Homing pigeons raced over hundreds of miles face navigation challenges, weather hazards, and predation that cause significant mortality and welfare concerns in the sport.
Pigeons lost during races may wander for days or weeks without food before dying or being captured. The stress of long flights in adverse weather depletes fat reserves and can cause dehydration and exhaustion. Peregrines that have learned to hunt at race release points and along common flight paths prey on racing pigeons, adding a predation welfare dimension to an already mortality-heavy activity. Pigeons that reach their home lofts after long difficult races show signs of severe exhaustion that require careful post-race management.