Wasps	Rats	Mice	Moles	Cluster Flies	Pigeons

Pigeons - Pest and Vermin Control

The feral, town or city pigeon is amongst the most widespread of creatures, being found worldwide. In this country it can be found almost everywhere including towns and cities, farmland, parks, golf courses, moorland and woodland.

Nests can be found on virtually any ledge or horizontal surface which provides a modicum of shelter. The nest is usually made of grass and twigs, but many pest technicians will recount stories of nests made from plastic, wire and other scrap materials. The nest becomes more substantial with each brood raised.

Pigeons are often controlled more because of their nuisance value than because of any serious damage they do. Complaints can include the noise they create from cooing and scratching (especially in the early morning and evening), damage to cars, domestic premises, monuments and commercial properties due to droppings, the resultant smell, and of course the potential slip hazard.

Pigeons can also carry several species of mites which can cause severe irritation of the skin. Another reason for control is the potential spread of disease from pigeons. The pigeon is often called 'the flying rat' and carries the most of the same diseases and many more besides. Their presence in around food producing factories, restaurants and cafes, food shops, farms and docks, hospitals and other such buildings must not be tolerated.

Pigeon control can be straightforward, but the public have a great affinity for these birds, so care and discretion should be employed unless you like the headlines of your local paper! As a specified pest bird, control of pigeons often takes the form of Exclusion:

Where possible, the use of a proofing system can stop pigeon entry or perching / roosting, but the materials must be correctly applied. In high pressure sites where pigeons are determined to get onto the building, even these are not always fool-proof. Numerous systems, including post and wire, net, gel and spike systems are available for a wide range of applications. A specialist course should be sought to get the best from these techniques. For more information see our pigeon pest fact file.

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