential to reduce population size humanely over time, though require sustained commitment. The welfare of urban pigeons deserves the same consideration as other urban wildlife.