Example Letter to your Local Councillors about a Pigeon Cull

Below is an example of a letter you can send to your local councillors asking them to oppose a pigeon cull in your area.

A councillor’s role is to represent and advocate for those that live in their area and to provide a bridge between the community and the council. If the cull is being carried out by your local council, you can ask one or more of your local councillors to approach the council on your behalf. If the cull is on private property, for example, a shop, they may still get involved.

If you can, please personalise the words, as this helps your letter have more impact, especially if other residents are also writing to them.

Dear Councillor [Name] 

I am writing as a resident of [your area] as I have discovered that the council is planning to cull pigeons at [location]. I, like many people, enjoy seeing pigeons and other wildlife in our local area. To persecute and kill these beautiful birds is likely to be extremely unpopular. Pigeons are sociable birds, who generally mate for life, making culling particularly cruel. 

Methods used to cull pigeons can cause terrible suffering. Shooting birds can never be entirely accurate, so wounded birds may be left to die in agony. Shooting with firearms can also pose a danger to the public and other wildlife. The use of birds of prey, which are often not the natural predator species for pigeons, can also be extremely cruel, as terrified pigeons are pursued and torn apart.  

As well as being cruel, killing pigeons does not work, so it is a waste of resources. If there is a good source of food in an area and the environment remains attractive, within weeks the number of birds can return to pre-cull levels and often more. This is because killing adult birds leads to less competition in a flock and favours the survival of younger healthy birds. 

There are many cost-effective humane alternatives to culling. For pigeons, these include reducing the food available by ensuring streets are kept clean and street bins are emptied, blocking access to roof spaces and buildings and installing ‘Bird-Free’ ultraviolet or optical gel to deter birds from roosting and nesting in certain areas. 

These, and other methods, are explained in the following resources: 

  1. Animal Aid’s ‘Alternatives to Culling’ booklet: https://www.animalaid.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/alternativestoculling2022-4.pdf 
  2. Animal Aid’s ‘Birds Advice Sheet’: https://www.animalaid.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Birds-advice-sheet_May2019.pdf 

As my local councillor I ask that you raise this issue within the council, asking them to reconsider their decision to cull pigeons and instead opt for non-lethal humane methods.  

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely, 

 

[Name] 

[Address] 

Find details for your local councillors