How to get rid of Pigeons

Are you looking for the best way to get rid of pigeons? If so, this article is for you!

Before we dive in, let me just say, I promise to put aside any bias I have as a contract shooter when talking about the various control methods for getting rid of pigeons. Obviously, shooting is a really great, direct-control method. However, the long and short of it is that a combined approach of several methods generally gets the best outcome. With that said, let’s get into it.

What’s the Issue With Pigeons?

Feral pigeons are a common sight in urban and rural areas across Australia. While these birds might appear harmless, they can pose significant risks to human health, infrastructure, and native wildlife. 

The primary issue with pigeons is the amount of mess they make by leaving excessive amounts of droppings on anything where they roost. It never ceases to amaze me just how much poop these things can generate. I swear they poop their own body mass daily! If this mess is not cleaned up regularly it can then cause issues with disease, sickness, and damage to property.

Like most feral animals, it is impossible to completely eradicate them. However, controlling feral pigeon populations and keeping their numbers low is crucial to mitigating these risks. Let’s look at some of the most effective methods for managing feral pigeons, including baiting, trapping, environmental controls, and shooting.

Baiting

Baiting involves the use of treated grains to manage pigeon populations. This method can be effective when used responsibly and in accordance with local regulations. Chemical baits, such as those containing avicides, disrupt the nervous systems of pigeons, leading to their humane removal. However, baiting must be carefully managed to prevent accidental poisoning of non-target species. Proper placement, timing, and monitoring are essential for successful baiting campaigns.

Generally speaking, I'm not a fan of baiting. While it can be done humanely, I don't believe it is the most humane method of pest removal. However, I understand that it has a place when you are dealing with enormous numbers of pests where other control methods simply aren't cost-efficient or practical.

Baiting generally works best when the bait you are laying out is one of the only food sources in the area. If the pigeons already have easy access to food, attracting them to your baited feed will be a tough task. For example: there's no point putting out bait near a grain silo since there's already so much free food in the area the pigeons don't need to take the bait.

Trapping

Trapping is another widely used method to control feral pigeons. Live traps, such as funnel traps or cage traps, allow for the humane capture of birds. Once captured, pigeons can be humanely euthanised. Trapping is particularly effective in areas with concentrated pigeon activity, such as feeding sites or nesting areas. Regularly checking and maintaining traps is critical to ensuring humane treatment and preventing unintended captures of non-target birds.

Much like baiting, trapping requires attracting the birds to enter the trap. If they have a strong reason to enter the trap, trapping can be an effective control method.

Environmental Controls

Environmental controls focus on modifying the habitat to deter pigeons from settling in specific areas. This method includes measures such as:

• Exclusion Devices: Installing spikes, nets, or wires on ledges and rooftops to prevent pigeons from roosting.
• Waste Management: Reducing access to food sources by securing trash bins and cleaning up food scraps.
• Building Maintenance: Sealing entry points and nesting sites to discourage pigeons from breeding.

Environmental controls are a long-term solution that requires ongoing maintenance but can significantly reduce pigeon populations over time.

In my experience, exclusion devices like spikes, nets, and the like only work when the building or areas they want to roost can be completely closed or sealed off. If not, the birds are generally persistent enough to land on spikes until they bend enough to safely roost or squeeze around nets to get access to their roost. Once the spikes have bent enough, ironically, they create a very suitable nesting location where the spikes will keep their eggs from falling to the ground.

The only environmental controls that work are completely sealing off the building so there are no entry points at all or areas they can roost. In this case, the birds will eventually move on and look for another home.

Shooting

Shooting is considered one of the most effective direct-control methods for controlling feral pigeons, particularly in peri-urban and public access areas where other control methods may not be suitable. An example of this is a managed apartment complex where pigeons are roosting in gutters and leaving mess all over outdoor areas and furniture. In situations like this, other methods like placing faux prey birds in pigeon hot spots, bird spikes, etc, may not be suitable since they will ruin the visual aspects of the property and negatively impact the residents' experience.

In my experience, many environmental controls like bird spikes, faux predator birds, and the like are generally ineffective over long periods of time. Pigeons are persistent enough to keep landing on spikes until they bend them over, and faux predator birds only scare them for so long until the pigeons start landing on top of them. Once the spikes are bent enough they will start building nests on them, which is really not ideal.

The greatest benefit of shooting is that not only is it a direct control method where the results are immediate, it also has the double effect of educating any birds that escape that the location is no longer safe. While these birds have a strong instinct to return home, once they learn home isn't safe, they will simply find another location.

It is these reasons why I believe precision shooting is the most effective and humane method of pigeon control. Especially over the long term. 

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Regardless of the method chosen, it is essential to adhere to Australian laws and ethical guidelines regarding feral pest control. Permits and special licensing are generally required for certain methods, such as baiting or shooting. Additionally, any feral pest control measures must be conducted humanely to minimise and prevent suffering. Even though they are a destructive pest animal, they still deserve humane removal.

Wrapping Up

Managing feral pigeon populations in Australia generally requires a multi-faceted approach tailored to specific situations. Baiting, trapping, environmental controls, and shooting each have their advantages and some limitations. Combining these methods as part of an integrated feral pest control plan ensures the most effective and humane outcomes. By taking proactive steps to control feral pigeons, we can protect public health, preserve infrastructure, and support native ecosystems.

If you have a pigeon issue on your commercial property or place of business, we would very much love the opportunity to help. You can check out our pigeon control service by clicking the button below.

 

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