Your attic makes an ideal habitat for many unwanted animals including rodents and birds. While any infestation should be dealt with, birds can pose a significant nuisance as they can contaminate your attic not only with noise but bacteria and parasites as well. Nesting birds in your attic can even cause damage to your property as they scavenge for items to build a nest. Still, the most serious risk of birds in your attic is associated with their droppings as they harbour parasites, bacteria, moulds, and even viruses that are harmful to humans.
The three most common birds that nest in attics are Pigeons, Starlings and English Sparrows; woodpeckers are a distant fourth. The damage done by woodpeckers can be considerable. Pigeons, starlings and sparrows will use existing openings to gain entry while woodpeckers will create their own opening through wood. Pigeons can also be a nuisance nesting or roosting on the roof. They will nest What Home Remedy Will Kill Bed Bugs? in protected areas where roof pitches meet or where one roof overhangs another. Building by the water can also have gulls nesting on their roofs. Gulls are protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act. This means that a federal permit is required to remove nests and eggs. Gulls will aggressively defend their nests so be careful if you need to go onto a roof that gulls are nesting on.
Once a bird has moved it, it can be very difficult to get rid of them. While professional pest control experts know how to get rid of birds in the attic, you may not have as much success. Usually birds must be evicted from the attic and all of their entry points sealed. Obviously, prevention is one of the best strategies. Any breaks or holes in your soffit, eaves, and duct-work can provide an entry point for nuisance birds. By securing the perimeter of your attic with plywood or wire mesh, you can avoid the problem of birds in your attic. However, if you are already experiencing an infestation, there are a few ways you can work to get rid of them.
There are many devices available to help scare birds out of an attic space. There are ultrasonic devices, strobe lights and noise makers. The cheapest and most effective method however is to go into the attic and chase them out yourself. Remember to seal up their What Do Clothes Moths Look Like entry points or they will return as soon as you leave. Pest control experts can easily take care of this and even clean up the nesting material, droppings and ensure that your home is free of the bacteria, parasites and other pathogens associated with birds.
If birds are roosting on the exterior of your home there are other exclusion devices available such as bird spikes, shock strips, repellents, netting and wire mesh. Bird droppings can be unsightly and birds wake up early in the morning and can disturb sleep. A professional can assess your particular situation and recommend the best solution.