Pigeon Problems

Pigeons seem like fairly harmless birds, right? Well, not really. Once they start hanging out near your home or business you might start calling them Flying rats or dumb birds and want absolutely nothing to do with these mess-making flying nuisances. Let's talk about the problems pigeons can cause and some methods of solving your pigeon problems.Pigeons are the number one urban pest bird, creating a mess and causing damage where they roost, creating a need for pigeon control. These blue-grey birds are almost iridescent in color and are very comfortable making their homes in and on man-made structures. Pigeons generally nest in small, flat areas away from the ground such as building ledges, air conditioning units or window sills. Occasionally pigeons may even lay eggs directly on a protected ledge.

Pigeon Damage

Pigeons can cause all sorts of damage to your home or in structures around your business making things dirty looking and disease infected. No one wants that for their home or business. Two of the largest problems with pigeons are their droppings and their nests. Pigeon droppings may ruin vegetation, damage property such as statues, benches, cars and buildings, and what's more produce an objectionable odor. More specifically damage could include:

• Droppings that are combined with feathers and nests may block vents and downspouts on buildings.
• Large accumulations of droppings may cause several fungal diseases in humans.
• Serious slip and fall liability from feces or debris especially outside businesses.
• Nesting materials and other debris could cause failures in machinery, especially rooftop air conditioning units, which are a prime nesting spot for pigeons.
• Pigeon droppings are responsible for a host of serious diseases, including histoplasmosis, encephalitis, salmonella, meningitis, and toxoplasmosis.
• Clean up costs for homeowners and businesses can be costly especially if it needs to be done regularly.

Pigeon Management

Businesses and homeowners have incurred significant costs for cleanup and prevention. While professional control techniques may be needed like the kind that Pest-End can recommend, there are some steps that every property owners can take on their own.

Nesting Prevention

Pigeons look for flat surfaces for roosting and nesting. Make surfaces unavailable with a variety of devices that can be used to change flat nesting spots into inaccessible spaces. Use netting to keep pigeons out of large areas.

Pigeon Solutions

The best solution for getting rid of the mess and exposure to disease is to exclude them from the property. Unfortunately, that sounds easy but pigeons have a homing instinct that makes it their natural desire to return to their birth area. Some common solutions include netting, spiking and other physical pigeon control products. Some people swear by visual or audio scare techniques or even fake owls to dissuade pigeons from coming back time after time to nest and roost. We suggest calling a professional who can safely access the area(s) where the pigeons are becoming a problem and provide a solution to your pigeon issue. Call Pest-End for your pigeon issues.