Pigeon proofing your home

by Alex A. Kecskes

Americans have had a love-hate relationship with pigeons. While our fine-feathered friends carried thousands of messages that saved many hundreds of lives during World Wars I and II, they have also been a real foe for homeowners. The high concentration of uric acid found in pest pigeon droppings can discolor paint, stain wood, erode metal, and even crumble concrete and expensive stonework. Then there’s the health risk of bacteria, fungi and parasites that live and grow in pigeon droppings, which can carry and transmit any of 60 known diseases. The fleas, mites and ticks in wild pigeons can also carry disease. All told, pest pigeon infestations cost homeowners millions of dollars annually.

While some homeowners have resorted to shotguns, poisons and lethal traps to pigeon proof their homes, there are many more humane ways of discouraging these pest birds from making your house their home.

Urban Areas Need Pigeon Control

By Arlene Connelly

Many urban dwellers are unaware that more than 60 human diseases — including avian flu, salmonella, E coli and West Nile virus — are related to pigeons, other pest birds and their droppings. Besides being a public health issue in many cities, they often create a safety hazard for pedestrians, and they carry dangerous parasites and harmful bacteria. Some of these illnesses can even be fatal to humans; they can be contracted through contact with the skin and exposure through inhalation as people go about their daily activities.

Why pest pigeons are especially dangerous

Pigeons are generally considered to be “the number one bird pest” in America today, their numbers are increasing, and their nesting instincts are strong. They usually mate for life, live in communal flocks that travel together, and tend to roost where they can find adequate food and shelter. Along with that, experts in the field now consider pigeons to be a genuine “urban menace,” threatening the quality of life in America’s great cities, including San Francisco, Chicago and New York.