| Each year pest birds such as pigeons, seagulls and | | | | wet material should be collected in heavy-duty |
| crows cause thousands in damage and clean up | | | | plastic bags or another type of secure container |
| costs to building owners, homeowners and | | | | and discarded with the regular trash. |
| government agencies. Pest bird droppings can | | | | Once the structures are cleaned they may also |
| carry over 60 transmittable diseases. Several of | | | | be disinfected. You can use a simple solution of |
| these diseases have been known to be | | | | ammonia or bleach and water and apply to the |
| transmitted to humans and other animals. Even | | | | surface to disinfect and remove the odor |
| though these diseases pose minor public health | | | | associated with pest bird droppings. |
| threats, they can be further minimized if safety | | | | The key to reducing the risk of disease from bird |
| measures are taken. Wearing protective clothing | | | | droppings is to create an environment that |
| like disposable coveralls, boots, gloves, and | | | | excludes them from affected areas: |
| respirators should be used for protection. | | | | 1) Eliminate Food Sourcesa. Clean |
| If a high-powered water hose is used to strip off | | | | up trash bins and garbage areasb. |
| dried bird droppings dust control measures such | | | | Discourage people from feeding birdsc. |
| as containing the area with plastic sheeting, should | | | | Pick up trash and food scraps in outdoor eating |
| be taken. Wetting down the work area will | | | | areas |
| prevent inhalation, reduce the risk of infection and | | | | 2) Eliminate Nesting / Roosting |
| will also prevent the spread of dust outside the | | | | Areasa. Use some sort of physical |
| work area. Those with a compromised immune | | | | deterrent to keep birds from landing and roosting |
| system such as people living with HIV/AIDS or | | | | on flat surfaces; sound deterrents to scare pest |
| cancer patients should not be directly involved in | | | | birds from outdoor areas or visual deterrents to |
| the removal of the droppings. Always wash hands | | | | keep them out of gardens and vineyards. |
| and any exposed skin before eating or drinking | | | | 3) Call For Help!a. Contact a local |
| and when finished with work. | | | | pest control or animal control company and have |
| Several alternatives to using a high-powered | | | | them install a bird control system. |
| water hose exist. One such alternative includes | | | | |
| soaking the droppings with water and then | | | | It is important to keep buildings and other areas |
| shoveling it into a disposable container. | | | | that people inhabit free of pest birds and their |
| Workers should never clean DRY bird | | | | debris. Installing a bird control system will save |
| droppings from surfaces as the dust might be | | | | time and money spent on clean up of bird |
| inhaled and transmit disease to the worker. The | | | | droppings and damage made by the birds. |