Pigeons are suffering and dying at York train station. Pigeons have lost their lives by becoming entangled in pigeon-proof netting and impaled on pigeon-deterrent spikes. Recently three dead pigeons have been left in situ to decompose since the 3rd November. These poor souls died a slow and painful death as they desperately tried to escape the netting and the spikes. They will have been trapped for days without food and water. This is not the first time pigeons have died in this way at the station – sadly many have lost their lives. 

London North Eastern Railway (LNER) are not able to remove the pigeons themselves, only their pest control company – Pestokill – can remove them. LNER have said they have reported the dead pigeons to Pestokill but they do not know when Pestokill will visit to remove the dead pigeons and repair/remove the netting. Pestokill should have attended to remove the pigeons and remove/repair the netting as a priority.

Until the netting and spikes are removed pigeons will continue to die. To cause unnecessary suffering is in breach of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and is a prosecutable offence. LNER must insist Pestokill remove the netting and spikes immediately. Pigeon-proof netting and pigeon-deterrent spikes are supposed to be ‘humane’ ways to deter pigeons from areas humans don’t want pigeons to hang out in. These humane deterrents are not supposed to kill pigeons.

We must campaign for the removal of the pigeon-proof netting and the pigeon-deterrent spikes at York train station so no more pigeons die.