August 17, 2026, 6:30 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Pigeons are a common sight in almost every metropolis. But a closer look reveals a sad detail in many birds: injured, mutilated, or even missing toes. This is often not a coincidence but a problem caused by humans. PETBOOK spoke with the Taubenhaus Südkreuz e.V. to explain why so many city pigeons suffer from foot issues.
Why so many city pigeons have mutilated feet
In the city, if you look closely, you’ll often see them: pigeons limping, missing toes, or barely able to walk. Mutilated feet are a common issue for many city pigeons. However, the cause usually lies not with the birds themselves but in their environment.
The most common cause of these injuries is surprisingly mundane. “The entanglements come from threads from jackets, long hair, threads from packaging–anything thread-like,” explains Lara-Salina Küchler from Taubenhaus Südkreuz e.V. The volunteers at the Berlin association deal with such cases daily and witness the animals’ suffering up close.
What initially seems harmless quickly becomes a dangerous trap for the birds. With each step, the threads cut deeper into the tissue, cutting off blood supply and, in the worst case, causing toes or entire feet to die. If bacteria enter the open wounds, it leads to infections. The result is additional pain and swelling in the feet.1
Besides entanglements from trash, diseases or injuries can also lead to pigeons having mutilated feet. These include conditions like bone softening, also known as rickets, or footpad ulcers (pododermatitis).
Challenges in searching for food
It’s noticeable that not all areas have the same number of affected pigeons. The reason lies in the birds’ behavior. “The main cause is that the pigeons are hungry and walk around on the street.”
According to Taubenhaus Südkreuz e.V., in large cities like Paris, many pigeons are affected by entanglements. In Berlin, however, there are fewer such cases. “The reason is that many cities have a ban on feeding pigeons,” Küchler says. In cities like Paris, where there is a strict feeding ban, the birds are much more often forced to search for food on the ground for hours, coming into contact with dangerous trash.
But dangers are not only on the ground. Deterrent measures on buildings also pose a significant risk. Pigeons often nest between installed spikes meant to deter them. This can lead to injuries, such as when they tear themselves on the spikes or get caught. Chicks are particularly at risk and can be severely injured or even impaled by the metal spikes. Such wounds often go untreated and can become infected, leading to permanent damage like mutilated feet.2
Pain and limitations
“For the animals, this primarily means pain and limited mobility,” Küchler says. Some pigeons can barely walk, while others have both feet entangled, making movement extremely difficult. The injuries have even more severe consequences. The already challenging search for food becomes even harder–a vicious cycle that often ends fatally.
While minor entanglements can usually be removed with nail scissors, in severe cases, a visit to the vet is necessary. “Sometimes you can simply cut the threads if they haven’t cut too deeply into the feet and/or haven’t been entangled for long. However, there are cases where toe segments or entire feet are already dead, requiring amputation and antibiotic treatment.” Such treatments are not only labor-intensive but must be financed by private individuals or animal welfare organizations.
What people can do
The good news: Part of the problem can be relatively easily avoided. Taubenhaus Südkreuz e.V. advises being vigilant. Strings, hair, or threads should be properly disposed of and not carelessly thrown on the ground.
Anyone who spots an injured pigeon can help. “Entangled pigeons should be secured or reported to emergency Facebook groups,” Küchler explains. This also applies to injured and sick pigeons.
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What needs to change in cities
In the long term, structural solutions are needed in large cities. This includes expanding pigeon houses. There, the birds are regularly fed and receive medical care. “If they are fed daily at feeding stations or in supervised pigeon houses, they don’t stay on the ground and sit elevated. This results in fewer entanglements and potentially necessary amputations,” Küchler says.
Taubenhaus Südkreuz e.V. is critical of feeding bans. Where pigeons are not fed, the pressure to search for food increases, along with the risk of injury. In cities like Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, or Dresden, the ban should be lifted to prevent injured pigeon feet.
Also interesting: “Pigeons are losing their instincts” – Deutsche Bahn poster sparks heavy criticism
More than just a foot problem
Injured feet are just one of many problems city pigeons face. They are often also affected by fractures, malnutrition, or collisions with buildings. Young birds, no longer cared for by their parents, often fare worse in the competition for food than adult birds. At the same time, there is generally little food available, causing many to starve.3
Additionally, diseases like paramyxovirus, which leads to neurological disorders, or injuries from direct human violence are common. Many of these problems share a common cause: they arise from living in a human-dominated environment.