Do mothballs or ammonia help repel pigeons?

Pigeons can be daunting when it comes to wildlife, and many people don't want to be bothered with physically trapping and removing these animals or installing bird barriers to keep them at bay. Because of this, the Internet is full of DIY pigeon repellent tips and tricks, and two of the most popular options for homeowners are mothballs and/or ammonia. Pigeons do have an acute sense of smell, and studies have shown these birds get disoriented when their sense of smell is altered. Apparently, smell is very important to pigeons when it comes to finding their way back home again. When it comes to repelling pigeons, however, sense of smell is not a reliable tool. Just because a pigeon can smell well doesn't mean it will be affected by strong odors or odors humans have deemed unpleasant. You would have to use such a concentrated quantity of either ammonia or mothballs to upset a pigeons that you, yourself wouldn't be able to stand the smell. In addition, mothballs contain known cancer-causing agents known as carcinogens; these are not something to have laying about in abundance at your home.



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