When our customers call us for a job at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, our technicians sometimes find that there is more to the work than meets the eye. 

One such call took Kara Ericson and 3 other Skedaddle wildlife technicians out to a church bell tower in Delavan, Milwaukee that suffered from a bird infestation. 

However, when our team arrived to clean and secure the tower and bell from further damage, they realized that birds were not the only animals inhabiting the area and that the cleanup would require all of their expertise.

Continue reading to follow along with our technicians on a unique wildlife removal job in Milwaukee and learn why hiring professionals is the best way to protect your building.

A Discovery of Pigeons 

Our wildlife removal technicians originally visited the church to remove bats and perform a cleanup of the bird droppings left on the front steps of the building, as they used the front archway to enter.

Once they completed the job, our techs visited the bell tower to discover the bell and the tower floor had a pigeon infestation. The bell and the tower floor were coated in bird droppings, and our technicians had a variety of concerns over this, including:

• Unsanitary conditions 
• The spread of aviary disease 
• Eventual damage to the structure itself 

The technicians notified church officials, who approved further pigeons cleaning measures. Technicians explained that “the safest course of action for all the people who use the building is to remove the birds immediately and clean the mess they left behind”. 

Bird Cleanup Yields Another Animal Presence 

Bird feces carry diseases that can pass to humans, and our wildlife removal team suited up in protective gear that included respiratory masks to protect their lungs from harmful ammonia and any disease carried by birds who live in the tower.

The team worked to scrub and remove all the droppings from the bell and the floor and then decontaminated the bell to prevent further damage. The team also double-bagged the results of the cleanup, including old nesting material left behind by birds in previous nesting seasons.

Near the end of the process, cleaning bird droppings revealed a third animal infestation to our team when they noticed teeth marks and chewing damage, near some vents, which indicated the presence of squirrels in the tower.

Although many business owners can not imagine more than one wildlife infestation on their hands, our technicians often find multiple species of wildlife using a building to nest. Squirrels are intelligent rodents that spend a great deal of time chewing, which can damage wood and aluminum trim and cause electrical issues as well when they chew on wiring.

Once our technicians alerted church officials, they made a plan that would protect the tower and the bell for the future. 

Preserving the Tower 

When squirrels nest, they can do a great deal of damage and even pose a threat to people because they carry and spread diseases such as salmonella and leptospirosis, both of which can transfer to humans and pets.

Attempting to handle live squirrels also presents dangers, as they may bite and claw when people try to remove them and their young. Female squirrels rearing young pups may be particularly aggressive, and even minor bites can result in an infection.

Our experienced technicians took on the final step of preserving and protecting the bell tower from further damage from birds and squirrels by placing protective screening that would not allow either animal to nest there in the future. The screening covered each opening and any entry points that squirrels could not chew through.

This can help to ensure that the animals cannot return and will look elsewhere to make their homes. A final chat with church officials also included some tips about preventing future animal encroachment, such as removing water sources from the property and discouraging churchgoers and visitors from feeding pigeons and squirrels.

Trust Skedaddle to Protect your Building

When you have an animal infestation, more than one species may be using your building because the damage the first species causes may invite others to venture inside, but we at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Milwaukee can help. Our technicians leave no stone unturned during any wildlife removal job.

We understand that while in these hard-to-reach areas of your home it is important to look for any other signs of damage or wildlife. Your assessment and removal process will be through, and any damage or potential future wildlife problems will be explained to you by our helpful technicians. Contact us today for assistance and let us handle your unwanted bird and rodent guests safely.