USDA APHIS Pigeon Control Program in Elkins

USDA APHIS Pigeon Control Program for the City of Elkins

Each year since at least 1999, City of Elkins has contracted with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to help manage feral pigeon populations within the City’s limits. The purpose of this contract is to help manage feral pigeon populations within the City’s limits. Large feral pigeon populations can contribute to property damage, unsanitary conditions, and maintenance concerns in dense downtown areas.

APHIS uses both non-lethal (such as trapping) and lethal control methods. One method sometimes used is DRC-1339, a federally registered restricted-use avicide that may only be applied by trained USDA APHIS personnel under EPA-approved label restrictions. Any use of avicides is coordinated with and approved by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) and conducted in compliance with applicable federal environmental and wildlife laws. (Read more about USDA APHIS guidance concerning the use of DRC-1339 here.)

Before any avicide application, APHIS conducts site observation and pre-baiting procedures intended to confirm feeding activity by target species and reduce exposure risks to non-target birds. APHIS is also required to recover and properly dispose of pigeon carcasses after treatment operations, generally before sunrise the following morning, in accordance with federal label requirements and operational guidance.

The annual cost of this service is typically between $2,000 and $3,000.

Background

Elkins has used APHIS for pigeon control for many years, since at least 1999. The original reasons for starting this program are not fully known today, but the issue was considered significant enough for the City to initiate a formal wildlife management program at that time. Historically, concerns regarding pigeon populations have most commonly been raised by downtown property and business owners.

About USDA APHIS

APHIS Wildlife Services is the federal program responsible for managing wildlife-related damage and public safety concerns involving animals, including situations affecting agriculture, infrastructure, public health, and urban environments. The agency conducts wildlife management activities nationwide and operates under federal environmental, pesticide, and wildlife protection laws.

Key Points

• The City does not maintain in-house wildlife management specialists and has long relied on APHIS for technical expertise and implementation of pigeon control efforts.
• DRC-1339 (sometimes referred to as “Starlicide”) is classified by the EPA as a “Restricted Use Pesticide,” meaning it cannot legally be purchased or applied by the general public.
• Any use of DRC-1339 may only be conducted by trained and certified USDA APHIS personnel, or persons operating under their direct supervision, and only in accordance with EPA-approved label requirements.
• Before any avicide application occurs, APHIS conducts site evaluation, observation, and pre-baiting procedures intended to verify feeding activity by target species and reduce risks to non-target birds.
• APHIS states that all activities must comply with applicable federal environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act.
• All avicide activity conducted within Elkins must also be coordinated with and approved by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR).
• Methods used to control pigeon populations may include trapping, with regular checks intended to ensure humane treatment, and the use of DRC-1339 under federally regulated application procedures.
• APHIS is required to recover and properly dispose of pigeon carcasses after treatment operations in accordance with operational guidance and federal label requirements.
• According to USDA APHIS materials, DRC-1339 is considered to present relatively low secondary poisoning risk to predators and scavengers compared with many other toxicants, though carcass recovery efforts are still required following applications.

Looking Ahead

Some residents may feel pigeons are not currently a significant issue within the City. However, APHIS control activities since 1999 may themselves be one reason populations have remained relatively limited over time. The City also recognizes that wildlife management practices can involve differing viewpoints and that many residents prefer non-lethal approaches whenever practical.

Future contract renewals may include consideration of additional exclusion, sanitation, habitat modification, or other non-lethal management approaches where practical, effective, and financially sustainable.

Residents who wish to suggest alternative approaches are encouraged to submit realistic and well-researched proposals well in advance of future contract renewal discussions to allow adequate time for evaluation and consultation with appropriate experts and agencies.