Pigeon

Bath and North East Somerset Council Does Not provide a pest control service for the treatment of pigeons but please read the following information for further guidance.

Identification

Feral pigeons are common throughout Britain and can cause many problems in towns and cities. They are descended from wild rock doves. They measure about 30 cm’s tall and weigh about 300g’s. Though most are dull coloured, you will also get others with unusual colorings.

They nest in or on buildings and other structures and can be found on ledges or in hollows, under eaves or on girders. They feed in flocks and rely mainly on spillage at food premises or on scraps like cake, bread, and bird seed given by members of the public.

The Law

Feral pigeons are protected under law like other wild birds and cannot be killed except in accordance with a licence. For further information regarding the law, please see the website for Natural England.

FAQ’s

1. Do you cull pigeons?

2. How can you keep numbers down?

3. Do you offer a pest control service to deal with the problem?

4. What damage can they do?

5. Do they spread disease?

6. How can you deter pigeons?

Answers

1. Bath and North East Somerset Council does not currently have a culling program for pigeons. Culling of the pigeon population is not usually considered to be effective because other pigeons quickly take their place especially if the conditions that initially attracted them to the site remain. 

2. The following steps will help keep the numbers down:

  • Remove the food source – Do not feed the pigeons
  • Businesses can help by disposing of their leftover food carefully
  • You can stop pigeons perching on your property by using bird netting, special gel, posts, or spike and point systems. You will need to seek advice about this from private contractors. Bath and North East Somerset Council are unable to recommend a particular contractor, however you may be able to find one by looking in local telephone directories under pest control.
  • We will help by emptying litter bins, keeping town centers clean and issuing fixed penalty notices to those who are caught littering.

3. We do not provide a pest control service for pigeons and would advise that you contact a private contractor for advice. These may be found in local telephone directories.

4. Pigeon droppings are not only unsightly but, because of their acidity can cause damage to buildings and other structures. Nesting material, droppings, feathers and dead pigeons can block gutters and air vents and contaminate water tanks.

5. Pigeons carry diseases, some of which may be passed on to humans if droppings contaminate food. They also carry mites and contaminated dust may cause respiratory problems. Pavements, ladders and fire escapes covered in droppings are often slippery, especially after rain, which may lead to accidents.

6. Pigeon proof your building by sealing gaps under eaves and replacing missing roof tiles, remembering to remove pigeons prior to proofing works. It is important that buildings, such as warehouses, are proofed to ensure that pigeons are unable to gain access. Techniques for proofing include treating surfaces of buildings with bird repellant gel to discourage roosting as well as use of netting and spikes.

Further advice should be sought from private pest control contractors that specialise in bird proofing. Bath and North East Somerset are unable to recommend a specialist contractor. However, you may be able to find one by looking in local telephone directories under pest control.

Do not put bird feed down or drop litter; this will present pigeons with less opportunity to feed.

 

 

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