If you live in an area with a lot of trees or other roosting sites, you probably have a healthy population of nesting birds. Birds are good for urban ecosystems, but they can do considerable damage to siding and roofing when allowed into human dwellings. Unfortunately, once a problem has already begun, there is often little you can do to fix it on your own. Here are a few tips for prevention so you don’t have to call bird control in Barrie.

Remove Food Sources

A lot of people don’t realize that they’re attracting unwanted guests to their homes when they leave food accessible. While having bird feeders in your yard can be fun if you’re a bird enthusiast, it can also give animals an extra incentive to set up shop on your property.

Feed and other common food sources aren’t just appealing for birds — raccoons, mice, rats and other creatures find them irresistible. If you think the benefits of having a feeder in your yard outweigh the downsides, make sure to store food safely indoors. Place feed containers in sealed plastic containers and keep them in a garage or shed.

Station Decoys on Your Property

Some birds are incredibly intelligent. Ravens, for example, can distinguish humans by their facial features. Most species, however, have not been gifted with the same impressive sentience. Though simple, decoys can be extremely effective at deterring birds from roosting on your fencing or roofing.

Most decoys are shaped convincingly like owls or hawks, two terrifying enemies of many small bird species. Both creatures can strike fear into flying creatures, but owls are generally considered to be the best deterrents, as seeing one during the day or close to evening can be an alarming sight. Quality models move at random intervals, boosting their effectiveness significantly. Still, you should relocate your decoy at least every two or three days. 

Remove All Roosting Options

If your garden or yard is unmanicured, there are probably plenty of places for birds to roost. This is a problem because roosting creatures grow increasingly comfortable with their surroundings until they decide to stay for good. The best way to prevent this from happening is to carefully trim attractive roosting options until the only places left are exposed and unappealing.

At Skedaddle, we can help to remove debris, nesting material and appealing vegetation. We’ll make sure there aren’t any animals currently residing in an area before sealing or altering it. This is often enough to keep birds away.

Block All Openings On Your Property

Most homeowners have at least a few openings on their property they haven’t tried to seal up. Many bird species can fit into extremely small spaces — just think how small the holes for many birdhouses are. These are easy to overlook, but they make extremely attractive nesting spaces.

When you locate such openings, seal them off with a high-quality sealant, or simply repair them with an appropriate material. If you find that animals are currently occupying an opening in your roof, siding or porch, do not attempt to seal openings anyway. Even if you think birds have flown away for the day, there is still a chance others have remained inside. A trapped animal will struggle desperately before dying in your walls, creating unsanitary conditions.

Contact Humane Bird Removal Services

If you’ve acquired a real infestation and want to know how to keep birds away, it’s time to call a professional removal expert. At Skedaddle, we humanely remove unwanted species to your property, seal entry and exit points and ensure your intruders don’t come back. For experienced service, call Skedaddle today.