Birds Don't Fly Solo: A Look At The Pests Birds Can Bring With Them
For business and commercial properties owners dealing with the damage done by birds, it can seem fairly contained at first. On first glance, it may seem as though they only damage is on the surface, from stealing food to leaving not-so-pleasant droppings under or around their nest. But what many may not realize is that birds can bring along a whole host of other pests, from insects to diseases - and that can do damage before you even realize the source.
Keeping birds away from your business does more than simply keep feathered flyers away from your customers; diseases and pests carried by birds can have more severe and far-reaching consequences. It’s in a business’s best interests to understand that birds are kept away to prevent these risks - otherwise, the problems can end up being much more dire than you may ever have predicted.
Here’s a look at some of the nastier passengers that might catch a flight on a bird and into your business. Know what you may be up against and keep your business bird-free, for your customers’ sake.
Pests Make For Inconspicuous Passengers
Some of the most damaging pests that birds can bring with them may go entirely unseen before making their move and harming your customers. That’s because birds make for an excellent host for a wide number of parasites and insects, from common pests like ticks, fleas and lice to more malevolent actors like bed bugs and meal worms. Birds end up actually doing the hard work for these pests, transporting them miles around and aiding in the pests’ proliferation.
For farmers, gardeners, and growers, the pests brought by birds can be even more dangerous - especially if those pests have a taste for crops. Chicken mites, for example, can be transferred from common wild birds like pigeons and starlings, only to infect and disrupt domestic chickens once the mites are passed. This can damage a farmer’s profits and have a damaging impact on livestock, and since wild birds may be to blame it’s best to keep birds away from your business when they aren’t doing much good.
Diseases Do Unseen Damage
Insects can be persistent pests. Whether it’s bed bugs, fleas, or ticks, these parasites and pests can thrive when carried by an unsuspecting wild bird. But when it comes to doing real damage to your business, your customers, and your reputation, the real danger from birds may just be disease.
Perhaps one of the best known bird-based epidemics is Avian Influenza, also known as the “Bird Flu.” This dangerous illness is carried by birds, who can then pass it along to other animals via their droppings. In humans, Avian Influenza can be deadly, causing a noticeably more dramatic reaction than the average flu. “Bird Flu” is just one of dozens of other diseases a bird can transport - including E. coli and West Nile Virus - that can be dangerous for humans. Since it can be nearly impossible to know which birds are infected and which aren’t business owners should simply keep all wild birds safely out of the reach of customers.
Nests Are Great For More Than Just Chicks
Stumble on a bird’s nest high in some tree or hidden in an alcove and you’re likely to find eggs. Baby birds are a nest’s prime residents - that’s where they sleep, eat, and spend essentially 100 percent of their lives until the day they learn to fly. That may offer these baby birds protection from predators, but it also makes for an easy feeding spot for nest-based pests, and these can do more damage to your business than you might imagine.
That’s because nests also make for an ideal shelter for pests including beetles that feed on the baby birds’ droppings and feathers and moths that find shelter to lay eggs in the nest materials. These pests can hide out under the relative safety of the undisturbed chicks, ready to multiple and spread out on their own once the babies leave the nest. This is an easy way for bird-based pests to spread, so be sure to watch for nests near your business.
If you’re struggling to keep birds away from your business, or if you’re looking to head off pests and disease before they have a chance to get settled, our pest experts at JP Pest Services can guide you to the right solution. With a full on-site examination and a comprehensive pest-control plan, JP Pest can keep birds away from your customers and out of your hair so you can get back to serving your customers. Get in touch and let us get started on your bird control plans before it becomes a disaster.
