At least 655 pigeons shot and killed across London Tube stations in organised cullings

Some 655 pigeons have been shot and killed as part of regular shootings organized by Transport for London.

At least 123 shoots have been carried out between March 2024 and March 2026 to rid stations of birds nesting on ledges and becoming trapped behind netting.

Pictures show workers in hi-vis aiming air rifles in stations. Another shows a worker at Stanmore Station with their boot on a bleeding bird.

In total, at least 655 pigeons were killed, 17 active nests were removed and at least seven chicks were killed or removed.

Campaigners say the operations inflicted unnecessary suffering on the pigeons, and have even filed a crime report to British Transport Police.

Manchester Pigeon Rehab, which collected the data, allege TfL did not take reasonable steps to mitigate suffering or explore non-lethal alternatives.

This includes fledglings either being left without parents or killed using ‘humane bird dispatchers’, which snap their necks when pressure is applied.

Natural England recommends ‘avoiding lethal control’ during breeding season, but shoots went ahead anyway.

Birds are also being shot at but not instantly killed, with some even escaping with serious injuries.

One report from Arnos Grove in December reported 20 shots fired but only 16 pigeons culled. TfL confirmed through a Freedom of Information request this was due to four shots hitting one bird but not resulting in an instant kill.

At the Ruislip Depot, a worker wrote in an August report: ‘One pigeon flew [out] the open doors [after] being shot, despite best efforts it couldn’t be located to be able to remove.’

Manchester Pigeon Rehab told Metro: ‘Pigeons are intelligent and highly social animals. They are capable of forming long term bonds, share the responsibility of raising young, and can solve complex problems.

‘Modern feral pigeons descended from birds that were once domesticated by humans where they carried our messages and fought in our wars.

‘We believe Transport for London should immediately end lethal control in favour of habitat modification, humane deterrents and other non-lethal management measures. In some circumstances this may also mean accepting that wildlife will continue to exist in shared urban spaces.’

According to the FoIs, pest control services are contracted out to AGS One.

The shooting operations used a GL41 license, which has a number of conditions. This includes taking reasonable precautions to minimise suffering, and until the end of last year, non lethal alternatives must be explored first.

Birds are often shot after they become trapped behind netting, instead of being released.

Transport for London said: ‘Our approach is focused on prevention, and the avoidance of animal cruelty is taken very seriously. We continue to invest in preventative measures as our primary approach, exhausting all appropriate non-lethal methods, and have significantly increased our mitigations on stations and in depots as part of this work.

‘Unfortunately, in a few small number of cases, preventative measures are not always successful or effective, creating an unsafe environment. When this is the case, we work with our suppliers to ensure that the removal of pigeons, or their nests, is undertaken with consideration and only ever as a last resort when other deterrents have failed.

‘Ultimately, we have a duty of care to customers, staff, contractors and other third parties to maintain a safe, clean environment for those using or working on our property. Pigeon waste carries risks of bacteria and insects, while nesting and waste material creates fire hazards and structural damage.’

Metro has contacted British Transport Police and AGS One for comment.

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