Are Pigeons Vermin?

Feral birds

‘Flying rats’ or ‘rats with wings,’ are familiar references to feral pigeons as they flock to busy city centres and make their homes by nesting under solar panels or slipped tiles on roofs. They are certainly considered a nuisance bird. But are pigeons vermin?

It’s not uncommon to spot a feral pigeon scavenging for food around town centres, parks, bins and even outside restaurants, which is why similarities to rats are drawn. Pigeons typically choose to nest close to a food source, but if this happens to be around your home or business premises, you may be more aware of the problems birds can cause.

What is vermin?

According to Dictionary.com, vermin is a collective term that primarily refers to noxious, objectionable, or disgusting animals. This definition is subjective, meaning no birds or animals are legally classed as vermin. That said, feral pigeons are listed on Defra and Natural England’s General Licence to control wild birds.

This means that pest controllers and those who are licensed to do so may remove pigeons to prevent damage or preserve public safety. As vermin is not a scientific classification, there is no official list. The creatures commonly considered vermin include:

• Rats
• Cockroaches
• Mice
• Bed bugs
• Termites

As vermin is a subjective definition, many add pigeons into the above list as well.

Whether you consider pigeons vermin or not, having a flock of birds moving in to your roof space isn’t ideal. Pigeons are considered a pest species because of the damage they cause to buildings and the risk to public health and safety.

Some of the damage pigeons can cause includes:

• Pigeon guano build up is corrosive and can cause damage metals and other building materials
• Feathers and nesting materials can block gutters and drains
• Spread of disease from bacteria found in pigeon guano
• Health and safety risk from slips and falls
• Damage to roof tiles and solar panel installations
• Bird mites and other insects
• Noise from rearing their young

Pigeons may seem harmless to you can your property at first, but left unchecked the problems they cause can quickly compound.

Pigeons tend to choose sheltered areas that keep them safe from predators when building their nests. This is why you don’t see them nesting in trees and bushes like some other species of bird.

Some common places pigeons nests in include:

• Under solar panels
• Along building ledges
• Underneath bridges
• Inside barns, garages and outbuildings
• In lofts and roof spaces

A food source is easy for a pigeon to find- particularly if you have business premises or live near a city centre, meaning pigeons can find suitable nesting locations quite easily.

Here are a few measures you can take to prevent a pigeon problem:

• Use a suitable bird proofing solution such as humane landing spikes or bird netting installation
• Make sure possible nesting areas are bird proofed including ledges and solar panel proofing
• Keep gardens and outdoor areas tidy and remove debris such as twigs and leaves to prevent pigeons from using them as nesting materials
• Remove food sources and make sure you store rubbish in bins with secure lids

By the definition of the word ‘vermin,’ it’s down to you to decide if pigeons fall into that category or not. But if a flock of them start making themselves at home on your property, you will almost certainly have a pest control issue on your hands.

Pigeons in the garden can be a real nuisance for homeowners. They scare away other birds, leave feathers everywhere, and often damage feeders.

If you have noticed more pigeons in your garden, it is crucial you get rid of them quickly before they set up their nests.

Here are a few tactics for getting rid of pigeons:

• Spray them with water as pigeons don’t appreciate this, and it is a harmless way to get them to move on
• Eliminate their food source such as removing berries, grass seeds, and any dog or cat food left outside so as to not attract pigeons
• Using reflective surfaces like foils and old CDs can interfere with pigeon’s eyesight scaring them away
• Anti-nesting kits such as spike strips, sloped sheathing, and weatherproof string will leave the pigeons with few options