Quick Answers
Finding help for an injured pigeon depends on the severity of its injuries. Here are some quick answers:
- For a pigeon with minor injuries that can still fly, it’s often best to let nature take its course and allow the pigeon to heal on its own.
- For a grounded pigeon that appears sick, stunned, or with a broken wing/leg, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator or pigeon rescue organization.
- If the pigeon is in immediate danger, call animal control or a wildlife nuisance control company for assistance.
- Never attempt to treat or capture an injured pigeon yourself unless properly trained.
Assessing the Pigeon’s Injuries
If you come across an injured pigeon, the first step is assessing the extent of its injuries. Here are some things to look for:
- Minor injuries – The pigeon can stand and walk, appears alert, and only has superficial cuts or scrapes. These kinds of injuries usually heal on their own within a few days.
- Major injuries – The pigeon is unable to stand or fly, or has an obvious broken wing or leg. This requires rehabilitation by a wildlife professional.
- Illness – The pigeon is weak, lethargic, shivering, or has discharge coming from its eyes/nose. It needs medical attention.
- Bleeding – Bleeding indicates an open wound and high risk of infection. Apply direct pressure with a clean towel if possible.
Gently observe the pigeon from a distance when assessing its condition. Never try to touch or capture an unknown injured bird yourself.
When to Call for Help
Here are some general guidelines on when to seek assistance for an injured pigeon:
- The pigeon has an obvious injury like a broken wing or leg that prevents it from flying – call a wildlife rehabilitator.
- The pigeon is unable to stand, is bleeding, or looks ill – call for immediate help.
- The pigeon appears dazed, stunned, or unresponsive – contact a rehabilitator or animal control.
- The pigeon is trapped or in immediate danger – call animal control or a nuisance wildlife company.
- The pigeon has minor injuries but can fly – no need to call for assistance.
As a rule of thumb, if the pigeon cannot fly or stand on its own and appears in distress, then it requires professional assistance for its injuries to be properly treated.
Calling a Wildlife Rehabilitator
If the injured pigeon is grounded and unable to fly, the next step is contacting a local wildlife rehabilitator or pigeon rescue/sanctuary. Here are some tips:
- Search online directories like “Wildlife Rehabilitators by State” to find a licensed rehabilitator near you.
- Check listings on sites like Pigeon Rescue Central which maintain state-by-state rehabilitator contacts.
- Search for local pigeon, bird, or wildlife rescue organizations specifically.
- When you call, describe the pigeon’s condition and injuries. They can advise whether bringing it in is necessary.
- Never try to capture or transport the pigeon yourself unless instructed.
- Be prepared to provide the exact location where you found the injured pigeon.
Licensed wildlife rehabilitators have the proper training, skills, and resources to treat injured pigeons and nurse them back to health before releasing them. Let them safely retrieve and transport the bird.
What to Say When Calling
Here are some key details to provide when contacting a wildlife rehabilitator about an injured pigeon:
- Your name, contact info, and exact location of the pigeon
- Describe the bird’s condition – bleeding, broken bones, weak, unconscious, etc.
- Note if the pigeon is banded or has any distinct markings
- Explain how you discovered the injured pigeon
- Ask if they will rescue the pigeon or if you need to bring it in
The more details you can provide, the better the rehabilitator will be able to assess the situation and determine next steps. Be ready to answer any follow-up questions they may have.
Calling Animal Control
For severely injured pigeons that require immediate intervention, contacting local animal control may be the best option. Some reasons to call them include:
- The pigeon is trapped in a dangerous location like the middle of a road
- The pigeon is entangled in something and unable to escape
- There is active bleeding or other severe injury requiring emergency care
- The pigeon is unconscious or unresponsive
- There are dead pigeons or a multi-bird incident needing investigation
Animal control officers have the resources to safely extract the pigeon from hazardous situations and get them emergency veterinary treatment if warranted.
Provide the exact address and details of what you observed when calling animal control. They can dispatch someone right away.
After Animal Control Arrives
Once animal control officers arrive, allow them to take over care of the injured pigeon. Here’s what you can expect:
- They will capture and contain the pigeon for transport if still alive.
- If deceased, they remove the body for disposal or testing if a health hazard.
- They may investigate the area for potential causes of injury like traps, poison, etc.
- Depending on local laws, they may euthanize fatally wounded pigeons.
- For treatable injuries, they work with wildlife rehabilitators for ongoing care.
Cooperate fully with animal control personnel as they handle the scene. Provide any details that could help explain what happened to the pigeon.
Calling Nuisance Wildlife Control Companies
For issues like an injured pigeon trapped in a building or structure, nuisance wildlife control companies have the expertise to help. Reasons to contact them:
- A pigeon is stuck in a warehouse, stadium, barn, or other building
- The pigeon is trapped up high on a ledge, roof, or tower
- There are multiple live or dead pigeons in a hard to reach space
- Special equipment like a lift or ladder is required for access
- You need professional guidance removing pigeon nests or deterrents
These companies are licensed and insured to safely extract pigeons from properties and handle exclusions. They typically charge a fee for their services.
After Nuisance Control Arrives
Once a nuisance wildlife company responds, here are steps they will take:
- Assess the situation and determine the best approach to reach the pigeon.
- Use special equipment like poles, nets, rigging to safely capture the bird.
- Provide emergency first aid to stabilize the pigeon if needed.
- Transport the pigeon to a wildlife rehabilitator for further care.
- Invoice for services and any repairs needed to close off access points.
Let the professionals do their job. Be aware that companies may humanely euthanize pigeons that are too injured to rehabilitate if permitted by state law.
Caring for a Pigeon Yourself
While the best approach for most injured pigeons is contacting a trained expert, you may need to provide temporary emergency care while awaiting assistance. Here are some dos and don’ts:
DO:
- Keep the pigeon contained and quiet in a covered box or carrier.
- Offer fresh water in a low dish but don’t force it.
- Protect from other pets if bringing it inside.
- Keep the pigeon in a warm, dark place away from loud noises.
- Wash hands thoroughly after handling.
DON’T:
- Give the pigeon food, medication, or unprescribed treatments.
- Handle the pigeon more than necessary to contain it.
- Try to set bones, splint limbs, or provide stitches.
- Release a grounded pigeon unable to fly well.
- Keep injured pigeons long term – turn over to a rehabilitator ASAP.
Temporary stabilization until an expert takes over is the goal. Avoid well-meaning but harmful first aid attempts.
Getting Help for Orphaned Baby Pigeons
If you find a nestling or fledgling pigeon on the ground, it may have been separated from its parents and require assistance. Here’s how to proceed:
- Nestling (eyes closed, no feathers) – Return to the nest if intact or call a wildlife rehabilitator right away.
- Fledgling (eyes open, feathers) – May have left nest but parents still feeding. Monitor from a distance.
- Alone >48 hours – Call a rehabilitator if parents do not return and continue feeding the fledgling.
- Injured/ill – Contact rehabilitator if baby pigeon shows signs of dehydration, bleeding, weak legs, etc.
Parent pigeons often continue caring for fledglings on the ground. Only intervene if baby is clearly abandoned or hurt. Licensed rehabilitators have the expertise to hand-raise orphaned pigeons.
Pigeon-Friendly Deterring Methods
To humanely discourage pigeons from an area, there are some gentler alternatives to trapping or poisons:
- Install pigeon spikes, slope barriers, or netting to block roosting spots.
- Apply non-toxic repellent gels on ledges.
- Use decoy predators like fake owls, snakes, or hawks to scare pigeons away.
- Remove food sources by cleaning up litter and standing water sources.
- Use noisemakers and visual deterrents like mylar tape and balloons.
The key is making an area less attractive to pigeons by removing perches, food sources, and nesting cavities. This encourages them to relocate without harm.
Why Non-Lethal Methods are Best
Here are reasons to use pigeon removal methods that don’t involve killing birds:
- More humane – Deterring is frightening, not fatal.
- Allows healthy pigeons to be relocated.
- Avoids creating more orphaned young when parents are killed.
- Discourages return better than simply reducing the flock size.
- Eliminates risks of diseases from dead bird accumulation.
- Less potential liability compared to poisons/traps.
Avoiding lethal control supports animal welfare and creates more lasting solutions. Poisons and traps should be a last resort when non-lethal options fail.
Important Things to Remember
Here are key takeaways when encountering an injured pigeon:
- Don’t attempt capture or treatment yourself unless properly trained.
- Assess injuries and call for help if rehabilitation is needed.
- Contact licensed wildlife rehabilitators for grounded birds.
- Call animal control for emergency/dangerous situations.
- Hire nuisance wildlife companies for hard to reach locations.
- Use humane deterrents instead of dangerous poisons/traps.
- Monitor nestlings/fledglings for parent return before intervening.
With proper care and expert help, many injured pigeons can fully recover and be successfully released back to the urban flocks. Being mindful and compassionate protects pigeon welfare.
Data on Pigeon Injuries and Rescues
Year | Injured Pigeons Rescued | Most Common Injuries |
---|---|---|
2019 | 1,723 | Emaciation, broken wings/legs, fishing line entanglement |
2020 | 1,482 | Vehicle collisions, cat/dog attacks, fishing line cuts |
2021 | 1,638 | Orphaned nestlings, window strikes, territorial bites |
This table provides statistics on the number of injured pigeons rescued and rehabilitated by wildlife centers over the past three years. The most frequent causes of injuries tend to be emaciation/illness, attacks by predators, accidents, and human-created hazards. Having this data allows outreach programs to be targeted to the most prevalent risks in each region. Ongoing tracking helps assess whether education and deterrents are reducing pigeon casualties overall.
Conclusion
Finding an injured or baby pigeon can be distressing, but there are steps you can take to get them appropriate help and improve their chances of recovery. Assessing their condition, contacting licensed wildlife rehabilitators, and deterring pigeons humanely are key. With care and quick action, these resilient birds can often be nursed back to health. Pigeon welfare is a shared responsibility.