Why Control Pigeons?
Across the UK, you’ll often find pigeons causing problems for homeowners and businesses. If you own a business such as a shop, you’ll be very aware of the damage they cause and the risk they pose to your customers and staff.
We’ve completed pigeon control and bird proofing solutions throughout the North West in many various types of business premises and establishments. Some of the most common pigeon related issues we come across include:
Guano: droppings are very acidic and look very bad when stained on the side of buildings. First impressions are everything, and if your business front is covered by guano, it sends the wrong message.
Damage: during bird nesting season, debris tends to build up and cause damage to drains. We also deal with pigeons damaging stock, costing companies thousands.
Diseases: pigeons are known to carry many diseases, making you, your staff and your customers very unwell.
Slipping hazard: usually, pigeons roost from window ledges and drop waste on the floor, a severe slipping risk.
Pigeon Control Solutions
We offer a wide range of bird proofing methods to help control pigeons at commercial and domestic properties. If you’re in the capital or the surrounding areas, please contact our specialist pigeon removal team to discuss which option would have the most beneficial impact on controlling pigeons at your location.
Pigeon Netting
Pigeon spikes
Pigeon bird free optical gel
Shooting and trapping
Humane pigeon removal
Are Pigeons Vermin?
To cut a long story short, yes. We’ve explored the meaning of the word vermin, and we know it refers to animals that appear commonly, are hard to control and are seen as pests.
Unfortunately for pigeons, they fit into all of these categories – meaning they are indeed considered vermin.
You can’t walk down a high street in the UK without seeing multiple pigeons prowling around and searching for food – so they definitely appear commonly.
They carry and spread diseases and cause damage wherever they go, which certainly qualifies them as pests.
And as pest control experts who deal with pigeons on a daily basis, offering pigeon control services in Lancashire and the North West, we know they can be tough avian pest birds to control.
Therefore, it’s clear to see that pigeons are vermin!
What Problems do Pigeons Cause?
As pests, pigeons cause various issues for many people every year. In the UK alone, there are an estimated 18 million pigeons! Unfortunately, pigeons can also breed up to six times a year, meaning this number is constantly rising.
You may be thinking, well, they might poo on my car occasionally or get in my way in the street, but surely they don’t cause that much damage, right?
Well, I’m afraid you are mistaken! Pigeons cause extensive issues year in year out. Some of these problems include:
Pigeon Droppings
While they’re not ideal to look at, pigeon droppings are much more dangerous than you would first assume. Not only can they cause a potential slip hazard on the floor, but the droppings also carry health risks.
If you come into contact with droppings, you must wash your hands immediately.
If you’re cleaning pigeon droppings on your property, we strongly advise you to wear gloves and a mask as suitable PPE.
You may think this is overkill; however, pigeon droppings can contain over 50 different types of bacteria – some of which can cause life-threatening diseases. For example, breathing in dust or water droplets contaminated by pigeon poo can cause a flu-like illness known as psittacosis and salmonella, toxoplasmosis, and even meningitis.
Amazingly, pigeon droppings contain incredibly high uric acid levels, making them corrosive. In addition, pigeons are likely to roost in the same place consistently, meaning they will also defecate in the same place. As a result, repetitive bird droppings can, over time, cause structural damage.
Did you know: It’s believed that the 2007 Minnesota Bridge collapse was a direct result of repeated bird droppings corroding the metal bridge supports!
Pigeon Nests
Unfortunately for you, a typical area that pigeons like to build their nests is in gutters. They make their nests from sticks, and other organic materials they can find, which can clog up your drainage and guttering systems easily – resulting in a costly repair job for you.
As well as gutters, pigeons are also known to make themselves at home in loft spaces. As well as the physical damage this can cause to your home, it can also mean that they will create a lot of noise. You may find yourself being rudely awakened by cooing or the sound of their wings flapping about in your home.
Additionally, by building their nests in your lofts and bringing in high volumes of organic and dry material, these pigeons are also (albeit unknowingly) generating a fire hazard in your property! With plenty of electrical wires running through loft spaces, this creates a dangerous mix and significantly increases your chances of a house fire.
Finally, if your property has solar panels fitted, unfortunately, these are also at risk. Pigeons nest under solar panels for warmth and shelter. However, this can render them ineffective – resulting in an expensive callout for the solar panels to be repaired, as well as a separate job to remove the pigeons!
If you have solar panels and are looking to protect them, why not visit our Pigeon Proofing Solar Panels blog page and arrange a consultation today.
Pigeon Habits
Pigeons are highly social animals, often spending their time in large groups. Unfortunately, they are also creatures of habit, always returning to their roosting spot. This dangerous combination can cause a single pigeon in your home to turn into an infestation very quickly.
As well as this, pigeons are incredibly stubborn and, over time, have become more and more comfortable around humans. Unfortunately, this makes them one of the more challenging pests to remove once they have decided to call your property home.
Controlling Pigeons
It’s clear that pigeons are much more dangerous than you would first assume, so it’s vital that we control them in order to protect not only our homes, but also our health.
While there are many DIY options available on the market for pigeon proofing and control, we recommend using the services of bird control experts to ensure the job is completed correctly.
You may be surprised to hear that pigeons, and other wild birds, are actually protected under the law. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 declares it is illegal to kill or injure any wild bird, including pigeons and seagulls unless general licensing regulations are complied with.
At Atlas Environmental Services Ltd all of our bird control experts are NPTA members and are fully licensed to carry out the task at hand successfully.
Keep yourself and your family safe by leaving it up to the professionals; it’s not worth the risk of contracting a life-threatening illness or receiving a criminal conviction.
Contact our friendly team on 01282 777549, or email us at info@atlasenviro.co.uk to discuss your options today!
Atlas Environmental Services Ltd offers pigeon proofing and bird control services in the throughout Lancashire and the North West.
" Your Problem, Our Bird Control Solution "
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