Hundreds of Pigeons Rescued from Horrific Wilkes Barre House

The Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center is now caring for over 300 pigeons found in deplorable conditions.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:08am

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An abstract, out-of-focus photograph showing a flock of pigeons in soft, warm tones, conveying the mood and emotion of the story through a conceptual visual metaphor.The Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center's rescue of hundreds of neglected pigeons from a Wilkes Barre home exposes the challenges faced by animal welfare organizations in caring for displaced creatures.Stroudsburg Today

The Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center rescued hundreds of pigeons from a home in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, where they were living in what the center's manager described as 'horrific' conditions. The pigeons were found without food or water, surrounded by feces and debris, and some had broken limbs. The center is now caring for over 300 birds, though 12 had to be euthanized due to their poor health. The rescue has strained the center's resources, and they are working to find permanent homes for the pigeons.

Why it matters

The Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center is a vital resource for injured and displaced animals in the region, but the massive influx of pigeons from this rescue has pushed their capacity to the limit. The story highlights the challenges faced by animal rescue organizations in caring for large numbers of animals in poor health, and the importance of addressing animal neglect and cruelty in local communities.

The details

On Tuesday, the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center received a call from the SPCA to assist with a rescue in Wilkes Barre. When the center's team arrived at the home, they found hundreds of pigeons living in deplorable conditions - without food or water, surrounded by feces and debris, and some with broken limbs. The center's manager, Kat Schuster, described the scene as 'horrific', noting that the smell was unbearable and the eyes burned from the poor air quality. The team worked for hours to gather all the pigeons, many of which were very sick. In the end, they transported over 300 birds back to the center, though 12 had to be euthanized due to their poor health.

  • On Tuesday around noon, the center received the call from the SPCA to assist with the rescue.
  • The Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center's team drove an hour to Wilkes Barre to respond to the call.

The players

Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center

A wildlife rehabilitation center that helps heal and care for a variety of injured and displaced animals, including pigeons, throughout the year.

Kat Schuster

A licensed wildlife rehabilitator and the manager of the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center.

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What they’re saying

“There was no food, no water. The floor was thick with feces, feather debris, dirty cages everywhere. There were some locked in cages, I'm not sure why. And the amount of mouse friends was, it was, it was something I've never seen before.”

— Kat Schuster, Manager, Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center

“We did take PPE with us. We had full gowns. I grabbed a bunch of masks. We had gloves. Even with masks on, the smell hit you right away. It was hard to breathe. It was just, your eyes burned. It was just horrible conditions for pigeons to live in.”

— Kat Schuster, Manager, Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center

What’s next

The Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center is now working to find permanent homes for the over 300 pigeons they rescued, as their own facilities are already strained and will be even more so as the busy season approaches.

The takeaway

This rescue operation highlights the critical role that wildlife rehabilitation centers play in caring for neglected and displaced animals, even those that may not be considered 'glamorous' like pigeons. The Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center's dedication to saving every life, regardless of the animal, is a testament to their compassion and the importance of their work in the local community.