Effective bird control is a major concern for property managers of off-campus student housing.
Birds are opportunistic and can easily make themselves at home in apartment buildings, often flocking to vents, rooftops, and even signage. While their presence may seem completely harmless at first, it can quickly spiral into serious issues ranging from fire hazards to health concerns.
How Do Birds Get into Apartments?
Birds are naturally drawn to warm, enclosed spaces for nesting, and multi-unit buildings with ample vent systems and high ledges fit the bill. The most common places they’ll use to squeeze inside include:
- Dryer vents
- Exhaust vents
- Open windows or doors
- Chimneys or roof gaps
Each of these provides a secure, warm location for birds to build nests.
Birds in Vents
Vents are the number one problem when it comes to bird control in apartment buildings. Birds in dryer vents and exhaust vents are especially common during nesting season when they’re actively searching for a place to raise their young.
Signs that birds have taken up residence in vents include:
- Twigs, grass, or other materials sticking out of vent openings
- Persistent chirping, especially near the laundry or bathroom vents
- Visual confirmation of birds flying in and out
It can be difficult to spot bird nests in dryer vents until they become a bigger issue, like a backed-up dryer system or a tenant complaint about odors or noise.
What are the Risks of Birds in Student Housing?
Birds aren’t just a nuisance; they can create major problems that affect both the building structure and resident safety. Since they cause property damage, fire hazards, and health risks, birds’ presence is a big issue.
Property Damage
Bird nests and droppings can do a number on building exteriors. Their droppings are acidic and can corrode various components of the structure, including:
- Metal flashing and HVAC components
- Concrete balconies
- Painted surfaces
- Rooftop equipment
Left unchecked, bird activity can open the door to expensive repairs, degrade curb appeal, and affect long-term property value.
Fire Hazard
Bird nests in apartments are a major fire hazard, especially in dryer vents. The nesting materials they choose, such as twigs, leaves, and feathers, are highly flammable. These nests can also block airflow, causing lint to build up inside the ductwork.
This combination of heat, lint, and flammable materials is a recipe for disaster, drastically increasing the risk of a dryer fire. If there is a bird nest in a vent, it’s important to take care of it immediately.
Health Risks
Birds also carry an assortment of diseases that can affect tenants and maintenance workers, adding liability concerns for property managers. These pathogens typically spread through their droppings, nesting materials, or mites that hitch a ride on the feathered creature.
Common diseases that birds can carry include:
- Histoplasmosis, which is associated with pigeons and starlings, spreads via droppings and affects the lungs
- Cryptococcosis, which comes from pigeon droppings and affects the lungs and central nervous system
- Psittacosis, which is linked to parrots and pigeons, spreads via the inhalation of droppings and causes flu-like symptoms
- Salmonellosis, which is spread through bird droppings contaminating surfaces and affects the gastrointestinal tract
These risks make professional cleanup and prevention a must-do in multi-family housing environments.
How Does Critter Control of Central Missouri Remove Birds in Vents?
At Critter Control, we specialize in humane and effective bird in vent removal. Our process is thorough and designed to not only remove the current problems but also prevent future ones.
Step 1: Remove All Birds
The first step is to ensure that all birds, including adults and nestlings, are safely removed from the vent. Leaving even one bird behind can lead to continued issues or attract other birds. So, we start by safely and humanely removing all birds from the affected area.
Step 2: Clean the Area
After removing the birds, our technicians clean out all nesting materials, feathers, droppings, and other contaminants. This step is critical to eliminating disease risk and removing flammable nesting materials.
Step 3: Secure All Vents
We finish the job by securing all vents using various exclusion techniques, such as bird-proof vent covers. Using the proper materials will allow proper airflow, prevent lint build up, and keep birds out.
Other Bird Apartment Problems: Rooftops and Signs.
While vents are a hot spot for bird problems in apartments, they’re not the only spot. Birds are also drawn to rooftops and building signs, as they offer safety and great visibility, making them ideal roosting spots.
Unfortunately, their presence here is equally as problematic, causing:
- Unsightly droppings on signage and walkways
- Damage to building finishes
- Clogged gutters from nesting debris
- Tenant complaints about noise or smells
How to Protect Rooftops and Signs
While deterring birds from rooftops and signs isn’t as simple as keeping them out of vents, it’s possible to use various techniques, including:
- Bird spikes, which prevent birds from landing and roosting on ledges or signs
- Netting, which physically blocks access to common nesting spots
- Visual deterrents, which are reflective or predator-shaped to discourage landing · Bird repellents, which include non-toxic gels or sprays that create an unwelcoming surface
Critter Control offers comprehensive solutions, including these deterrents and exclusion methods, to help protect every part of the building from bird damage.
Contact Critter Control of Central Missouri Today
If you manage student housing or multi-family properties, proactive bird control is a must-do to maintain your property and ensure tenant safety. Our experienced team in Columbia, MO is here to help you do exactly that.
We have years of experience working with property management companies to resolve bird-related issues, whether it’s removing a bird nest in a dryer vent or protecting rooftop signs from roosting pigeons. We understand the unique challenges of managing large residential properties and can create a custom commercial bird control plan that fits your unique needs and budget.
Contact us today to start with a site evaluation and keep your property bird-free year-round.