Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
October 1973
Abstract
In planning a city-wide pigeon control program, many problems must be considered to conduct such a program safely and efficiently. The City of Milwaukee Health Department has been engaged in some degree of nuisance bird control activity for more than thirty years. Early attempts at bird control consisted of using fireworks, rubber snakes, paper mache owls, and other devices to prevent starling roosting. All met with very limited success and were eventually abandoned. Until the post World War II period, Milwaukee, like most large cities, was plagued by an abundance of homeless pigeons. Pigeons were abundant on downtown streets, commercial roof tops, and in parks where they were fed by well-meaning citizens. Vending machines dispensing pigeon foods were placed by entrepeneurs at many inviting locations.