Pigeon control is a problem plaguing many homes, businesses, and even entire cities. The property damage caused by pigeons and their droppings, along with the potential for disease that they bring, make pigeon control a true pest removal issue. Despite these reasonable concerns, killing pigeons is not a recommended (nor is it legal in most states) pigeon removal technique.
The exclusion method is a way to achieve pigeon control by making your property seem inhospitable. The process can be labor-intensive and the cost of the various pigeon control products can really add up, but if your property is being repeatedly defiled, the exclusion method may be worth the effort.
The main steps of pigeon exclusion are:
- Trapping the pigeons
- Cleaning the infested areas
- Installing pigeon-proofing devices
How to Trap Pigeons
Before you begin, make sure you have a plan for what to do with the pigeons once they are trapped. Contact your local animal control to see if they have any suggestions for pigeon removal.
- Find a place to put your pigeon trap -- some place that is easy for you to get to and is an attractive location for the birds.
- Leave the trap open with some food inside to entice the pigeons. Do this for a couple of days until the pigeons are comfortable going into the cage.
- Once you have several pigeons feeding inside the trap, close it shut and take the birds to a new location or have a pest control company come and pick them up for you.
- Continue this process until you have achieved the level of pigeon control you desire.
Cleaning Up
This portion of the pigeon control process is truly best left to a professional pest exterminator. Serious health risks arise from disease organisms that can grow in the accumulations of bird droppings, feathers and debris under a roost. Pigeon droppings can contain many fungal and viral diseases, including histoplasmosis, an infectious disease afflicting the lungs. Cleaning up after pigeons and their waste disturbs the soil and dust, sending the fungus airborne. That is why pest removal companies supply their workers with high-grade masks to use when performing pigeon clean-up.
If you only have a small area to clean, like a window sill or deck railing, it is recommended that you wear rubber gloves and use a disinfecting cleaning agent. Rinse the area thoroughly once you are finished and be sure to dispose of the gloves in the trash. Finally, remember to wash your clothes promptly and your hands as well.
Disposing of the pigeon waste and nest debris can be just as hazardous as the removal. In fact, your state or local authorities may even have regulations in place regarding the removal, transportation and disposal of this waste. If you think you have a large clean-up issue, be sure to get the proper help.
Pigeon Control with Pigeon-Proofing
The final stage of the pigeon control process involves preventative measures. This stage can also be done if you would like to prevent pigeons but don’t currently have a pigeon infestation. Installing repellents on ledges, sealing cozy nooks, and covering large openings will take away any roosting or perching opportunities. This is likely the most expensive and timely part of the pigeon removal process, but you can pick and choose which pigeon control products are necessary for your property's need.
Ledges: Bird spikes are metal or plastic spikes that can be installed onto flat surfaces like ledges or other similar areas where birds like to perch. Depending on how much space you need to cover, installing bird spikes could prove to be quite an expensive undertaking, but it will provide you with years of pigeon control. Gels and other tacky repellents are another pest removal device for ledges and perch areas. The gels are applied to the surface to make landing uncomfortable and sticky for the pigeons.
Gutters: Like the bird spikes mentioned above, gutter spikes are made of metal or plastic and make your gutter a very unpleasant place for birds to land. Most brands of gutter spikes easily clip into place.
Large Surfaces: Bird spiders are meant to provide pigeon control to large spaces. The base of the bird spiders attaches to the surface you wish to protect and has thin, long steel arms that swing in the breeze. Great for chimney tops and boats, for example.
Roosting Areas: Special netting, manufactured from knotted polyethylene twine, is flame resistant, very strong, and virtually invisible. It can be used to cover small areas where pigeons like to roost, or larger areas like church steeples, breezeways or attics. Copper mesh is another option for roosting areas. This flexible mesh can be used to cover or stuff holes, so that birds cannot climb inside to nest.
Large Open Spaces: There are electronic pest control devices on the market that claim to provide large scale pest removal through the use of sound. Some of the electronic pest control devices emit the sounds a predator would make, along with distress calls from other birds in order to frighten the pigeons from the area. Such a product could be useful for tennis courts, pools or gazebos. Also available for large-scale pigeon control are visual deterrents. Life-sized statutes of predators are one example of a visual deterrent, but the success rate of these pest removal products is unknown.