'Sky rats' no more: German town votes to kill pigeons by brutal methods

Pigeons, one of the earliest domesticated animals or birds, have a complex relationship with humans. While some people find them irritating and nothing but a menace, others share their food with the birds. This dichotomy has reached a critical point in Limburg an der Lahn, a town in the Western German state of Hesse.

In a referendum held on 9 June, coinciding with the country's EU elections, Limburg residents have voted to exterminate the town's pigeon population of around 700 birds — by very violent, and some may say cruel methods.

Sky rats

This decision sparked controversy after the city council's initial plan in November 2023 to reduce the 'sky rats' aka pigeon numbers.

On June 9, however,53 per cent of residents — 7,350 — voted in favour, and the plan to cull the pigeons was approved.

The method chosen for the cull involves using a falconer to lure the birds into traps, stun them with a wooden stick, and then break their necks.

This approach has drawn significant criticism from animal rights activists.

"We live in 2023, it can't be that we kill animals just because they annoy us, or they’re a nuisance. That’s not acceptable," Tanya Muller, the city pigeon project manager, had previously said about the plan.

Is culling an effective population control method?

The cull will be carried out over the next two years.

However, despite the town's decision, critics argue that culling pigeons is cruel and ineffective.

Historical evidence suggests pigeon populations can remain stable or even increase after such efforts.

For instance, Basel, Switzerland, saw its pigeon numbers remain steady despite killing approximately 100,000 birds annually between 1961 and 1985.

Alternative methods have proven more successful in controlling pigeon populations.

This includes Basel's approach, which involved discouraging feeding and managing pigeon lofts to remove eggs.

This method found by a group called Pigeon Action, as per Euro News, was found to bring a 50 per cent reduction in pigeon numbers within four years.

(With inputs from agencies)