Washington, DC Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

District law flatly bars using toxicants on three specific birds: pigeons, European starlings, and house sparrows. The ban applies to licensed wildlife control operators who handle nuisance wildlife complaints under D.C.'s wildlife control chapter. The Department of Energy and Environment, which runs the operator licensing program under § 8-2204, can also restrict toxicant use against other wildlife once it determines the animal can be managed with less harmful methods, but pigeons, starlings, and sparrows get the flat statutory ban regardless of the Department's own findings.