What to Do With a Pigeon That Can't Fly

It is not uncommon to find wild animals that are sick or injured to a point where they can no longer take care of themselves, and when you have birds like pigeons getting into residential areas (where they commonly live), it'll only be a matter of time before conflict arises, the birds coming out of the situation the worse-off.

Domesticated pets love to chase pigeons in the backyard. Both cats and dogs will go into a frenzy when they see them hanging out in the backyard, and out of both natural, territorial aggression, and playfulness, the conflict can result in the pigeon becoming injured.

Pets aren't the only problem as far as maimed pigeons are concerned; humans are just as bad. We may not physically attack these birds with teeth and claws, but we do attack them in other ways. Some homeowners will use poison to try and get rid of them. There isn't a registered or lawfully permitted poison that is safe to use for birds, so that action will leave you open to potential prosecution if you are caught in the act. In most cases, the pigeons do not die. This could be because not enough poison has been used, or the poison concoction isn't powerful enough to actually kill the animal. What it does mean, though, is that dying pigeons will be left vulnerable, slow, and unable to protect themselves against predatory attacks. Those predatory attacks could come from your pet.

If your pet has brought you a pigeon that can't fly, or you find one in your backyard, we do not recommend that you get too close. There is a chance that it could have been poisoned by human hands, at which point, you certainly wouldn't want your pets to eat it. If they were to ingest the poisoned meat, they too could suffer the effects of that poisoning, albeit on a less intense level.

Even if the pigeon weren't poisoned, there could be other problems keeping it from flying away. Mites and other parasites are rife in these pest populations, and that's before you look into the world of bacteria and viruses, such as E.coli and salmonella.

The kindest and most humane way for you to deal with this situation is to kill the animal as soon as possible, and as quickly as possible. This is best performed by a wildlife removal specialist, who can then check the surrounding area to make sure no other pigeons are going to pose a problem, and also to check that your property is actually pigeon-proof. At the same time, he or she may remove and clean up any pigeon droppings and, in turn, the disease threats found within it.

Pigeons can be rehabilitated with care, but not by someone who isn't experienced. If the bird has been injured, however, the chances of it surviving are slim. Rehabilitators for pigeons and other disease-ridden pest species can be very hard to come by.



Also read our other bird tip: What property modifications will keep down pigeon populations?