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Wednesday 25 Jun 2025

London Euston station’s newest recruit ruffles pigeon feathers

Region & Route:

North West & Central

London Euston has welcomed a feathery new member of the station team in Oscar, a Harris hawk.

Oscar will visit London Euston once a week over the next few months with his handler at varying times to carry out ‘pigeon patrols’ aimed at deterring pigeons from setting up home at the station.

Although Oscar has visited Euston before as part of his familiarisation training, this marks his first official flight at the station.

Pigeons have become a persistent issue at the station, often roosting, nesting, and feeding in areas used by passengers. Oscar provides a humane solution, he doesn’t harm the birds but acts as a natural deterrent. His presence alone is enough to discourage pigeons from settling in, helping to create a cleaner, safer environment for everyone using the station.

The timings and locations of Oscar’s flights over the next few months will vary, this is so the pigeons can spot him in a variety of locations to avoid the station as a whole as opposed to a specific area. When the pigeons see him in a certain location, it convinces them that a bird of prey resides in the area, therefore making the area less inviting for nesting and feeding. As the hawk flies above the area, the pigeons become disturbed and fly into the sky.

The station team have already noticed a decrease in the amount of pigeons in the station proving Oscar effective at keeping pigeons at bay.

Matt Ferguson, senior station interface manager for London Euston said:

“We’re always looking for innovative ways to improve the station environment for our passengers, and Oscar is already proving to be a valuable member of the team.

"While he’s visited Euston before, this marks his first official flight and the early results are really encouraging! We’ve already seen a noticeable drop in pigeon activity, helping us keep the station cleaner and more welcoming for everyone.”

Oscar’s handler, falconer Adel Letchford, said:

“Oscar has taken to Euston like a pro: cool, calm, and already ruffling a few pigeon feathers. It’s brilliant to see how quickly he’s made an impact, the pigeons are definitely getting the message and passengers seem to love spotting him on patrol!”

Sam Omojola facilities manager at Mitie Transport Cleaning & Hygiene Services, said:

“At Mitie, we’re always looking for smart, sustainable ways to maintain clean and welcoming spaces. Introducing Oscar the hawk at Euston station is a natural and humane method to help manage the pigeon population, which can cause both cleanliness and safety issues. This innovative solution supports our commitment to keeping Euston spotless and reminds pigeons that it might be time to find a new perch!”

Have a look out for Oscar next time you are in Euston and give him a wave! 

Passengers can find more information about London Euston station on the Network Rail website.