THE FACILITIES SHOW 2023
DON’T FALL FOUL OF THE LAW
Cleankill offers advice on how to deal with problem birds that are causing a nuisance around your premises.
Of all the pests that are a public health and safety hazard, birds are one of the most complex to deal with. Not only because there are strict laws surrounding their control and removal, but their guano presents a real health risk to pest control operatives and the general public.
There are two main pieces of legislation surrounding the control of pest birds that facilities managers need to be aware of:
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 – Protects all species of wild birds, although exemptions do exist for certain pest species under strict General Licence conditions. Prohibitions include taking, injuring, killing and disturbing. You must always be able to show that full consideration has been given to “moving pest birds on” before resorting to removal or killing. It is important to note that there are no pesticides or “poisons” approved for bird control due to the very high risk to non-target species and the environment.
Animal Welfare Act 2006 – Animals caught in traps must be treated humanely i.e. food, water and shelter made available, and should be inspected at least once per day. Any non-pest species must be released, and any pest species despatched humanely in accordance with conditions set out in the General Licence. Traps must be large enough to allow birds to move about and stretch out their wings and rendered incapable of trapping birds when not in use.
Cleankill Pest Control’s main focus is on feral pigeons as these are the birds that cause the most problems in the UK. For other species, particularly during the breeding season, the client needs to apply for special licences. Outside the breeding season however there are a range of measures that can be put in place by Cleankill to stop the birds returning.
Feral Pigeons, or ‘flying rats’, carry diseases including E-Coli, Salmonella, Psittacosis, and Ornithosis or Bird Flu; and nearly all pigeons carry bird mites. Bird mites are tiny spider-like creatures that feed off the bird but can move
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off the bird on to nesting material and then on to humans where the effect will be to make us itch and scratch.
Pigeon fouling and nesting materials provide a home for many other insects such as flies, clothes moths larvae, carpet beetle larvae and mealworm beetles. When the pigeon fouling is dry it creates airborne bacteria affecting anybody but especially those that may be susceptible to asthma and other breathing difficulties. Pigeon fouling can also create slip hazards and contaminate fire escapes and walkways.
Feral pigeons have adapted well to urban environments and will now regularly have four or five broods a year. This has led to a massive increase in the urban pigeon population which has been exacerbated by people feeding them and attracting them into town squares where they are fouling on pavements and buildings.
A specialist survey should take place to identify the species of bird and the problems they are causing. There are many techniques available to professional pest controllers. These include: natural bird control using Harris Hawks, netting, Bird Free Gel, bird spikes, chimney cages, post and wire systems, bioacoustics, electronic bird deterrent systems and ‘managing out’ (Egg and Nest Removal).
Cleankill’s staff are highly trained and offer an exceptionally fast and efficient level of service. The company holds ISO9001, ISO14001 and Altius Elite Vendor accreditations.
Cleankill is also fully accredited to the Safecontractor, Constructionline and Achilles Health and Safety schemes and aims to be recognised as a market leader for innovation and new pest control techniques.
You can visit Cleankill at the Facilities Show on stand FM.4036. For expert advice and a free survey call 020 8668 5477.
www.cleankill.co.uk twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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