Can You Legally Kill Nuisance Pigeons In Minnesota?

Spring is here, and with that, so is increased pigeon activity. It's not because they migrate back North in the spring. Pigeons are hardy birds who can handle Minnesota winters and actually don't even have the migratory gene. But there's another reason you're probably seeing more of them right now.

Pigeons have two breeding seasons. One is in the spring, and the other is in the fall. Starting in late winter, pigeons start to nest and prepare for laying eggs in the spring.

At our house, that means we have pigeons that start to nest in whatever spots they can. We have a dormer, and for years,s we have been plagued with pigeons nesting. Our neighbors actually had pigeons get inside the trim work and soffits. Talk about a nightmare.

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We've had our share of problems with pests and animals, like many other homeowners. We've had skunks spray our dog in our backyard in the middle of the town. Just last month, we had mice get into our cupboards from God knows where. Now, we've got pigeons cooing and keeping us up at night.

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How do you prevent pigeons from nesting at your home?

There are several methods to trying to prevent pigeons from nesting at your home. You see a lot of stores put up spikes on ledges and things to try to prevent them, which sometimes works. You could do the same for your house or install netting, but realistically, that's a tough job to reach those areas that pigeons like to nest.

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Some other methods include using light reflections, sound emitters, and even fake owls or raptors. But, the problem is pigeons acclimate to all of those things, so they are not effective long term.

Can you kill pigeons in Minnesota?

Pigeons are not a protected waterfowl species in Minnesota. That means it is legal to hunt pigeons year-round. You don't need a permit or license to do so. However, the method of taking them could be illegal.

City ordinances vary.

The easiest way to cull pigeons is to shoot them. Most people use a pellet or bb gun or .22 firearm. You would need to check your city ordinance to see if it is legal to shoot a pellet or BB gun in your city. Pigeons are considered pests, and if it's enough of a problem that you are reading this, you may want to consult professional pest control for more options in your local area.