Bird Spikes: A Humane Poke in the Right Direction

Bird spikes line the edges of a building's facade.

Walking around in Downtown El Paso, you may have seen lines of plastic or steel spikes lining manmade structures such as ledges, fences and company signs. These are both examples of bird spikes, a method of wildlife exclusion used by residential and commercial properties alike. Many think that this is a cruel way of deterring pigeons and other birds, but is that true? Are bird spikes as useful for you as they seem to be for so many properties in more densely populated parts of El Paso? Pest Defense Solutions has all the answers you need when it comes to bird spikes, and with our help, we can keep your home safe from bird damage throughout the year.

What Are Bird Spikes?

Bird spikes are anti-roosting devices, primarily made out of plastic or stainless steel. They’re installed in all the typical roosting locations of a building, from windowsills to rooftop edges. Bird spikes come in strips of two feet or so that are then either nailed or screwed for a temporary solution, or stuck with adhesive for permanent installations.  Between the two application methods, you can install these barbs on almost every surface, from wood to concrete. And once they’re put into place, they can withstand years of harsh and unpredictable weather without losing efficiency or protective abilities. Bird spikes can last for upwards of 10 years before you need to get them replaced, and with a quality exterminating team like Pest Defense Solutions, the installation process is easy and convenient.

Do Bird Spikes Hurt Birds?

When you see lines of bird spikes out in public, they can look a little daunting. From a distance, they seem similar to barbed wire. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why some may describe bird spikes as cruel. But when you take a closer look, you quickly realize that these are far from the giant spikes some people may be imagining. The ends of each individual “spike” is dull and blunted, and the whole thing is relatively flexible. It isn’t necessarily comfortable to land on them, but it’s certainly not lethal. On its own, it isn’t even likely to harm the bird. If they’re attracted to your property for one reason or the other, they will try to land, fail, and soon after, find another place to call home.

How Do Bird Spikes Work?

Larger birds like gulls and pigeons have bigger feet, and because of that they need more space to land. By installing bird spikes, you’re eliminating the square footage that they need to get comfortable. If they aren’t comfortable, they’re far less likely to stay and nest. In that way, bird spikes function as a very reliable form of wildlife exclusion, eliminating roosts before they have a chance to form. Of course, this only applies to larger birds. If a bird is small enough, it could build a nest between spikes and potentially cover the barbs entirely. Bird spikes are just one form of bird exclusion that a bird removal expert like Pest Defense Solutions has to offer. If you have unwanted nuisance birds nesting or roosting on your property, we can help.

The Benefits of Professionally Installed Bird Spikes

Birds in and around El Paso play an important part in our area’s ecosystem, and while we don’t want them to spread the parasitic insects they harbor or their droppings onto your property, we don’t want to hurt them either. If you install DIY bird spikes on your home or business, you run the risk of injuring the local bird population. It’s much better to have this done by a professional, and if you live in the El Paso area, there’s no better name than Pest Defense Solutions. We can work humanely and efficiently to keep you free from all manner of pests. Want to know more? Contact us today for a free quote!

Signs of a Fall Bird Infestation

pigeons migrate and cause a fall bird infestation on this roof

In most of the US, cooler weather and shorter days are signs that millions of birds will soon start migrating south for the winter. The El Paso TX area is the destination for many of these birds, and for many more, it’s a layover on their journey. That makes fall and winter prime time for residential bird infestations, which can cause structural damage, loss of property value, and health concerns. But how can you tell when you have a bird infestation? Here are some signs to look for:

Birds on Your Property

The most obvious sign of a fall bird infestation is the presence of birds. Birds will feed, bathe and spend time on your property searching for food, water, and shelter. Sometimes birds will fly around your home, perch on branches or power lines, in bushes, or on the ground. If you consistently have numerous birds around your home that don’t seem to leave, you should consider it an infestation and call a bird control service.

Excessive Bird Droppings

Bird droppings can harbor disease. Inhaling pathogens in bird droppings can cause respiratory problems. Additionally, bird droppings are acidic and can damage the finish of buildings or vehicles they land on. So, if a large flock of birds roosts on your home or business for a prolonged period of time, it could lead to serious repair bills. If you notice excessive bird droppings on or around your home or property, contact a bird removal expert before it gets worse.

Irritating Bird Noises

A little bit of squawking or cawing or flapping or chirping noises never hurt anyone. But when birds roost on your property and they start occurring day and night at all hours? That’s when things start to get seriously annoying. And it’s more than just a nuisance–it can also prevent you or your family from getting enough sleep, which can affect your mental and physical health. Birds can even nest inside the walls or attic where they’re hard to find. If you have constant bird noises around – and especially in – your home, you have a bird infestation.

Damaged Plants and Gardens

Migratory birds are hungry birds, and flowers, fruits, and vegetables are some of their favorite foods. So, if you’ve been working hard on your vegetable garden, your efforts could be completely wiped out if a bird infestation develops. Their droppings are harmful to your plants as well. A bird control specialist can develop a plan to bird-proof your garden using non-toxic techniques that won’t harm the birds–or your plants.

Humane Bird Control in El Paso

A few birds can be beautiful, but too many will quickly overtake your property and the sense of peace it provides you. A bird infestation can take hold before you realize it–especially in the fall and winter, and especially in El Paso. So, what do you do about a bird infestation if it happens to your property?

Pest Defense Solutions provides effective, professional, and humane bird control services in the El Paso, Texas area. If there are birds on or around your property, we can help remove them and keep them away.

Contact us today for a free quote!

Keep Out Birds with Chimney Caps

A bird nesting on a chimney in El Paso TX - Pest Defense Solutions El Paso

For some people, having flocks of birds around might be desirable. However, if you aren’t careful about their presence on your property, birds can cause serious problems. Besides being a constant source of noise in the morning, birds can cause significant property damage through their nesting and droppings, and even expose people to diseases. If you’ve noticed that birds are nesting in or around your chimney, it’s important to take steps to ward them off. If you’re looking for bird prevention advice, read on for insight from the experts at Pest Defense Solutions El Paso!

How Birds Create Problems for Homeowners

There are a few significant ways that birds cause problems for homeowners in El Paso. If you’re noticing more birds than usual around your home, here are some things to look out for:

  • Gutter blockage: Birds nesting in your gutters can divert rainwater in ways that cause water damage to your home or affect your garden.
  • Chimney blockage: When birds build nests inside your chimney, they can block off the flow of fumes from your fireplace out into the open air. This creates the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning inside your home.
  • Droppings: Bird droppings can induce histoplasmosis in humans, a disease that is caused by inhaling the spores of a fungus sometimes found in bird and bat droppings. This disease can cause aches, chills, fever, and more at varying levels of severity.

Keeping Out Birds in Chimney Stacks

When birds nest in your yard, they might make their way toward your roof for the warmth and the potential shelter that your chimney provides. As we’ve gone over, this can create many problems, including health concerns, for you and your family. The best way to prevent birds in the chimney is by installing a chimney cap. This will cover your chimney so nothing outside can get in, but still allow for proper ventilation from the inside. This way, you can keep out blockage, debris, droppings, and actual birds from your chimney.

Bird Control with Pest Defense Solutions El Paso

If you already have a chimney cap but birds are still causing problems on your roof or in your chimney, talk to your local pest control company about your issues. Here at Pest Defense Solutions El Paso, we train our bird removal team to develop unique exclusion plans for each of our customers. We understand that bird infestations must be handled delicately, so we prioritize safe and humane removal techniques to keep everyone safe and your home bird-free. Contact us today for a free quote!