Bird Control

Decontamination

Once the bird problem has been solved, then the infected spaces must be properly cleaned. This involves the removal of droppings, feathers, roosting materials, and other wastes. The areas must then be decontaminated to destroy all organic matter.

At Wildlife X Team Oklahoma City, we can help you develop an effective bird control strategy that will eliminate your bird problem once and for all. If you live in the Oklahoma City area, contact us today!

Damages Birds Can Cause in Your Attic

Of all of the nuisance wildlife that could get into your attic, birds are not that bad, right? Wrong! As it turns out birds can actually be very destructive, and they can potentially cause serious damage when they get into your attic. It is very important to remove the birds as soon as possible. Continue reading to learn more about the damages birds can cause in your attic.

Insulation Damage

One of the seemingly harmless, yet highly destructive problems that birds cause is insulation damage. When birds begin making nests once they are in your attic, they will often use a lot of insulation. In addition, the droppings the birds leave everywhere can also begin to ruin your insulation’s insulative properties. Since insulation is vital to homes, this damage that birds cause can be costing you large sums of money in increased energy bills in the long run. Not to mention, the droppings the birds leave everywhere will stain the insulation and make it smell, potentially spreading bad odors around your home.

Corrosion

One serious problem that birds cause while in attics is the potential for rapid corrosion. Bird droppings are highly corrosive, and while this does not seem like that big of a problem in some homes, in others it really can be. Since this corrosive material will cause the metal to rust and corrode at a rapid pace, it can eventually cause a serious weakening of the structural strength of metals. At best, this could just mean a piece of non-load-bearing metal eventually gives away. At worst, a portion of the roof of a home or building could collapse, costing a lot of money to repair, and possibly even harming people. Corrosion is especially serious in commercial buildings or in any public works, as these have the potential to harm dozens of people at once, with no advance warning at all. 

Fire Hazard

While birds live in attics, they can even cause the potential for fire hazards to occur. Oftentimes, birds will set their nest up in the warmest place they can find. Often, this will be very close to the nearest HVAC duct or vent. This might not seem like a big deal, but nests are highly flammable. If the HVAC system heats up a lot for some reason, it could ignite a more flammable material in the nest. This could cause a fire in the attic which would lead to a whole home or building burning to the ground. The fire hazards of birds are pretty severe in many circumstances, so it pays to take care of bird problems.

Woodpeckers

While woodpeckers are unique creatures, this also causes them to be highly destructive, as far as bird species go. Woodpeckers are often found ramming their beak into wooden structures in search of food, or sometimes, even shelter. This carving of holes might not seem like a big deal, but it can be very serious. First off, the carving of holes can weaken wooden structures, which is especially serious if they are load-bearing. Once there are holes in the wood, the smallest amount of moisture could cause them to begin rotting, which could eventually lead to a total collapse of the entire wooden structure. This is a serious reason, and it should be dealt with by removing the birds as soon as possible. 

Why hire Wildlife X Team Oklahoma City?

Here at Wildlife X Team Oklahoma City, we have years of experience in dealing with bird problems in attics, as well as bird problems virtually anywhere. Whether you need someone to perform wildlife removal services, or you are looking for decontamination, wildlife exclusion, or animal damage repairs, we have you covered. If you have a nuisance wildlife problem of any kind, be sure to give us a call at Wildlife X Team Oklahoma City today, as we would love to help you out!

How to Keep Pigeons Out Of The Roof

In the wild, birds are known for perching in high places like treetops. Bird species like pigeons have also learned to take advantage of high man-made structures like rooftops to roost and even nest. 

But having pigeons on the roof is highly undesirable for several reasons. First off, they leave an ungodly amount of waste. And that’s just the beginning. Their droppings contain uric acid, which is highly acidic, accelerating the corrosion and damage of roof materials. 

What’s more, pigeons also pose several health risks – from E Coli to histoplasmosis to salmonellosis. Histoplasmosis, in particular, is caused by a fungus found in pigeon dropping, and it can result in respiratory complications in humans when inhaled. 

As a world-class removal company, Wildlife X Team Oklahoma City also specializes in effective bird control. In this post, we explore some of the best ways to keep pigeons out of the roof. 

• Install scare-pigeons

Decoys of birds of prey (like hawks and owls) and lightweight kites have been shown to deter pigeons from nesting on the roof. Understandably, no pigeon will dare roost in a predator territory (unless it has a death wish). 

But the issue with this strategy is that with time, pigeons might figure out that it’s only a decoy with no real threat. To prevent acclimatization, you must change the position of the decoy from time to time. 

• Use reflection surfaces

Birds like pigeons rely on a clear line of sight to sustain orientation. Now, when the sun hits a reflective object, it creates a prism that interferes with the pigeon’s eyes. This forces them to change direction. 

You too can take advantage of this weakness. Install reflective surfaces like mirrors, aluminum foil, reflective tapes, or even old CDs, in areas around your roof. This disorients the pigeons and keeps them at bay. 

• Install a chimney cap

Pigeons sometimes take up residence in the chimney because of the warmth of the fireplace. Installing a chimney cap will make your chimney inaccessible to these nuisance birds. 

• Install bird spikes

Pigeons also love to roost on ledges of the roof. To prevent that from happening, install bird spikes. Bird spikes are usually made from metal or plastic, and their sharp tips make them very uncomfortable to land. This, in turn, prevents pigeons from perching or nesting in areas where these spikes are installed. 

• Apply bid gels

Bid gels are effective bird repellents. It works by using a translucent and sticky chemical to cover areas frequented by birds. Once a bird lands on it, its feet get stuck. It then has to struggle before it’s able to break free. To prevent a similar experience in the future, the bird learns never to land on that surface again. 

• Bird netting

Bird netting can be used to seal off spaces above barn rafters, as well as other potential roosting spots. 

• Apply repellents

Some homeowners have found mild success with natural repellents in getting rid of pigeons. Pigeons dislike the scent of spices like pepper and cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and chili powder. Hence, applying them in pigeon-infested areas can help drive them away. 

However, the main drawback is that repellents on the roof wear off easily, especially when rain washes it or wind sweeps it away. Hence, they need to be constantly reapplied to be effective. 

• Remove attractants

If there are other attractants in your yard, pigeons will roost on your roof to remain in proximity to these attractants. Examples of such attractants include bird seeds and a ripe garden, among many others. That’s why you need to remove them.

Wrap Up

Do you constantly have to deal with nuisance pigeons roosting on your roof? Wildlife X Team Oklahoma City can help you with effective bird control that will keep pigeons off for good.