Swiss Cities Face Backlash Over Pigeon Culling and Feeding Bans

Multiple major Swiss cities are dealing with an explosion in pigeon populations, leading to concerns over urban cleanliness and disease transmission. In Zurich, the city government cull approximately 900 to 1,700 pigeons annually and has enforced a feeding ban since January 2023 to manage the 80 tons of droppings produced each year. However, recent footage of city staff culling birds by stunning and breaking their necks has caused a social media outcry, forcing the city to disable comments on its Instagram. Activists from 'Stadttauben Schweiz' criticize these methods as ineffective. They advocate for the 'Lucerne model,' which involves setting up managed lofts where professionals swap real eggs with dummy ones to control reproduction. While Lucerne has significantly reduced its culling frequency since 2001, other cities like Bern are also increasingly adopting the dummy egg method. Residents emphasize the need to balance urban public health with respect for wildlife in shared spaces.