Animal 'rescue' advice. urgent please.?

Question

OK, if you dislike pigeons then stop reading. :)

At my local train station (in the Midlands UK) there is netting up to stop the birds getting into the roofspace. It covers the ceiling so that birds can't nest there and p**p on your head while you're boarding your train.

Today as I was leaving the station I saw a few dead pigeons lying on the netting above me and one live one that was sitting on the netting and staring down at the ground.

Could it be trapped up there and would die? Who would I call? The RSPCA? The Station?

Any advice from anyone? I don't want to just let it die but I don't know who to call or what to say (Ghostbusters were busy...) :D

There was an article in the news about a year ago about the pigeons getting trapped up there and I know, then, they sent a council guy to take the netting down and free them. If this one is trapped then it can't get food or water and it will die. Your thoughts?

Should I call someone? But who?

edit: Yes, I'm a big girly wuss who loves pigeons... what else ya got? ;) ooh, pre-emptive...! ;) Actually I'm pretty sure this bird is trapped up there (and if there's one there's probably others) and who should I call? I don't know how long it's been up there but with there being dead ones, and without food or water I reckon I should try and ring someone about it within the next 24 hours.

Would really appreciate some advice guys.

Thanks :)

Answer 1

some think pigeons are pests but they have a right to be rescued, if you call the RSPCA or wildlife rescue they will come out and free the bird, just to leave it up there to die would be cruel, i would call someone, if you get no luck with the RSPCA call animal welfare at you local council, pigeons have rights too best of luck  honey hope the little fella gets free soon  

Answer 2

You could also search 'animal rescuers' for your local rescue as I generally find the RSPCA slow to act.

In the long run you should contact environmental health. They are responsible for 'policing' Bird netting. They will get in contact with either the local RSPCA, Fire Brigade or a local 'Rescue Centre'. They will also take to task the people who are responsible for the netting. Bird netting should be checked on a regular basis daily and it is the responsibility of the Company or firm who installed the netting to patrol it and remove trapped or dead birds.

Answer 3

You could call the RSPB.

Although pigeons are a pest and can carry disease, etc, etc the netting should be fixed in such a way that they can't become entrapped behind it.

Give them a call.  They might do something, they might not, but you can only try.

PS As an afterthought, you could try getting your local paper involved if it's a regular occurence.  Even though pigeons aren't everyone's cup of tea, no-one likes to see animals being dealt with in this way.

Answer 4

I would recommend you call the RSPCA, they deal with all animals.

Me and my mum had a wood pigeon in our front garden, which had a severly injured wing.

We had to wait until morning for them to collect it, which I thought was a little stupid because of the condition of its wing, but they did the best they could with it.

You could try the station though, just say you have some concerns about the pigeons.

If they won't listen because "they're just birds", tell them they are a living thing just like us, they have a right to live!

Good luck, hopefully something wil be done! =D

I would help you more if I could. =)

Answer 5

the fire department is so helpful with the most bizarre situations, and many are sympathetic for animals in distress.  If you have animal control in your area, (budget cutbacks everywhere) they might be able to help but the pigeon might die by the time they get there.

(Years ago we had a bat flying around our apartment in a large duplex home, I was grocery shopping & when I got to door, my husband was horrified & yelled at me not to go inside.  I was pregnant & he was worried I could get bitten and get rabies.  The crazy bat kept flying low on top of his head.

I couldn't let him go through it so I called police to ask who could I call, they thought it was a prank call.

I called fire department & they replied they'd be right over & they were.  They came inside & caught the bat.  Furthermore, they checked the attic & told us to get the landlord to deal with birds, squirrels, mice, bats that were going crazy in the attic.)  

At worst, if they can't help they might be able to direct you to who can.  Hope you can save it on time, I think you're on target with your assessment.  

(Seems like a cruel way to deal with the problem but what would be a better solution?)