How to Protect Your Storefront From Bird Waste

As a business owner, you’ve probably spent a lot of time and money to develop a brand identity for your business and have invested in outdoor signs to communicate that identity to your clients, advertise your business and attract customers. When birds come along and leave their repulsive droppings trailing down your storefront or on your outdoor signs, your reputation as a business can suffer.

Bird pests usually gather and settle on your signage, canopies, parapet walls, or awnings, and when they do, they can cause significant defacement and damage to your business. Nesting debris and unsightly bird droppings on your storefront can not only turn away customers but can also block your drainage system, damage your ventilation system and roof, potentially ignite a fire, corrode paint, signage, and outdoor furniture and lead to costly repairs and cleanups. Bird droppings can also be a safety hazard to your employees and clients as they can be slippery and can carry diseases like histoplasmosis and salmonella.

How can you keep bird pests away?

It’s essential to employ bird pest control strategies as soon as the birds start perching. The following are things you can do to prevent bird infestation on your premises.

1. Eliminate food sources

Just like other pests, birds make homes nearby food sources. So if you reduce food availability, you will naturally keep bird pests at bay.

Identifying the types of birds that are plaguing your business will give you more insight into what food sources you need to eliminate. While some birds feed on plant material such as fruits and grains, others feed on insects, like mosquitos, grasshoppers, or worms, while other birds of prey are attracted to places with poultry or small animals like rats and squirrels.

• If the birds are attracted to fruit trees and berry bushes, you can install bird nettings to prevent access
• If they are attracted to insects, you can use environmental-friendly insecticides to get rid of the insects
• If they are hunting rats that rummage your trash, ensure your dumpster lids are closed, remove trash frequently, immediately remove spilled food, and routinely clean trash receptacles to limit rodent activity

2. Use bird spikes

Bird spikes are long needle-like blunt rods that are used for bird control. They can be attached to signs, window sills, or overhangs. Bird spikes make it uncomfortable for birds to perch on signs or ledges. If a bird isn’t comfortable, it won’t build a nest on your premises.

3. Try control gels

Control gels are waterproof, odourless, and almost colourless substances that deter birds from nesting or perching. They are typically used on horizontal surfaces, like signs, and need to be replaced once every six months.

4. Add wire barriers

Wire barriers are placed on long, uninterrupted ledges to create an unstable surface, preventing birds from landing. This method is used together with gel applications.

5. Use false predators

Birds have many predators, including larger birds of prey. Placing objects in the shape of these predators around areas the bird pests frequent can prevent them from nesting there. These predatory decoys can be made from any material that can withstand outdoor weather.

Look for decoys with shiny pieces and movable parts that make them look more realistic.

6. Prevent bird feeding

Bird feeding is a pastime that many people enjoy. The closer to your store birds are fed, the more likely they will come back and become a problem. Use signs to ask both customers and employees not to feed birds on your premises and educate them on why it can be problematic for the business.

7. Talk to a bird pest control professional

If you employ all the above methods and still have a bird problem at your store, consult a pest control professional about humane deterrents and exclusions.

Are you looking for bird proofing services?

At Pest Detective, our trained professionals offer bird proofing services that help to correctly identify and manage bird species while adhering to all provincial and municipal regulations.

Consult us today to get started with bird control.