Ordinance No. 36
In 2015, Pittsburgh City Council passed Ordinance No. 36, which prohibited any person from harming any wild bird and allowed any individual who possessed proper permits and/or licenses to capture wild birds.
On March 4, 2020, through collaboration with HAP, Pittsburgh City Council passed an amendment that 1) prohibits any person or entity from harming any wild or non-domesticated bird; 2) defines “wild or non-domesticated bird” as any bird, including a pigeon, that lives in the wild or in an undomesticated state; 3) restricts who can trap wild birds to only qualified and trained employees of the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Animal Care & Control, licensed veterinarians, licensed wildlife rehabilitators, wildlife capture and transportation permittees, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission; 4) limits trapping to situations when it is necessary to capture an injured bird or a bird located in a building; and 5) prohibits the sale of all native wild and non-domesticated birds.
As such, it is strictly prohibited in the City of Pittsburgh to use poison or other inhumane methods that may harm wild birds, including pigeons.
Are you a homeowner or building owner looking for more humane solutions to deal with pigeons? Give some of these ideas a try:
- Make flat surfaces less appealing – Pigeons roost and nest on flat surfaces, so eliminating flat surfaces on your home or building is key. There are a number of products on the market to achieve this, such as Birdslides, which attach over window ledges and other flat surfaces at a 45-60 degree angle to keep pigeons from landing, and bird wires, which keep pigeons off ledges, railings, awnings, and rooftops. However, please note that we do not recommend using polybutylene gel or other sticky gel repellents that can harm birds and other wildlife.
- Install a motion-activated sprinkler – An unexpected spray of water is a humane and non-toxic way to get rid of pigeons.
- Install a “scare-pigeon” – Pigeons are prey for larger raptors, such as falcons and hawks. Installing a life-like model of a pigeon’s predator may keep pigeons away. It is important that the model is 3D, life-size, and makes raptor movements and sounds. Additionally, scare-pigeons should be moved from time to time so pigeons do not see past the trick.
- Use an ultrasound pigeon repeller – Ultrasound pigeon repellers can help remove pigeons from your property by emitting bird distress calls and sounds that predators make.
- Consider creating non-nesting ledges during building development – The pigeon is known as the “rock dove,” as it evolved by living on cliffs and recipes. This habitat is perfectly replicated by many stone cathedrals, apartment buildings, and narrow ledges of all kinds that are common in cities. When developing new buildings or building developments, please consider non-nesting ledges.