Feral pigeons are the number one nuisance bird in urban areas, yet many municipalities are washing their hands of the dirty birds.
In 2013, the City of Trail, British Columbia (in the Kootenay Region of the Province’s interior) made national headlines when they scrapped a plan to relocate thousands of pigeons that plague the area to a pigeon sanctuary, only to find out that no such place exists. In the end, the city simply enacted legislation making it illegal to feed the birds and waited for them to go away.
While this sort of solution might seem appropriate to a cash strapped city council, it leaves local residents stuck with a bird problem. If you’ve got pigeons, you know how messy they can be. Their droppings cover everything underneath their resting place, and the uric acid it contains will ruin just about anything in its path. The feces can also transmit fungal, viral, and bacterial disease. They will nest in rooftop vents and air-conditioning units, causing further property damage. The long and short of the matter is that pigeons are poor roommates.
Pigeons are a year-round issue around and on homes. Roof lines provide birds with a vantage point overlooking the area surrounding your home, and most likely a regular source of food such as the neighbor’s garden. There are many other areas of the pigeons to roost such as external pipework, windowsills or worse – the chimney.
A statistic that may be the push for addressing this problem: Birds can harbor over 40 types of parasites and host internally 60 types of infectious diseases. These can be transmitted through the bird droppings found around your home.
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird
deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row.
Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca
Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosing / Vancouver Pigeon Control / Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / PIgeon Deterrent / Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest / Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons / What to do about pigeons / sparrows, Damage by Sparrows, How to Keep Raccoons Away, Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests / De-fence / Pigeon Nesting / Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping / woodpecker control / Professional Bird Control Company / Keep The Birds Away / Birds/rats/seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/pidgeon control/flying rats/pigeon problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/bird guard
Pigeons may seem harmless, but these pest birds cause millions of dollars in damage every year to buildings, ventilation systems, machinery, statues, roofs, and much more. Bird droppings and nesting materials left by pigeons pose physical problems and health hazards that can become very serious if not corrected quickly making prompt and effective professional bird control is often essential.
Potential Health Hazards:
There are many health risks associated with pigeons and their droppings. The bacteria, fungi, and ectoparasites that they and their droppings harbor are numerous. The four most common ways disease is passed by bird to human are: inhalation of fecal dust, food and water contaminated with bird feces, direct contact with feces, and parasitic transfer.
Pigeon droppings can expose humans to many diseases, including salmonella, Newcastle disease, candidiasis, encephalitis, orthosis, and toxoplasmosis. In addition, they can also carry cryptococcosis, and coccidiodomycosis, which cause meningitis. The droppings may also harbor growth of fungus, which causes histoplasmosis. Fleas, lice, mites, and other pests often live on these birds, hitching a ride to where ever they want to jump off. Pigeons may also attract other pests, such as rats, which feed on dead pigeons and food that well-intentioned bird lovers may scatter for them.
In addition to disease, bird droppings are known for triggering people to slip and fall, which makes it especially important to rid the birds from highly trafficked areas.
Damage Caused by Pigeons:
These are messy birds, leaving droppings everywhere they go, particularly near their roost sites. Pigeon droppings are not just gross, they are also full of uric acid which makes them extremely corrosive. The droppings are the direct cause of millions of dollars in damage to buildings and other structures. Particularly vulnerable are painted surfaces, awnings, signs, and other similar surfaces. A tragic example of the corrosiveness of pigeon droppings is the Minnesota bridge accident in 2007, which was found to be the direct result of bird droppings eating away at the metal bridge supports until they weakened.
In addition to the damage cause by their acidic droppings, pigeon nests can also cause damage. Pest birds will often build nests in gutters or on roof corners blocking essential drainage systems. Every year several warehouses experience roof damage, and even collapse, when drainage systems have been blocked and standing water rises just six inches. Bird nests can also block ventilation systems, which not only prevents exhaust of potentially harmful gases, but also has the potential to spread diseases. Fire is also a potential hazard. Nesting materials are usually flammable, consisting of twigs, straw, grasses and dried droppings. When pest birds build their nests inside electric signs or other machinery there is a great risk of fire.
Pigeons are creatures of habit and highly social. Once they have found a cozy spot the will return again and again, bringing along more of their pigeon pals. Prolific breeders, pigeons can hatch several broods a year, sometimes even laying a new clutch before the previous have even hatched. Often our buildings and structures have architectural features such as drain spouts and eaves that make perfect nesting spots for these birds. Pigeons are comfortable around humans and they’re hard to scare away or deter. Once a flock of stubborn unwanted pigeons have set up shop in/on your building, it can be stubbornly resistant to removal, often requiring the services of a pest control or animal control professional. As is true of many pests that invade our homes and businesses, the first step to controlling feral pigeons is to remove their food source.
Tips to deter pigeons:
Don’t feed the pigeons.
Screen drains and gutters to make your property less attractive to pigeons.
Encourage children to pick up spilled food – and teach them NOT to feed pigeons
Keep areas around trash bins and outdoor dining areas clean
Eliminate water sources such as bird baths, over-watered lawns, or kiddy pools.
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird
deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row.
Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca
Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosing / Vancouver Pigeon Control / Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / PIgeon Deterrent / Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest / Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons / What to do about pigeons / sparrows, Damage by Sparrows, How to Keep Raccoons Away, Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests / De-fence / Pigeon Nesting / Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping / woodpecker control / Professional Bird Control Company / Keep The Birds Away / Birds/rats/seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/pidgeon control/flying rats/pigeon problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/bird guard
A component of pigeon droppings has been demonstrated to react with sera of individuals with pigeon breeder’s disease, a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, by crossed isoelectric focusing. Similarly, exposed but asymptomatic pigeon breeders do not exhibit antibody to this component, even though they possess significant levels of antibody to other components of pigeon droppings. Purification of this disease-specific component of pigeon dropping was attempted by preparative isoelectric focusing, gel filtration, and affinity chromatography on an immunoadsorbent prepared with asymptomatic antibody. After repeated passage over the affinity column, complete purification could not be achieved. A rabbit antiserum made against the partially purified component revealed the presence of at least one other component that did not react with either symptomatic or asymptomatic sera. Despite these contaminants, the disease-specific component was characterized as a single polypeptide having a molecular weight of approximately 50,000 daltons and having an isoelectric point between 3.5 and 5.1.
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird
deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row.
Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca
Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosing / Vancouver Pigeon Control / Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / PIgeon Deterrent / Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest / Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons / What to do about pigeons / sparrows, Damage by Sparrows, How to Keep Raccoons Away, Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests / De-fence / Pigeon Nesting / Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping / woodpecker control / Professional Bird Control Company / Keep The Birds Away / Birds/rats/seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/pidgeon control/flying rats/pigeon problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/bird guard
According to a popular theory, pigeons don’t poop while in flight and can be quite selective when it comes to going number 2.
That’s why we see clusters of pigeon poop on the window sills, decks, statues or wherever those fussy little poopers are hanging out.
Some experts believe that pigeons don’t poop while in flight because of the way they tuck their feet against their body while flying. The tuck would mean that if they did poop while in flight, it would go all over their feet, so they don’t.
In my opinion, that’s great news! The fewer poop bombs falling from above, the better! If you’ve ever been the “lucky” target of a bird poop bomb you know what I mean!
The only downside is, we’re left to clean up the mess.
So how do we properly clean the pigeon poop?…
The short answer, very carefully!
Ingested pigeon poop can lead to several diseases in humans, such as; Salmonella (bacterial infection), Psittacosis (flu like illness), Diarrhea, Histoplasmosis (respiratory disease), to name a few.
Pigeon poop carries pathogens that are harmful to humans when ingested. Touching pigeon poop (when cleaning it or accidentally like on a bench etc) and then using your phone or scratching your face or rubbing your eye are all easy ways to accidentally ingest. Breathing in the dry poop particles floating in the air is another way to ingest.
Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when cleaning up pigeon poop is a must!
The 3 pieces of PPE we recommend for cleaning pigeon poop are gloves, glasses and a mask. Especially if you’re removing a large amount, and especially if the poop is dry. It’s very easy to breathe in the particles and they are toxic!
Once you’ve dawned your PPE, it’s time to start cleaning!
*friendly reminder – These are helpful suggestions to remove pigeon poop around the house, on window sills, handrails, tables, the deck, etc. For larger or heavily soiled areas you may need bigger tools like brooms, hoses or even pressure washers. You may even need more PPE like a bodysuit and respirator. Be cautious and contact a professional cleaning or maintenance company if you’re unsure.
Solutions:
When it comes to the solution, choose wisely. Your choice for the perfect solution should include the following considerations:
What surface is the poop on and what products may damage the surface?
Pigeon poop is very acidic and will cause damage to most surfaces if left on long enough. That being said, we don’t want to cause more damage to the surface by choosing the wrong product to remove the poop with. Even dish soap can be damaging to some surfaces so make sure you read the instructions, ask for help and always test before using a product, especially if you’re not familiar with it.
Is there enough ventilation in the area to use this solution?
Some products like bleach are very strong and not healthy to breath in large amounts. Make sure the area you’re cleaning is properly ventilated before starting.
Am I using the right PPE for the solution?
Read the label carefully! Make sure you’re using the proper PPE for the Product!
Over the counter Disinfectants and household cleaners can be useful. Some are better than others. If you have one you stand behind, by all means use it. We always recommend testing unfamiliar products before using them.
3 House Hold Solutions to Clean and Disinfect Pigeon Poop
Bleach
This is our first choice when it comes to household disinfectants. It’s the most powerful disinfectant in this list, but it can be damaging to some surfaces. Bleach should always be diluted with water before use. For this purpose we recommend mixing a solution of ½ cup bleach to 1 gallon of water.
Misting will help settle suspended air-born particlesSoak the area and let it sit for 15 mins to disinfect and soften the poop (reapply solution if it starts to dry during the 15 mins) , heavily soiled areas may require multiple applications. Wipe or Scrape away the poop and place into a doubled plastic bag and seal it. Properly seal and dispose of the bag making sure it’s away from direct human contact human
Laundry Detergent
Laundry detergent will help disinfect the area and may not be as damaging to the surface or surrounding area as bleach. Some detergents have bleach in them so make sure to read the label and always test a small amount on a small unnoticeable area before starting.
For this purpose we recommend mixing a solution of about 1 tbsp of laundry detergent with 2 cups of warm water. Make sure all the detergent is dissolved in the water before use.
Similar to bleach, misting will help settle suspended air-born particles. Soak the area and let it sit for 15 mins to disinfect and soften the poop (reapply solution if it starts to dry during the 15 mins) Wipe or scrape the poop away, repeat the process for heavily soiled areas. Place the poop in a double plastic bag, seal it and safely discard.
Vinegar
Bleach and laundry detergent can be harmful to some surfaces and the environment. That’s why using vinegar can be handy, it’s the green solution. The vinegar acts as an excellent disinfect for the area. Similar to bleach, vinegar should always be diluted. For this purpose we recommend a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water.
It’s important to remember that vinegar can still be damaging especially to wood, if left on too long. It can soak into wood very easily, causing it to stain. Vinegar is used as a stain for wood and the results can be great, however if that’s not the intention vinegar stain can be very damaging.
Apply with a cloth or in a mist. Wipe or scrape the poop away, repeat the process for heavily soiled areas. Place the poop in a double plastic bag, seal it and safely discard.
These solutions may not remove all the stains from pigeon poop, but it will help clean and disinfect the area. Pigeon poop can cause permanent damage to surfaces if left on long enough especially if it’s baked in by the sun. The best way to avoid damage is to clean it as soon as you notice it.
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird
deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row.
Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca
Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosing / Vancouver Pigeon Control / Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / PIgeon Deterrent / Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest / Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons / What to do about pigeons / sparrows, Damage by Sparrows, How to Keep Raccoons Away, Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests / De-fence / Pigeon Nesting / Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping / woodpecker control / Professional Bird Control Company / Keep The Birds Away / Birds/rats/seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/pidgeon control/flying rats/pigeon problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/bird guard
The veterinary microbiologists at Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries University (KVAFSU) studying the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms from pigeon feces have conducted awareness campaigns to educate people about the harmful effects of pigeon poop on human health.
Dr. KM Chandrashekar, an assistant professor of Veterinary Microbiology at the Veterinary College (Hassan), who is leading the awareness campaign says pigeons carry parasites, ticks, and fleas in their droppings, potentially spreading diseases. Wild birds usually carry more diseases than pet birds because pet birds’ immune systems are better at fighting off pathogens. People who come into contact with pigeon droppings or breathe in dust from dried droppings can get sick from various diseases.
What is pigeon poop?
Pigeon droppings look like small marbles and have a white-brownish appearance. If the droppings are loose and wet, it can be a sign that the bird is stressed or unhealthy.
Birds like Pigeons excrete nitrogenous waste in the form of uric acid instead of urea and ammonia, as they are uricotelic. Since birds do not have a urinary bladder, the uric acid is excreted along with their feces. Pigeon droppings are also related to promoting the growth of fungi. The presence of ammonia causes respiratory problems and irritation.
Research has shown that more than 60 different diseases can spread through pigeon droppings. It can cause fungal diseases like Histoplasmosis, Cryptococcosis, and Candidiasis, bacterial diseaes like Psittacosis, Avian tuberculosis, besides causing bird flu.
When inhaled, they affect the liver and spleen. High fever, pneumonia, blood abnormalities, and influenza are some visible symptoms.
How to avoid?
While cleaning pigeon droppings, it is advisable to use disposable gloves, shoe coverings, and masks with filters that can trap particles as small as 0.3 microns. It is also recommended to moisten the droppings slightly with water to prevent spores from becoming airborne. Once the droppings are cleaned, they should be stored in sealed bags, and the exterior of the bags should be washed before disposing of them in designated areas..
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird
deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row.
Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca
Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosing / Vancouver Pigeon Control / Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / PIgeon Deterrent / Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest / Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons / What to do about pigeons / sparrows, Damage by Sparrows, How to Keep Raccoons Away, Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests / De-fence / Pigeon Nesting / Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping / woodpecker control / Professional Bird Control Company / Keep The Birds Away / Birds/rats/seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/pidgeon control/flying rats/pigeon problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/bird guard
Toronto is set to consider banning the feeding of pigeons across the city.
A motion proposed by Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam seeks to prohibit the feeding of the birds in public and private spaces.
In her motion — which was to be reviewed by city council at a multi-day meeting that began Wednesday — Wong-Tam cited excessive pigeon droppings, social annoyance, property damage and the attraction of rats through discarded food scraps as reasons for the proposed ban.
“Those feeding Toronto’s pigeons may not be conscious of the adverse implications and unintended consequences resulting from their well-intended behaviour,” the motion states.
“Large flocks of birds in public and private spaces create harmful nuisance because they interfere with the enjoyment and use of public and private property.”
Sidewalks, plazas and laneways in Toronto have become “overwhelmingly inundated” with pigeons that continue to be attracted to those spaces because of food scattered by residents, the motion states.
‘Unhealthy and unsanitary conditions’
“In addition to the issues of social annoyance, excessive pigeon droppings from hundreds of birds concentrated in small areas can create unhealthy and unsanitary conditions,” the document adds.
The city already has a bylaw that bans feeding or attempting to feed wildlife in parks but that ban does not apply outside those green spaces. Wong-Tam argued in her motion that the existing bylaw has not been actively enforced.
“The lack of active and ongoing enforcement has rendered scarce green space as unusable. This is especially difficult to accept in densely populated neighbourhoods where such well-maintained and accessible parkland is desperately needed by Toronto families,” Wong-Tam said in the motion.
The motion recommends the municipal licensing and standards executive director report back to council next March on a possible pigeon-feeding ban.
That report would include exploring the feasibility of prohibiting pigeon-feeding in all public and private spaces in the city, and look at what kind of requirements would be needed to begin a “rapid-response investigation and enforcement” to prioritize any 311 complaints about pigeon feeding.
Another point the executive director would have to address, if the motion passes, would be consultations with Toronto Public Health while developing health and safety strategies “to address unsanitary conditions due to excessive amounts of droppings when pigeons are gathered in large numbers.”
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird
deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row.
Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca
Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosing / Vancouver Pigeon Control / Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / PIgeon Deterrent / Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest / Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons / What to do about pigeons / sparrows, Damage by Sparrows, How to Keep Raccoons Away, Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests / De-fence / Pigeon Nesting / Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping / woodpecker control / Professional Bird Control Company / Keep The Birds Away / Birds/rats/seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/pidgeon control/flying rats/pigeon problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/bird guard
