Most people do not consider birds to be annoying or threatening. They enjoy their bright colours and pretty songs and put up birdfeeders to actively coax them onto their property. However, birds and humans coexist more successfully when there is a healthy amount of distance between the two species. Birds can make real nuisances of themselves when they encroach on human habitations. The trouble can escalate to the point that bird control in Whitby is necessary. Birds can cause extensive property damage in ways you may never have thought of.

1. Pecking at Shingles or Siding

When birds are looking for nesting locations and materials, they may decide on your eaves as the ideal location. Once they have decided to take up residence, they may start pecking on siding or shingles. This could lead to leaking and water damage. The woodpecker may be the most destructive in this regard because of the rate at which it can cause damage, but sparrows, starlings, and pigeons can cause the same types of damage at a slower rate.

2. Building Nests in Gutters or Vents

Birds may build nests in the vents on your roof or in the gutters along your eaves. This can prevent these structures from working the way they’re supposed to. A nest in the roof vent may prevent the release of gases from your home or contaminate the air supply inside. If a nest is blocking the gutter, it can cause water to leak under your shingles and potentially damage the gutter itself.

3. Contaminating Attic Insulation

Sometimes birds are not content to make their nests outside. Some actually make their way into your attic. When this occurs, they may contaminate the insulation with their excrement. There is no cleaning or sanitizing the insulation once it has been befouled; the only option is to replace it. Bird waste often contains pathogens that can infect humans, such as E. coli, salmonella, or histoplasmosis. Birds can also carry parasites such as fleas, mites, and ticks. Once these pests are in your home, they may seek out new hosts. The bites of these parasites can be irritating and expose you to other diseases.

In addition to contaminating the insulation, the birds could also rip it apart. Birds like to gather soft materials from which to line their nests. In either case, the insulation is no longer effective at helping to control your home’s temperature and prevent heat loss.

4. Damaging Materials

In addition to pathogens, bird waste contains other toxic chemicals that can negatively affect certain materials on your property. It can corrode concrete and certain metals, strip away paint on your house or car, and damage the finish or varnish on wood products. Over time, it can even undermine the structural integrity of your wood deck or your roof. Even staining of outdoor surfaces from bird waste can affect the property value of your home.

5. Creating Slippery Surfaces

In the long term, bird waste can corrode outdoor surfaces. However, it can also cause damage in the short term if enough of it is allowed to accumulate on walkways, porches, and decks. Large amounts of bird waste can cause these surfaces to become slippery, increasing the risk for a fall. If you slip and fall on a surface befouled by birds, you could become seriously injured. If someone else falls and sustains an injury, you could be liable for damages.

Call Skedaddle for Bird Control Whitby

In many cases, birds and humans get along very well. It is usually only when the birds build a nest where they don’t belong that problems arise. If bird encroachment has the potential to damage your property, contact Skedaddle for effective and humane wildlife exclusion.