When you hear the words “pest animal,” birds probably aren’t the first things that pop into your head. However, they can be a real pain in the rear here in San Diego. Songbirds are fine and dandy, but we have several pest species that can damage your home or business. Let’s talk about what they are and how to deal with them.
Common Pest Birds In The San Diego Area
Three of the most common pest birds we have in the San Diego area are gulls, swallows, and pigeons. All three of these species are such a common sight that most people ignore them. Some people even feed them or watch them. However, if they inundate your property, they can cause issues.
Gulls
Seagulls (or just gulls) are notorious for pilfering beachgoers’ picnics. They can also be a big issue for you if you own a home or business. Business owners can especially have a problem with gulls because they’re more likely to own buildings with flat roofs – prime real estate for nesting. Gulls are particularly attracted to the easy pickings offered by restaurants along the coastline. This is unfortunate because gulls spread several diseases through their droppings, including:
Encephalitis
Histoplasmosis
Meningitis
Salmonella
Toxoplasmosis
Swallows
Some swallow species build mud nests, and they love to stick them to the sides of homes and businesses alike. These nests can crowd the overhangs of your buildings, causing an unsightly appearance, and bird droppings can sometimes cause slip and fall accidents (not to mention being gross).
Pigeons
There’s a good reason these birds are often called rats with wings. They transmit many of the same illnesses that gulls do, they scavenge for whatever food they can find, and their droppings aren’t just disease-ridden, but they also speed up the deterioration of buildings because they’re so acidic. They can eat everything from the paint off your car to the tar off your roof, and they can even destroy solar panels.
Bird Prevention Techniques
Home and business owners in the San Diego area can do several things to keep pest birds away from their properties. One of the biggest steps you can take is reducing food sources. Of course, removing bird feeders is one option, but you can also ensure outdoor trash cans and compost piles are covered. If you grow a vegetable or fruit garden, you can cover your produce with nets (just make sure you’re buying quality nets that won’t tangle). Get rid of any standing water around your property as well, so birds cannot bathe or drink.
Try to reduce nesting places. You can do this by trimming trees and bushes away from structures. Install anti-roosting spikes (also called anti-bird spikes, or just bird spikes) on the roof of your commercial property or even your home, if you don’t mind the look of them. If you’re a commercial property owner with customers, discourage them from feeding the birds.
If even all these prevention methods still aren’t getting rid of your bird problem, you don’t have to go it alone. Here at HomeShield Pest Control, pest birds are one of our many specialties! Our bird control services include everything from exclusion to trapping and relocation to cleanup. Not only do we offer full-spectrum bird control, but we also prioritize our customer happiness above everything else. That’s why we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. For a limited time, we’re also offering a $150 discount for initial services, so give us a call at (916) 802-1234 or visit our contact page to schedule your service today!