How to Get Rid of Pigeons: Complete Guide

Understanding Pigeon Behavior

Pigeons are among the most adaptable birds on Earth, and they've thrived alongside humans for over 5,000 years. Their remarkable homing instinct allows them to navigate back to familiar roosting sites from distances exceeding 1,300 miles. And this extraordinary ability makes them incredibly persistent once they've established a presence on your property.

But here's the challenge most property owners face: pigeons don't just visit — they colonize. A single breeding pair can produce up to 16 offspring per year, and those offspring begin breeding at just six months of age. Therefore, what starts as two pigeons on your roofline can become a flock of 50 within a single year if left unchecked.

Understanding this exponential growth pattern is critical to effective pigeon control. The birds are drawn to properties that offer three essential resources: food, water, and sheltered nesting sites. Urban and suburban environments provide all three in abundance — from restaurant dumpsters and bird feeders to solar panel gaps and HVAC units.

Pigeons are also creatures of habit. They develop strong site fidelity, returning to the same roosting spots day after day, generation after generation. This behavioral pattern means that simply chasing pigeons away or using temporary deterrents won't produce lasting results. Effective pigeon removal requires eliminating the conditions that attract them and physically preventing their return.

Why Pigeons Choose Your Property

Your property likely offers one or more features that pigeons find irresistible. Flat ledges, roof overhangs, and architectural details provide comfortable perching spots. And gaps beneath solar panels, inside HVAC units, and behind signage create sheltered nesting environments protected from weather and predators.

But many property owners unknowingly make the problem worse. Outdoor pet food bowls, unsecured trash containers, bird feeders for songbirds, and even decorative water features all attract pigeons. Therefore, the first step in any pigeon removal strategy is eliminating these attractants.

Commercial properties face additional challenges. Restaurants generate food waste that attracts pigeons. Warehouses with open loading docks provide easy interior access. Office buildings with rows of ledges and window sills create miles of prime roosting real estate. And hotels with pool areas and outdoor dining spaces become pigeon magnets.

Rooftop solar panels deserve special mention. The 3-6 inch gap between panels and roofing material creates a dark, protected cavity that pigeons consider ideal nesting habitat. Solar panel pigeon infestations have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the pest control industry, with damage costs ranging from $500 to $10,000 per system.

Top 10 Proven Removal Methods

After decades of field experience across thousands of properties, WD Pigeon Solutions has identified the ten most effective pigeon removal methods. And each method has specific situations where it performs best.

But no single method works for every situation. The right approach depends on your property type, infestation severity, budget, and aesthetic requirements. Therefore, we've ranked these methods by overall effectiveness and provided guidance on when each one shines.

1. **Structural Exclusion** — Sealing every gap, opening, and entry point pigeons use to access nesting areas. This is the gold standard for permanent results.

2. **Professional Bird Netting** — Heavy-duty UV-resistant netting installed across open areas completely blocks pigeon access to protected zones.

3. **Bird Spike Installation** — Stainless steel or polycarbonate spikes on ledges, rooflines, and signs prevent roosting without harming birds.

4. **Solar Panel Critter Guards** — Mesh barriers around solar panels that seal the gap between panels and roofing.

5. **Electric Track Systems** — Low-voltage tracks that deliver a mild deterrent shock, conditioning pigeons to avoid treated surfaces.

6. **Spring-Tensioned Wire** — Nearly invisible wire systems along ledges that create unstable landing surfaces.

7. **Pigeon Birth Control (OvoControl)** — EPA-registered contraceptive bait that humanely reduces populations over time.

8. **Ledge Modification** — Permanent architectural changes that eliminate comfortable roosting spots.

9. **Deterrent Gel** — Transparent, non-toxic gel applied to surfaces that creates an uncomfortable sticky sensation.

10. **Professional Trapping and Relocation** — Humane live-capture for acute infestations, followed by relocation.

Bird Spikes and Physical Barriers

Bird spikes remain one of the most popular and cost-effective pigeon deterrents available. And modern spikes have come a long way from the crude designs of decades past. Today's stainless steel and UV-stabilized polycarbonate spikes are virtually invisible from ground level and last 10+ years with zero maintenance.

But improper installation is the number one reason bird spikes fail. Pigeons are remarkably resourceful and will find gaps between spike rows, nest in debris that accumulates around poorly maintained spikes, and even wedge nesting material between spike pins. Therefore, professional installation with proper coverage and spacing is essential for lasting results.

The key to effective spike installation is complete coverage. Every inch of ledge, sill, and roosting surface must be protected. A single gap of just 3-4 inches is enough for a pigeon to land and begin nesting. Professional installers use adhesive mounting for smooth surfaces and screw-down bases for rough or porous materials.

Cost for professional bird spike installation typically ranges from $15-$65 per linear foot, depending on height, accessibility, and material choice. And while this represents a significant upfront investment, consider that a single pigeon produces 25 pounds of highly acidic droppings per year — enough to damage car paint, corrode metal fixtures, and deteriorate concrete and stone surfaces.

Netting and Exclusion Systems

Bird netting is the only method that provides 100% pigeon exclusion in open areas. And when installed correctly by professionals using commercial-grade materials, netting systems last 10-15 years with minimal maintenance.

But netting installation requires specialized knowledge and equipment. Incorrect tensioning causes sagging that creates gaps where pigeons enter. Poor anchoring leads to detachment during wind events. And using the wrong mesh size allows smaller birds to pass through while still trapping debris. Therefore, bird netting should always be installed by certified professionals with experience in structural attachment methods.

Modern bird netting is available in multiple colors (black, stone, and translucent) and mesh sizes to match building aesthetics and target species. For pigeon control, 2-inch mesh provides the best balance of visibility and effectiveness. Heavy-duty polyethylene netting with UV stabilizers resists degradation from sunlight and maintains tensile strength for over a decade.

Netting is particularly effective for loading docks, warehouse interiors, courtyards, parking garages, and under-bridge applications. And the cost — typically $3-$10 per square foot installed — represents exceptional value when measured against the alternative: years of dropping cleanup, property damage, health code violations, and lost business.

Health Risks of Pigeon Infestations

Pigeon droppings carry more than 60 transmittable diseases, and the health risks extend far beyond the obvious. Histoplasmosis, a fungal infection caused by breathing airborne spores from dried pigeon droppings, can cause serious respiratory illness, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.

But the disease risks aren't limited to direct contact with droppings. Pigeon nesting materials harbor bird mites, ticks, and fleas that can migrate into occupied spaces. Dried pigeon feces become airborne particulate matter that enters HVAC systems and degrades indoor air quality. Therefore, any property with a significant pigeon presence faces ongoing health liability.

Cryptococcosis, another fungal disease transmitted through pigeon droppings, can cause meningitis — a potentially fatal infection of the brain and spinal cord membranes. Psittacosis, or parrot fever, produces flu-like symptoms and pneumonia. Salmonellosis and E. coli infections spread when pigeon droppings contaminate food preparation or water supply areas.

For commercial properties, the health implications carry legal and financial weight. Restaurants can lose operating permits. Schools face parent complaints and potential lawsuits. Healthcare facilities risk infection control violations. And property managers face premises liability claims from tenants, employees, or visitors who become ill. The average cost of a pigeon-related health code violation ranges from $500 to $10,000 in fines — not including the cost of remediation or lost business.