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Feral Pigeons


**Mug-A-Bug provides LIMITED COMMERCIAL ONLY control for pigeons.  For details please contact our office **

Feral pigeons arrived with early settlers and have thrived throughout the United States.  Their ability to adapt to nearly any climate or habitat has allowed populations to increase and in many areas they have become a nuisance.  Pigeons live an average of 3-6 years in the wild and breed and rear young at any time during the year.  Large numbers of pigeons can decrease food supplies for native birds.  The damage created by pigeon nesting and droppings can at times be exponential.  Uric acid in the droppings can damage paint on cars, as well as stain and damage concrete surfaces. Pigeons will nest in nearly any location; tops of buildings, along structure beams, in and around HVAC units, and along gutters are all common nest sites.

Carriers of numerous diseases and parasites, pigeons are a considerable health risk when nesting and feeding in close proximity to humans.  Droppings contain diseases such as Psittacosis, histoplasmosis, salmonella, cryptococcsis, toxoplasmosis and encephalitis.  Although some of these illnesses may go unnoticed, others can cause serious medical concern and if left untreated may even result in death.  In addition, pigeons carry external parasites including bird mites and lice.  Parasites may invade homes resulting in bites to the residents and/or their pets.

Due to their feral status, a number of pigeon control methods are available.  In rural settings, lethal control is most common, whereas urban settings often resort to trapping, exclusion from nesting and loafing sites, visual or noise deterrents, chemical repellents and toxicants.  Exclusion methods include bird spike, netting, gutter guards and electric shock tracking. Visual deterrents include predator decoys while noise deterrents are more commonly created with pigeon distress signals, both serve to frighten the flock from the site. Chemical repellents include sticky substances that can be applied along ledges or beams where pigeons nest or loaf.  Toxicants such as Avitrol are regulated by the Department of Agriculture and require an applicator’s license and therefore must be applied by a pest control professional.  Toxicants, like noise deterrents result in members of the flock exhibiting distress signals.  A pest or wildlife professional can be of vital assistance in determining the best method of pigeon control for an individual situation.