Birds are complex creatures. Some species are smart, beautiful, and perfectly docile. Some species… aren’t. Alfred Hitchcock didn’t make millions off of a movie about bird attacks for no reason, after all. When it comes to keeping problem birds away from your commercial property, there’s nothing more helpful than bird control. 

But what is bird control? Is it really possible to keep birds away from your business? How would you do that? Why would you do that? Here’s everything you need to know about commercial bird control and why it might be right for you:

What is bird control?

Bird control is a catch-all term for any methods, products, or techniques used to deter pest birds. The intention of these methods or devices is to keep birds from landing, roosting, or nesting in specific places. 

Why is bird control important?

Bird control is necessary because pest birds can be significant health hazards. The feces of common pest bird species like pigeons, starlings, and sparrows can cause histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and psittacosis. All three of these cause infections that can be quite severe, affecting your lungs, the nervous system, liver, endocrine system, and more. This isn’t the only reason bird control is important, however.

Pest birds are unpleasant and bothersome. If you run a retail establishment, the loud, disruptive presence of birds can lead to lost sales. Their waste isn’t just harmful to human health, either; it’s also highly acidic and can damage property. Over time, excessive bird waste can wear away paint, dull metal, varnish, and wood. Plus: it’s gross.

Which bird control methods work best?

There are three main ways you can implement bird control. These methods can work together to increase the likelihood of birds leaving your business alone. They include:

• Exclusion. Exclusion efforts including that directly prevents birds from accessing the spaces where you don’t want them. Bird netting is the most common exclusion product. It’s permanent, low visibility, and affordable. It’s a good solution for businesses that aren’t worried about its appearance. It’s ideal for warehouses, manufacturing plants, hangars, or farms. 
• Perch removal. If a bird can’t land on your building, it’s far less likely to damage it. These deprivation products are very straight-forward and include devices like spikes, traps, wires, and other physical items that make landing impossible.
• Behavioral adjustment. Behavioral adjustment products are designed to train birds not to land on your property by punishing them if they do. Most behavioral adjustment products use low-voltage electrical shocks. Bird control experts place low-profile electric tracks in strategic areas around your building. These tracks give birds a mild jolt if they land nearby. Proper behavioral adjustment equipment won’t seriously hurt birds, but it will train them to avoid the area. Behavioral adjustment equipment takes up less space and looks less obvious than most exclusion equipment, which tends to make it ideal for businesses that need their storefront to look good.

How do I determine which type of bird control will work for my business?

The first thing you’ll have to do is determine what your main pain point is when it comes to pest birds. Other factors will include the area where your business is and the types of birds you most commonly face. The best way to determine which type of bird control will work for your business is by talking to experts. Having a pest control pro come to your property to diagnose your problem and how to best address it will be both efficient and economical.

Birds are great when they’re not bothering your business. They sing, fly, and lay cute eggs. When they are bothering your business, however, that cuteness quickly devolves into gross frustration. If you need help keeping birds away from your commercial property, get in touch with the team at Assured Environments. Our pest control experts will help connect you with the ideal bird control solutions for your particular needs in no time.