Pigeons are suffering and dying inhumanely due to netting being installed at the Woolworths store entrance in Canterbury. Pigeons are trapped in the new pigeon-proof netting that was installed in January 2026. There are at least four alive pigeons still trapped up there as of 4 February and they are constantly jumping through pigeon-deterrent spikes behind the netting to get to the other side in an attempt to escape.

As of this morning 4 February, two pigeons have already died, including one baby pigeon. These poor souls are dying slow, painful deaths from starvation, dehydration and panic. They have been trapped for days without food and water. Without immediate action more pigeons will die.

Woolworths Canterbury need to insist that the pigeons currently trapped inside are freed 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 be in, they are are not supposed to kill pigeons. This is a cruel act that impacts animal welfare and also puts the health and safety of Woolworths customers at risk because the dead pigeons will decompose through the net, directly over the supermarket's entrance, however the store manager at Woolworths has not responded to requests from the local community to free the pigeons as of 4.00pm 4 February 2026. Therefore the matter has been reported to the RSPCA. 

We call on Woolworths Canterbury to release the pigeons that are trapped immediately and remove the pigeon-proof netting and spikes so no more pigeons have to die in such an inhumane manner. 

UPDATE: 5 February 2026
The pigeons were freed thanks to the overwhelming support received from the local community who signed this petition, in collaboration with volunteers from Sydney Pigeon Rescue. The netting was temporarily torn down and to ensure its reinstallation is done ethically without trapping live pigeons inside, the RSPCA has contacted the pest control company directs to ensure they follow animal welfare standards. Unless Woolworths decides to change their policy of netting pigeons, the netting will go back up, but this time we hope it will be installed correctly without causing unnecessary suffering. 

UPDATE 19 Feb: Woolworths lied to the media and have trapped pigeons inside again, they have been trapped inside for two days now and are begging for help, AGAIN! Woolworths thought we wouldn't notice and eventually forget, but we have and we won't stop until the pigeons are free and the netting is pulled down for good.