Merano pigeon wounded by pellet shot

A pigeon has been recovered in the center of Merano after being wounded by a pellet shot. The bird was taken to the Bolzano Avifauna Recovery Center (CRAB), where veterinarians extracted a metal pellet from its shoulder area.

This incident marks the third such case reported to the center in recent months involving urban wildlife. Previous cases in Bolzano included a pigeon with a fractured wing in May 2025 and a wood pigeon in February 2026. The injured bird is currently receiving antibiotic and anti-inflammatory therapy and remains under observation with the goal of eventually being released back into the wild. The Forestry Corps has been notified of the incident.