Tips for trapping birds

Schumaker is the director of business and product development for Wildlife Control Supplies.

Trapping can help greatly reduce pigeon populations — although you should always check your state and local laws for any specifics for your program. To optimize your trapping efforts, consider the following:

⦁ Location is key. Pre-bait multiple areas to see where pigeons feel comfortable feeding, although traps should be out of public view as much as possible.

⦁ Go big or go home. Use multiple and larger-style traps to reduce populations more quickly.

⦁ Always use shade covers on traps. This is both for protection from the elements, and to reduce attacks from birds of prey.

⦁ Keep traps stocked with fresh water and bait. Bring extra on your first trip to save time when checking traps.

⦁ Strategize bait placement. Ideally, you should trail bait into each trap opening, with large amounts at the center of the trap.

⦁ Utilize technologies. Live-feed camera equipment notifies you of success in real-time, while today’s pigeon decoys are more realistic than ever. Use the decoys when activating your traps.