Birds Aren't Just Annoying. They're Destructive Too!

Many birds escaped the mass extinction 65 million years ago that wiped out most dinosaurs, and they evolved into the creatures they are today. Nowadays, they are a lot smaller, and thankfully, they have beaks now, instead of a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth. You may not be on their menu, but one thing has not changed that much—they can still be an incredible nuisance.

You might not necessarily think about birds being defined as pests—until it is your home or business being targeted. When you find yourself dealing with nesting birds in your chimney, holes in your siding, or a flock of geese that have taken up residence in your yard, then your perspective of these annoying creatures will undoubtedly change.

The truth is birds cause a great deal of destruction. They damage roofs, siding, foundations, and more. They get into chimneys, creating dangerous fire hazards. Nesting materials, feathers, and related debris clog up vents, pipes, and gutters, often preventing them from properly draining and causing them to burst and detach from the building in winter when they freeze up. Birds also destroy lawns, gardens, and surrounding vegetation. It is estimated that birds cause up to one hundred and fifty million dollars in damage annually, and that is not including remediation of damage and preventative measure.

Birds can also make us very sick. Illnesses caused by birds are common, and most people don’t realize how easy it is to expose yourself to contamination. Studies show that birds carry over 60 different diseases and parasites, including Salmonellosis, E. Coli, St. Louis Encephalitis, Histoplasmosis, mites, lice, and many more. Even touching a single, stray feather can be just as perilous as touching bird droppings or handling a dead bird. Experts advise that you do not want birds nesting near your home. Droppings also contain uric acid which becomes corrosive and can eat through most building materials.

There are about 480 species of birds common to New Jersey. Many of them cause problems, but the species that are most often considered to be a nuisance in the area are pigeons, starlings, woodpeckers, Canadian geese, seagulls, and sparrows.

Pigeons are probably the worst on this list—they are the number one urban pest in the country and a world-wide nuisance. Their droppings are so unsanitary that they can even be lethal. Starlings like to nest in building crevices, chimneys, and vents and are particularly known to carry parasites. Woodpeckers are drillers and will do more than make holes in trees—they will drill into the wooden structures of your home. Canadian geese often no longer bother to migrate, so if you have a water source nearby, they may attempt to take over your yard space completely and will even chase you off. Seagulls are especially problematic in coastal areas and are well known to be aggressive in their pursuit of food. Sparrows target small spaces and will make a mess of eaves, crawlspaces, and vents. If you are experiencing a bird problem or have noticed nesting around your home or business, the question of what to do about it can be a complicated issue. 

Many bird species are protected by law, and those laws can be hard to interpret and navigate. Mishandling a protected species can result in unwelcome penalties. Furthermore, merely eliminating a bird presence can be physically challenging and even dangerous. Your best bet is to contact a professional pest control company to deal with it.

In New Jersey, the leading pest control specialist when it comes to dealing with nuisance birds is Elite Pest Control. We have been dealing with bird issues for over a decade, and we have the training and experience to take care of your bird problem humanely, swiftly, and effectively. We can put a long-term solution in place to protect your home and family from nuisance birds well into the future. So please don’t hesitate—give Elite Pest Control a call today.