Birds are a beautiful part of nature. Graceful in the air, their colors range from muted to vibrant and their melodies captivate anyone who is listening. While bird watchers and outdoor enthusiasts alike find pleasure in their antics, where they choose to dwell can be problematic.
When birds make their nests in inconvenient spots on your property, it can lead to significant issues.
Birds are creatures of opportunity, creating their homes in any location that is convenient for them, such as chimneys, attics, gutters, garages, and shed rafters. Their resourcefulness allows them to find the perfect nesting spot, but their perfect spot may not be perfect for you.
In this blog post, we will go through some of the hazards that bird nests can cause to your home, how to identify their location, and when you should rely on wildlife removal services to safely eliminate them.
Risks Posed by Bird Nests
Birds are generally harmless – they don’t swoop at passersby unless they get too close to nests and they don’t bite. However, even though it may not be intentional, birds can still cause harm, such as:
Health Risks – Bird droppings and feathers often carry disease, which can pose hazardous to homeowners and pets.
Nesting Parasites – When gathering supplies for their nests, birds pay little attention to any critters they may inadvertently bring with them, like fleas, mites, and ticks. If the nest is built in your attic or garage rafters, these little parasites can make their way into your home.
Structural Damage – Nests are quite dense, and when they are built in significant locations, they can cause damage to the integrity of your home. Nests in gutters and downspouts create clogs that can lead to water damage and nesting materials in chimneys or near electrical wiring are fire hazards as these materials are typically flammable.
Noise and Odor – Birds are not quiet or clean creatures. They create a significant amount of racket as well as unpleasant smells during nesting season.
While birds on your property may seem majestic, it is important to pay attention to the location of the nests to ensure they don’t cause any harm to your property and to ensure you and your loved ones do not contract any diseases.
Luckily, identifying where birds are nesting is a fairly easy endeavor. The obvious signs are physically seeing the nest as many are not well concealed as well as noticing an accumulation of droppings around specific areas, like windowsills and roofs.
You can also identify nests if you pay attention to bird behavior. If you notice noises like chirping or scratching or if you notice frequent bird activity continuously coming from certain areas, it is likely that there is a nest.
When to Call Wildlife Removal Services
Now that you have identified the location of the bird nests and have deemed them to be hazardous to either the health of your family or safety of your home, what do you do? First, it is important to know that birds are a protected species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, meaning that it is against federal law to remove, relocate, or destroy active nests.
An active nest is any that contains eggs or brooding adults. If the nest has been abandoned, though, such as when birds migrate south for the winter, it is safe to remove them without fear of the law.
Wildlife removal companies that specialize in critter control and bird removal services are a safe and effective way to address your bird concerns.
If bird’s nests are active, but they are causing damage to your home or are a safety concern, you may be able to obtain a permit that allows for their removal.
Critter Evictors for Safe and Effective Bird Removal
To remove a bird’s nest or address any other type of pest infestation from your property, call Critter Evictors, serving all of Maricopa County located in Scottsdale. We provide Free comprehensive inspections to identify specific animals and infestations both inside and outside of your home. A plan of action will be presented as well as measures to prevent future invasions.
We will safely relocate inactive or active (if permit allows) bird nests from your property. Our team is trained to handle bird removal humanely and efficiently, ensuring your home and family remain safe and free from potential hazards.