German towns ban pigeon feeding and investigate shooting

The city of Bergkamen in North Rhine‑Westphalia has prohibited feeding pigeons, warning that the practice encourages a growing pigeon population and can lead to fines. A resident expressed frustration, saying, “I feel like a criminal.”

In nearby Recklinghausen, a 74‑year‑old resident discovered a wild pigeon with an arrow lodged in its body in a garden. The bird later died, and the finder suspects it was shot with a crossbow bolt, though no suspect has been identified and police have not been contacted. The incident follows a similar case from 2025 involving a squirrel found with a bolt.

Both incidents highlight rising concerns over wildlife management and illegal hunting of birds in German municipalities.