Pest control
capable of tearing off flimsy plastic vent covers. Once inside a roof space, they can do enormous damage to structural timbers and are best dealt with outside the breeding season, which is January to June.
Main pest species Feral Pigeons – or ‘flying rats’ – carry diseases including E-Coli, Salmonella, Psittacosis, and Ornithosis or Bird Flu; and nearly all pigeons carry bird mites – a tiny spider-like creature that feeds off the bird but can move off the bird on to nesting material and then onto humans, where the effect will be to make us itch and scratch. Pigeon fouling and nesting materials also 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 care home residents who may be susceptible to asthma and other breathing difficulties. Pigeon fouling can also create slip hazards and badly contaminate fire escapes and walkways. Feral pigeons have adapted incredibly
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. With winter on the way, now is the time to
make sure your property is protected from pigeons and other nesting birds. As the days get shorter, birds will start to look for places to settle such as outside ledges and exposed pipework. Their droppings will then collect on the floor below causing an unsightly, dangerously slippery mess. A survey should take place to identify
the species of bird and the problems they are causing. Usually, specialist surveyors
straining wires and fixings are usually made of stainless or galvanised steel. Nets can be installed almost anywhere,
providing a safe means of access can be established. This may require the use of cherry pickers or abseilers for awkward high locations. It is vital that netting is properly and
will attend your property, discuss the problem, and recommend how to deal with it. There are many techniques available to professional pest controllers. These include:
Natural bird control Expert bird handlers use Harris Hawks to unsettle nesting birds such as pigeons and gulls. Predator birds can be used in a wide variety of environments including care homes. Regular visits will result in the pest birds finding alternative nesting sites. This is a prime example of effective ‘green’ pest control in action.
Netting Different sized mesh is used, depending on the type of bird. Nets should be ultraviolet (UV) treated and made from polypropylene by specialist manufacturers. Nets can be flame-proof and you should be offered a minimum guarantee of two years. All
professionally maintained as part of your care home’s pest prevention contract. Checking the condition of netting and other bird proofing and bird-repellent measures should be carried out before the nesting season starts or after it has finished, and any damage found repaired as part of an ongoing maintenance contract. This will eliminate the likelihood of accidental entrapment of birds inside damaged netting which could lead to animal welfare issues. There is also the risk that a gap in the netting going unnoticed leads to a pair of pigeons getting through and then on to a roof space. This could lead to other birds moving in and breeding. In no time at all, you can have a whole new costly set of issues with fouling, insects, and smell.
Bird free gel This is an innovative approach that uses a special compound to reflect UV light. It gives a visual appearance to birds of looking like flames and will keep pest birds off structures without harming them. Rather than acting as a barrier like netting or spikes, the gel alters birds’ behaviour. Birds will completely desert a habitat, even one they have been using for years, once the gel has been applied.
The product is applied in 8mm high
dishes which are placed behind the leading edge of a parapet or ledge. This makes the dishes invisible from ground level making them ideal for use on listed buildings, although the area treated must be thoroughly cleaned before fitting.
Bird spikes Stainless steel wire with anti-perch spikes should be used and fixed to a base that has been UV-treated. Over time, less expensive plastic spikes deteriorate with exposure to UV and sunlight becoming brittle and eventually breaking. Spikes are fixed into place with a suitable adhesive which will vary depending on the surface. Problem areas which may suit the fitting of bird spikes include window ledges, fire escapes, waste pipes, gutters, roof ridges, chimney stacks and pots.
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www.thecarehomeenvironment.com November 2025
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