Pigeons are not considered popular birds and many want to get rid of them by any means possible. Anyone who uses prohibited means, which may even result in the death of the pigeons, risks high penalties.

In a nutshell

  • Pigeons are protected by the Federal Species Protection Ordinance
  • Pigeons may not be killed or caught
  • Poison can also kill other animals
  • Vinegar damages the plumage
  • Adhesive sprays and pastes stick the feathers together

Federal Species Protection Ordinance

The Federal Species Protection Ordinance stipulates that all wild animals are protected. Although pigeons do not enjoy any special protection in the Animal Welfare Act, they do enjoy basic protection. Even hunters can't just shoot pigeons.

Pigeons are very adaptable in terms of both their diet and the places where they stay and breed. They also have a high reproduction rate, which is why many offspring can be produced within a short period of time. Large flocks of pigeons can cause significant damage, which is why unauthorized means are used.

Pigeon scare from CDs in the garden bed

Notice: There are many alternative ways of getting rid of pigeons in the long term without using prohibited substances.

hydrogen cyanide

Hydrocyanic acid is also available under the name hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and is a particularly painful method of killing pigeons.

How hydrocyanic acid works

  • leads to unconsciousness and respiratory arrest
  • Death occurs after a few minutes
  • often associated with severe pain

Prussic acid is a dangerous substance because it can also be ingested through the air we breathe. If used improperly, it can even become a danger to people or other animals such as pets. For good reason, the agent has been banned in the European Union for many years and agents containing hydrocyanic acid are no longer permitted. The import of pigeon poison containing hydrocyanic acid into the EU is also banned.

shoot

As wild animals, pigeons may not be hunted. You are also not allowed to shoot at the pigeons with so-called non-lethal weapons. These include air rifles in the first place. They usually do not kill the pigeons immediately, the pressure when the projectile hits is usually so great that the pigeons get internal injuries from which they die.

The use of slingshots/slingshots against pigeons is prohibited.

It is also forbidden to shoot pigeons with a slingshot or other projectiles. Childish pranks, where birds are shot at with slingshots, can meanwhile result in expensive legal consequences. It is not even allowed to throw a stone at the pigeons.

vinegar

What you are allowed to shoot pigeons with is water. To maximize the effect, water mixed with vinegar was already poured into water pistols, which were used to shoot at the pigeons. In this case, the water loses its deterrent effect and, together with the vinegar, becomes a deadly shower for the pigeons.

The vinegar water destroys the layer of fat on the plumage. This can lead to the birds no longer being able to fly and dying.

fishing nets

Fine-meshed nets in which the pigeons can get entangled are also not allowed. The pigeons - and other bird species too - can no longer free themselves and die in them if they are not found in time.

Notice: If you have installed a cat protection net on the balcony, choose a mesh size that is large enough so that a bird cannot get entangled. In addition, the net should be well stretched so that the pigeons can sit on it but not get caught.

poison wheat

Poisonous wheat is mainly used to control rats and mice. The poisoned wheat may only be used in connection with special bait boxes so that other animals cannot get to it. However, poisonous wheat is also fed to pigeons as a prohibited substance.

Mode of action of poisoned wheat

  • Toxic zinc phosphide
  • reaction with gastric acid
  • toxic phosphine forms
  • pigeons perish

How quickly poisoned wheat works depends on the amount of wheat in the stomach. The problem with poisoned wheat is that other birds can also eat the poisoned grains and die from it. The dead pigeons themselves can in turn be eaten by other animals, which can also be damaged by the toxin.

Bait box for rats filled with poisoned wheat

Adhesive sprays/pastes

Sprays or pastes are still commercially available, which are simply applied to railings or other places where pigeons like to sit. These remedies contain glue that gets attached to the plumage by sitting on these surfaces. During preening, the glue is additionally distributed, making the birds unable to fly and dying.

  • similar problem as with poisoned wheat
  • Sprays and pastes also kill other birds
  • no regard for endangered/protected species
  • the consequences may be more severe penalties

live traps

Although live traps do not kill pigeons, it is illegal for private individuals to capture wild birds. In turn, these traps may only be used by professionals if there is permission that the pigeons are so strongly represented regionally that they are considered pests.

When using live traps, however, there are always injuries to the birds that have to be treated. In addition, it must be clarified in advance where the pigeons will be released. You can't just drop the birds in the next location, potentially increasing the population and causing more damage.

Tip: If you have an acute problem with pigeons, contact a hunter or pest controller. They have permission to capture wild animals alive and they know the right places to release them.

nail boards

Boards spiked with long nails are also prohibited. Not only can they be dangerous for pigeons, they can also injure other large birds.

Boards of nails can also be dangerous for other animals that are protected by the Animal Welfare Act:

  • cats
  • squirrel
  • dormouse

Gently drive away pigeons

Instead of the prohibited means against pigeons mentioned here, there are also numerous alternatives with which you can drive the animals away without harming them. These include, among others:

  • elimination of food sources
  • Use of dummy birds of prey
  • Removal of dog and cat hair
  • Pigeon deterrent made of CD, DVDs or aluminum foil
  • wind turbines
dummy owl

Tip: Pigeons are true creatures of habit. Therefore, the combined use of different methods is often recommended to really get rid of them.

frequently asked Questions

May I use leftover pigeon poison?

No, as soon as an agent is banned, the use of leftovers is also banned. You can often return leftovers to sales outlets or drop them off at collection points for hazardous materials. Do not dispose of prohibited pesticides down the drain or in the trash. This can become a problem when disposing of or treating water.

Are professional pest controllers allowed to use other means?

Yes, sometimes professionals are also allowed to use means that kill the animals. Professional pest controllers often have special permits and are trained in using such agents so that no other animals are harmed.

Are swelling feedstuffs also prohibited?

Agents such as rice or baking powder are said to swell up in the stomach when fed dry and the pigeons die as a result. Due to the fact that the pigeons could die from it, the remedy is not allowed. However, the likelihood of them dying is low, as pigeons can regurgitate large amounts of food.

Category:

Animals in the garden