Major Concerns: Transporting disease and destruction of property.

There is something endearing about pigeons. They mate for life. Both parents participate in the rearing of young. And their internal “map” makes them ideal for getting around, transferring information, and sending messages. But these birds can certainly be a pest, “whitening” cars, municipal buildings and homes. They also tend to contaminate food, kill off vegetation, and carry disease.

Officials have tried various non-lethal ways of controlling the problem, but are finding it very difficult. All told, pigeons cause property owners millions of dollars every year, mostly in repairs and cleaning.