Home Damage
A potential problem you may face if birds enter your loft is actual damage to your home. In fact, birds can damage your home in a few different ways.
Most birds may enter through the roof and into your loft to nest. To build a safe nest, birds will use a variety of materials, such as dirt, pine straw, and leaves, which they will bring into your home. In many cases, these unwelcome guests will also use different bits of your home to build or complete the bird's nest. They may pull out the insulation and even some electrical wiring to complete the nests.
The loss of insulation can affect your home’s energy regulation, reducing your ability to maintain warm temperatures inside your home. Also If the birds pull on electrical wiring, they could cause a fire. Birds do not produce urine, but they leave behind large amounts of droppings. Bird droppings contain uric acid, which is not harmful in small quantities. However, as the droppings build up and remain in your loft and on your roofline, the uric acid can actually be corrosive and can cause damage to your building.
Health Hazard
Birds and their droppings may carry more than 50 different diseases, so if you have birds in your attic or home, they can be a health hazard to you and your family.
Certain diseases are more common in certain birds. For example, salmonellosis is a common disease that many pigeons, sparrows, and starlings can carry. Salmonellosis can be easily spread through the air or through contact. The most common symptoms of this disease include diarrhoea, fever, and stomach cramps.
Pigeons are also known to carry cryptococcosis, which is caused by a yeast that is built up in their intestinal tract. This disease can be transmitted by handling and breathing infected yeast in bird faeces.
Histoplasmosis is a disease that you may also develop if you make contact or inhale droppings left behind by an infected bird.
In fact, minor or mild forms of the disease may not show any symptoms. However, severe histoplasmosis can be life-threatening for humans. If you experience a fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches, a dry cough, and chest discomfort, you should consult your GP immediately.
Efficient & Effective Bird Removal
If you’re experiencing any problems with birds or pigeons in your London property, but don’t know whether they’re officially classed as pest birds, call one of our specialists. We can identify the species for you and advise on the appropriate bird removal methods. Regional Environmental Services operate under a General Licence and carry out all practices of pest bird or feral pigeon removal humanely. Our team of specialists delivers professional bird control services including Bird Waste & Pigeon Dropping Removal and Bird Netting in London. For more information on our Bird Removal service, please get in touch with a member of our team.