Common bird problems in commercial areas
Birds are a normal part of life, but they can cause several problems for busy commercial sites. These issues can often grow quickly because birds need to find steady food sources, warmth, and a safe place to nest.
Bird droppings on paths, outdoor seating areas, loading bays, and entrances can look unpleasant and can create slip hazards. Bird droppings can also carry germs and bacteria, which can be a major concern for shops, cafés, warehouses, and any site that handles food. Nests, feathers, and droppings can also block your gutters and pipes, which can lead to issues like damp, water damage, and leaks.
Large groups of birds can also be noisy, especially early in the morning, and this can annoy customers, staff, and nearby residents. Bird nests and waste can also attract insects and create extra pest problems that are harder and more expensive to deal with. During spring and summer, some birds may defend their nests and swoop at people. This can be a massive concern for staff and visitors, especially if the birds are near doorways and roof spaces.
Health and hygiene risks from droppings
While a small amount of bird droppings can look like a simple mess, larger build-ups can create health and hygiene risks for both staff and customers. Droppings can land on door handles, outdoor tables, handrails, stock areas, and waste bins - and people can touch these surfaces and then touch their face or food without thinking. This can end up causing issues like upset stomachs and diarrhoea, especially in busy places like cafés and food sites.
Additionally, wet droppings can make paths and steps slippery, which also increases the risk of slips and falls. Bird droppings also look unpleasant, and they can leave strong smells behind, which can lead to customer complaints and damage your business's reputation. Furthermore, although contracting an illness from bird droppings isn't common, it can still happen. The main types of illnesses you can contract are: psittacosis, salmonella, histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis.
Psittacosis is a rare infection that can cause flu-like symptoms, and it can lead to pneumonia if it's left untreated. This disease mainly spreads when people breathe in contaminated dust or bird droppings.
Salmonella can also be present in some bird droppings, and it can cause symptoms such as diarrhoea, nausea, fevers and stomach cramps.
Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection that's linked to breathing in spores from soil that's been contaminated by bird droppings.
Cryptococcosis is also a fungal infection that can be caught by breathing in soil full of bird droppings. If bird droppings are building up on your property, it's crucial to hire a trained cleaner and bird control company, rather than trying to do it yourself.
How birds can damage buildings and equipment
Bird droppings aren't just unpleasant; they can stain your walls, seating areas, loading bays, and vehicles, and over time, bird droppings can also wear away your paint and make your building look uncared for. Nests, feathers, and droppings can also block your gutters and downpipes, and when rainwater can't drain, it will end up overflowing and soaking the walls. This can lead to issues like damp, mould and damaged plaster, which are all expensive to repair.
Birds often nest under roof edges, behind signs, or inside roof spaces, and their nesting materials can shift your roof tiles, block your drains, and create gaps where water can get in. Birds can also pull at your building's insulation for their nest, which can reduce your building's heating efficiency and raise your heating bills. Dry nesting materials can also be a fire risk, especially if they're near any lighting, vents or electrical areas.
Bird nests can also block your air vents and fans, which can reduce your airflow and make your equipment work harder. Droppings can land on machinery, delivery areas, electrical units, and stored goods, which can lead to extra cleaning, damaged stock, and equipment that breaks down easily. Birds can also attract insects and mites, which create even more problems.
Protecting your stock, food, and storage areas
Bird infestations are mainly found in hard-to-reach areas, such as roofs and high beams, and cleaning up their droppings and removing their nests without the proper equipment can lead to falls and injuries. Bird droppings can also spread germs and create unpleasant smells. When bird droppings dry up, they can break into dust that can be breathed in during cleaning. A professional team can remove this waste safely and disinfect the area to lower the risk of health issues for staff and customers.
Bird droppings and feathers can land on your pallets, packaging, and stored items, and in food settings, even small amounts of bird poo can cause serious hygiene concerns. A professional pest control team can remove bird droppings safely and prevent birds from infesting your building.
Birds may enter businesses through open doors, broken vents, or gaps near the roof. Pest control teams can spot these entry points and implement proofing methods, such as netting or sealed gaps, in order to keep your storage areas clean.
Bird droppings can also damage your building's materials over time and create extra cleaning work - and they can affect your machinery and work areas. A professional pest control company can set up a plan to reduce the rate of bird droppings, protect your key areas, and keep your business running.
Master Pest Control Manchester provides professional bird control services to help keep homes and businesses clean, safe, and comfortable. We can remove bird infestations safely, and we use proven methods to stop birds from returning.
