Commercial Bird Control: Everything You Need to Know
Commercial bird control is important because there are few things more frustrating than walking out to your car after a long day at the office to find it’s been covered in bird droppings. As a property manager, it’s your job to make sure your tenants and guests are protected from all types of pest damage, birds included! If birds are roosting around your property, you may be encountering bird-related issues pretty frequently. Not only is bird damage unsightly, but it can also cause health and safety risks for your employees, tenants, and guests. Rental properties, retail and manufacturing facilities, restaurants, health facilities, schools and daycares, government buildings, and hotels need to actively prevent birds from disrupting their business. To help protect your property from bird damage, follow along below to learn bird safety and deterrence tips to keep your property bird-free.
Threats Birds Can Have On Your Commercial Property
The singing of birds can be pleasant to have around your property — but sadly that’s about the only benefit birds offer. Birds can cause multiple health and safety issues that are easily avoidable. Here are some of the most common ways birds can threaten your property and why you may want to consider commercial bird deterrence:
Hitchhiking pests
Ticks, mites, and mealworms often live on birds and in their nests. These ectoparasites can unintentionally be brought into your building by birds, and what started out as a bird problem can turn into a pest infestation. Ticks are specifically a major threat to humans and can spread a laundry list of illnesses and diseases.
Droppings left everywhere
Bird droppings are a problem because they contain uric acid, a natural waste product that is highly acidic. Uric acid is not only difficult to remove, but it can also eat through paint, making any signage and vehicles vulnerable to damage. Droppings can also corrode through roofing and outdoor furniture, which can lead to hefty repairs to your property if droppings aren’t treated quickly. Aside from being acidic, bird droppings are also highly unsanitary. Droppings can carry diseases such as histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease caused by toxic fungus that spreads through inhalation. Salmonella, candida, certain forms of encephalitis, and E. coli can also be found in their droppings. Extra safety measures should always be taken when sanitizing and removing bird droppings from your property. Related: The Most Common Pests in the Carolinas
Roof and building damage
Not only can bird droppings be corrosive to your roof and building, but bird nests can be hazardous, too. Birds will build their nest anywhere they feel safe, with just about any items they can find. This becomes a problem for your building when nesting materials get caught in your vents or gutters and cause clogs and other damage. Clogged gutters can cause a multitude of issues, such as excess moisture or even water damage.
Potentially harmful to tenants and visitors
While birds are not known to be particularly aggressive animals, they may boldly attempt to steal food if the moment is right. Not only can it be frightening to have a wild bird swoop down on you, but it’s also a health concern. Birds are known vectors of disease, so if a bird comes in too close of contact with a tenant or visitor, other major issues could arise.
Birds may get trapped inside
We’ve all seen it before — a bird flies into a building and then can’t get out. Unfortunately, this happens time and time again, and it’s a frequent problem for property managers. Once birds have realized they can’t escape from whatever building they are stuck in, they will do one of two things:
- Attempt to fly through a window, which never ends well. We’ve got some advice about dead animal removal if you need it.
- Or, the bird will set up shop and make your property its new home.
Neither of these options are ideal situations when you are trying to make your property look presentable. While a dead bird has complications of its own, a live bird nesting in your building is another issue entirely. This is when it pays to hire a wildlife removal expert to perform commercial bird control, because you never want to try and remove a bird (and potential hatchlings) on your own.
Three Steps To Safely (and Legally) Remove Birds
However, maybe you decide to take matters into your own hands and remove the nest yourself. While we don’t recommend this option, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to nest removal! Here are three steps to safely, and legally, remove a nest from your property.
1. Check the list of federally protected birds
Many bird species are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, including hawks, eagles, songbirds, herons, egrets, vultures, and woodpeckers. This act makes it crucial to identify what kind of bird you’re dealing with before attempting removal on your own. Bird identification isn’t as easy as it sounds, which is why it’s always in your best interest to contact a specialist.
2. Monitor the nest for signs of activity
If a bird, its babies, or eggs are still in the nest, do not attempt to remove them and contact a specialist immediately. Never touch the nest or birds inside, no matter how tempting it may be. This will not only threaten your health, but the birds’ health as well. After all, you don’t want to harm them, you just want them back outside where they belong. Your best bet is to monitor the nest from afar to check for activity. If the nest is vacant, safely proceed with removal. Please note: Never attempt to remove an active nest. If you find eggs and no bird, do not assume the eggs have been abandoned. If there are any signs of activity in the nest, leave it alone and contact a wildlife specialist.
3. If the nest is empty, proceed with safe removal
Don’t forget to put on gloves or other protective gear before removing the nest. Once you are protected, gently remove the nest and discard it appropriately. Don’t be tempted to toss it in a trash can inside, as it may attract other pests or wildlife who prey on birds and eggs.
Tips and Tricks For Commercial Bird Deterrence
Truth be told, it’s impossible to completely keep birds away from your property. The good news is there are a few commercial bird deterrence efforts you can take to keep birds from roosting in and around your property!
Monitor your building for signs of roosting
The best time to remove a bird’s nest is while it’s still in the making. Frequently monitor your property for signs of nesting so you can prevent further roosting — areas where birds and bats gather to settle down and sleep.
Perch repellents
Identify areas that are vulnerable to roosting and consider using perch repellents such as signage spikes around your property. These spikes are not intended to be sharp, but rather uncomfortable for birds to stand or perch on. If a bird doesn’t feel comfortable or safe, it won’t build a nest.
Fake predators
While these can look a little unappealing, fake predator statues are known to be effective for commercial bird deterrence. This method isn’t foolproof though, so some birds may decide the statue poses no threat to them and decide to roost anyway!
Remove sources of food
If you manage a property that has an outdoor area for serving food, try to minimize food waste as much as possible. Small bits of food or crumbs will attract birds and other pests (think cockroaches and rodents), so always make sure your outdoor area is properly cleaned before you close up for the night. Speaking of pests, birds will feed on those too. Birds have a diet that consists of a variety of insects. If your property has a pest control problem, you may notice more birds around than usual. Birds aren’t the only pests that can make managing a business difficult. Rodents can quickly ruin your business’ reputation and infestations should be taken seriously. Prompt action is required at the first sign of a rodent infestation. If you are dealing with rodents, learn more about our SMART Digital Pest Control system that discreetly eliminates rodents.
Most Importantly, Call Killingsworth for Commercial Bird Deterrence
Want to know the secret to commercial bird deterrence? Killingsworth wildlife control! At Killingsworth, we understand the risks of having birds — or any wildlife for that matter — roosting around your property. If your property is experiencing issues with birds, schedule commercial bird control right away. We can help identify the areas of your property where birds are nesting, and safely remove any existing birds that may be causing problems. Once we’re done, we’ll continue to make sure birds fly far, far away from your property! Don’t let the problem get out of hand, schedule a service with our wildlife control professionals as soon as possible.
