All students, staff and faculty working with pigeons must have a current tetanus shot to immunize them against any problems with scratches/pecks. Carleton College requires a current tetanus shot for incoming students, so all students in laboratories and in animal care are protected via admission and the screening provided by the College through Student Health and Counseling. Faculty and staff should renew their tetanus shots once every 10 years.
All people interested in working in the animal care facility must also fill out a pre-employment medical evaluation, which can be obtained from Julie Neiworth or Robyn Durand, the animal care manager for psychology. We will review your responses with you to explore additional risks you may have based on particular conditions.
Individuals with immunosuppressive conditions (including HIV/AIDS and cancer patients) should seek the advice of their doctor before exposing themselves to animals, including pigeons.Women who are pregnant have an increased risk of complications due to exposure to a variety of bacteria — they should also consult with their physician before working with pigeons.
Pigeons don’t bite, but they can inadvertently scratch hands via their claws during handling, and they can peck at hands (although this is an incredibly rare occurrence). If any injury involves a break in the skin, the injured person should wash the site out for 15-20 minutes with antibacterial soap (provided throughout the facility and at each sink in the research areas). Use a povidone-iodine scrub kit to clean any animal injury which breaks the skin. Consider using topical antibiotic ointment, provided in the first aid kits in the animal care manager office and the research labs. Make sure you report the injury to the faculty or staff supervisor, and seek the advice of a doctor if any symptoms arise from the injury.
Return to Species Specific Training: Pigeons.