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HOW TO GET RID OF PIGEONS
Here is a common
problem many store owners have with pigeons. I own a small store in new york state. There is
a ledge that runs about 20 feet along the top of my storefront which extends out over the sidewalk and entrance to the store.
There is usually 5 or 10 pigeons sitting on the ledge and the sidewalk below is where all the pigeon poop ends up. For customers
to get in my store they have to walk through or jump over these droppings. Do you know of any good do it yourself remedies
I can use to get rid of them. These birds are really hurting my business. I don't want to kill them. What can you recommend
to deter them. Many professional exterminators use Tanglefoot Bird Repellent
or other types of sticky caulk repellents to deter pigeons. Tanglefoot bird repellent applied to your ledge
will keep pigeons and birds away. It is a sticky caulk, and they hate to step in it. About 2 10 oz. tubes should be enough
for a twenty ft. ledge. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Paul Van Durme-Certified-Exterminator
I have a lot
of pigeon droppings around. Can I clean up the poop myself?
It
is not recommended. Pigeon dung can carry many diseases that can be harmful. You should get a professional that has all
the correct safety equipment. If you do decide to clean up pigeon droppings yourself, be sure and wear an approved respirator. Can pigeons be trapped to eliminate the problem?
Yes. Trapping
will eliminate the pigeon problem, but it can be time consuming and costly since the traps need to be checked every 24
hours. Trapping should be your first option, but can be very difficult. What other methods of pigeon control is there?
There are spikes, netting, pin &
wire, sticky materials, flock alarming chemicals to deter, but each case needs to be dealt with case by case. Their are many
ways to control bird problems and many mechanical ways to control and get them off your property . Killing birds
should only be done as a last resort. Many species are protected by law and are a link in the chain to life on our planet. Are birds
protected by Federal Law? Most of them are
protected. But in many states Pigeons, Starlings and House Sparrows are not. The main reasons are that they transmit bacteria
and contaminate food in or near food and grain handling facilities, carry ectoparasites (lice, mites, bedbugs, fleas,
ticks, etc.) and abandon nests which can harbor stored product insects.
More Control Methods Prevention is the best solution to rid any pest control problem including pigeons, but
if it has progressed beyond that stage, it is best to consider all options before getting your final plan of attack .
Frightening devices, trapping, nest removal and repellants are all good ways to eliminate pigeons. Toxicants for pigeons are
only registered for use by licensed pest control operators.
Pigeon poop can be very toxic. Hire an expert to remove it.
Damage Caused By Pigeons Pigeon poop deposited on cars, statues, park benches, sidewalk,
and buildings is not only unsightly, but also accelerates deterioration especially to buildings. Pigeon nests may clog drain
pipes, interfere with awnings, and make fire escapes unsafe. They are infested with many external parasites including
mites, fleas, ticks, and bugs many of which will readily bite people. These parasites frequently will invade homes from
nests located in or on the building. They are the carriers of diseases such as salmonella and others that affect humans
and domestic animals alike. Pigeons can threaten
human safety around airports where there is a possibility for flocks to collide with in-flight aircraft. There have been several
instances of jet aircraft engines failing when they collide with bird flocks, causing human fatalities. Pigeons displace native birds as a result of these aggressive invaders out competing them for food and nesting sites
HEALTH HAZARDS AND DISEASES OF BIRDS There are more than 40 known viruses
and 60 transmittable diseases directly attributed to birds and their droppings. Let's review some of these in more detail
and look at the examples of diseases known to have been contracted by humans from birds. Histoplasmosis. Droppings
from pigeons carry spores of the systemic fungal disease called histoplasmosis, which can be contracted by breathing
dusty pigeon droppings or soil contaminated by pigeons and/or starling poop. Pigeons are known to transmit pigeon ornithosis,
encephalitis, Newcastle disease, cryptococcosis, salmonella food poisoning, and other diseases.
Pest management professionals who are performing site cleanup to remove bird droppings and nesting material are particularly
vulnerable to these diseases and should take great care to wear adequate protective clothing. Chemical pretreatments of sites
should also be conducted to kill bacteria and viruses. The spores of histoplasmosis are inhaled typically when dried or when
old roosts have been disturbed, as occurs during cleanings carried out prior to bird control applications.
Cryptococcosis. Another fungal disease found primarily in pigeon poop is cryptococcosis.
More than 80% of established pigeon roosts have been found to contain this organism. When the dried droppings are inhaled,
a respiratory disease usually occurs commencing with a lung infection which then spreads to the rest of the body, especially
the nervous system.
Psittacosis. On December 16, 1987, a local California newspaper reported that a window cleaner
with 30 years' experience had 40% of his lung tissue destroyed after inhaling the bacteria psittacosis. The victim in this
case was a fit, 55-year-old man who awoke one morning unable to breathe.
The bacteria that causes psittacosis is found in the poop of pigeons, parrots and other birds and can be inhaled by
breathing the air introduced by air conditioning systems which carry the organism from a bird roost. Pigeons most frequently
roost on and around air conditioning systems on roofs of city buildings, domestic houses and other structures, which leads
to the transmittal of this bacteria.
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