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Pigeon Poison


Peter M; Arlington, VA asks: What poison best works for killing pigeons? Someone told me that gopher poison works well.

Dear Peter: Yikes! Gopher poison? You don't have gophers on your roof. You have birds. The product used must be labeled for the target pest. Imagine if you were to use gopher poison and it did, in fact, kill the pigeons. The birds fall from the sky on streets and the backyards of your neighbors. A pet finds the dead bird and is poisoned by eating the dead pigeon. Somehow, the authorities track the dead bird back to you and you are sued for a million dollars. Get the picture? Don't do it!

Okay! That said, there is a strychnine-based pigeon poison sold as Avitrol, but you need to be a licensed pest control operator or bird control professional to purchase this restricted product and

Pigeons_eating.jpg
you can't use it in California. Avitrol is not listed as a pigeon poison, but rather as a pigeon dispersal product. It is used to disperse large flocks of pigeons, not one or two. It requires three weeks of distributing non-poisoned corn to attract the pigeons to feed on the poisoned bait corn. Depending upon how the product is mixed, you usually kill about ten percent of the flock and the rest of the flock flees, not to return. Avitrol is seldom used to treat birds in residential areas.

If you are only trying to get rid of a few pigeons you may want to consider excluding them using netting to close off the area where they are roosting and/or nesting. That's a whole other email.

Comments

susan
06 May 2008, 12:10
our coop told us that they are going to
use "medication" that pigeon don't like to
get rid of them. The super said it is not poison. I have never heard of this. Have you?
thanks.
Ask The Exterminator
06 May 2008, 12:33
Susan,

There is a fairly new product called OvoControl P that is birth control for pigeons. You can check it out at http://www.innolyticsllc.com/new%20pigeon%20pages/pigeon_problem.html. The product has not been around long enough to show the results that the manufacturer claims it will do. Plus, it requires ongoing maintenance for the equipment that automatically dispenses the pigeon “food”.

I love the idea of this product, but it will take a lot of patience to reduce pigeon populations solely by birth control. The manufacturer is claiming that pigeon populations should drop by 50% over a two year period. But, (and this is a big, big “but”) this product will not totally get rid of the entire pigeon population. In fact, if you read between the lines, a 50% reduction is the most you can expect.

Go to the product site and read all about it. Read the “Frequently Ask Questions” and you will begin to see that the product has its limitations. Call the manufacturer and speak with the president. He is a very nice guy and will do all he can to answer your questions, but you need to really press him on the overall results of OvoControl P. It is not cheap and I really feel that people think they are getting a total control solution.
Tommy
23 Jul 2008, 10:13
I have a neighbor who feeds pigeons EVERYDAY, at least 1-2 times daily. It is a nuisance for me whereas my house is 20 feet away from her's. The pigeons wait on the power lines everyday for their daily feeding. Now, they are starting to sit on my house and there is pigeon crap EVERYWHERE on my property.

I am looking for a cheap yet effective solution to get rid of these pests. I live in MA and am not sure about the regulations on any deterents. I think that using poison would be the best and most effective solution. However, I am not sure where I can purchase any of this. Again, this is a problem and have asked her to stop feeding the pigeons but she continues to do so. So, I would like to join her in feeding them, but the 'special' kind of food.

Can you suggest anything to me?
Ask The Exterminator
23 Jul 2008, 14:47
Lots of people have selfish neighbors feeding pigeons as if they were domestic pets. Pigeons deposit many kinds of bacteria in their fecal matter, carry mites and are just plain nasty in an urban environment. However, the poison bait you speak of is unavailable to the general public and is considered a restricted use pesticide which may only be used by specially licensed pest control professionals. Further, it is unlikely that said poison bait can be used in your particular situation due to the populated neighborhood surrounding the targeted birds.

It seems your only solution is to present your complaint to your city council, police or a knowledgeable attorney. You might also consider notifying the press. They love to get involved in environmental stories.
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