5 Reasons You Should Consider Pigeon Removal Services

Pigeons may seem harmless but when it comes to your home or business, they can cause some serious destruction. Pigeon infestations can be extremely problematic. If you believe you have a pigeon problem, here are five reasons you should consider pigeon removal services.

1. Clogged Vents

When pigeons decide to build a nest and leave droppings on your roof, it can lead to clogged vents. These vents are an essential part of your home, allowing water to flow through drains without creating a vacuum. If a pigeon clogs a drain vent for your toilet or sink, it could lead to a water backup.

2. Fire Hazards

Pigeons can also cause fire hazards with the nests they build. If a pigeon builds a nest too close to a chimney, it could be a fire hazard. Pigeon nests can also make it difficult for your chimney to ventilate smoke out of your home, which can reduce indoor air quality.

3. Diseases

Like many animals, pigeons are known to carry certain diseases. Pigeons nest in their own feces, which means they're prone to mites, parasites, and other diseases that they can pass on to humans. If you want to avoid parasites and diseases, pigeon removal services are a big help.

4. Cleanliness

You want your home or business to look good, but pigeon droppings have the opposite effect. A clean property makes for a more aesthetically pleasing home and drives more customers to your business. If your home or business is covered in pigeon droppings, calling a professional is the best way to put a stop to that problem.

5. Noise

Pigeons aren't the noisiest birds, but they're not exactly quiet when they're nesting on your roof. If you're tired of dealing with the constant noise, pigeon removal services can do the trick. For many home and business owners, noises are the first sign that they have a pigeon problem.

You don't want to let pigeons make a home out of your house or business, and you don't have to with the help of an expert. If you need pigeon removal services to help put a stop to your pigeon problem, call Essential Pest Control today to schedule an inspection.

The Health Risks and Exclusion of Pigeons

Some of the most serious health risks of pigeons are disease organisms that grow in accumulations of droppings, feathers and debris. Not only are pigeon droppings an unsightly mess that can be difficult to remove.

Concerns

The biggest problem pigeons cause is the amount of feces (droppings) they produce. The build-up of pigeon feces on buildings and other structures is visually unappealing and made worse by the fact that pigeon droppings are acidic and erode metal and stonework.

More importantly, pigeon droppings may pose a health hazard to home owners and the general public. Pigeons have been associated with a variety of diseases, including histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis.

Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by a fungus that grows in pigeon droppings. The fungus can also be found in bat droppings or in the soil, and is carried by the wind. When removing droppings, people may breathe in some of the fungus. When exposure is high, the fungus can cause infection.

Symptoms of histoplasmosis begin to appear about 10 days after initial infection and can include fatigue, fever, and chest pains. Most infections have no symptoms or appear as a mild respiratory illness. People with weakened immune systems are generally more at risk of developing histoplasmosis. The disease cannot be transmitted from person to person.

Cryptococcosis is another fungal disease related to pigeon droppings and grows in soils throughout the world. It is very unlikely that healthy people will become infected even at high levels of exposure. A major risk factor for infection is a compromised immune system.

How can I get rid of pigeons?

Physical clean up control

Controlling pigeons permanently is hard because these birds have adapted to stress, and there are many sources of food available in urban areas. The best way to control them is to change their environment:

Never leave food out where pigeons can get it.
Keep garbage containers closed. Dispose of garbage on a regular basis.
Screen off water sources (like rooftop air conditioners) that pigeons might drink from.
Remove roosting niches and seal any crevices, large openings, and entrances in high areas to discourage pigeons.
On flat roofs or ledges, use bristling wires, also known as porcupine wires, or sticky pastes that will discourage pigeons from landing and gathering.

Essential Pest Control Specializes is pigeon exclusion, especially under and around solar panels. The acid in the pigeon feces can destroy the surface and connecting brackets of solar panels. So it is important to keep panels free of pigeons and the mess they create. If you need help with pigeon exclusion or would like a free inspection, give us a call today. 520-886-3029

Pigeons and the Diseases they Carry

Birds like pigeons can be a big messy problem to deal with. There's more than just avian flu to be worried about. Studies suggest that there are over 60 other diseases that birds and their droppings can carry. The problem is more so an issue in residential areas, as many of them are airborne and can be transferred to humans just by being around droppings.

Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is a respiratory disease that may be fatal. It results from a fungus growing in dried bird droppings.
Candidiasis is a yeast or fungus infection spread by pigeons. The disease affects the skin, mouth, respiratory system, the intestines and the urogenital tract. It is a growing problem for women, causing itching, pain and discharge.

Cryptococcosis

Cryptococcosis is caused by yeast found in the intestinal tract of pigeons and starlings. The illness often begins as a pulmonary disease and may later affect the central nervous system. Since attics,

Encephalitis

Encephalitis, an inflammation of the nervous system, usually causes drowsiness, headache and fever. It may even result in paralysis, coma or death. Encephalitis occurs in all age groups, but is especially fatal to persons over age 60. The disease is spread by mosquitoes which have fed on infected birds carrying the Group B virus responsible for encephalitis.

Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis often occurs as "food poisoning" and can be traced to pigeons, starlings and sparrows. The bacteria are found in bird droppings. Dust from droppings can be sucked through ventilators and air conditioners, contaminating food and cooking surfaces in restaurants, homes and food processing plants.

These are jus a few of the diseases that can be spread by birds like pigeons. Luckily, Essential Pest Control provides pigeon removal, exclusion and sanitization services. We also specialize in solar panel bird exclusion. If you have a pigeon problem call for your free inspection and quote today! 520-886-3029