Why Are Starlings in the Garden?
With their mixed diet of fruits, vegetables, seeds, and insects, starlings are right at home in gardens. These birds dig up seeds, eat sprouts, snip buds from stems, and peck at mature fruit. The pests seek out plants at the peak of ripeness, so gardeners coming to harvest their hard-earned crops often find that starlings were there first.
Property owners have the most trouble with starlings in the garden around late summer, when the birds' diet shifts from insects to plants. During dry periods, damage to fruits and vegetables is usually more severe, as starlings will go after fruit solely for its moisture.
What Does Starling Damage Look Like?
A starling in the garden will eat grapes and small fruit whole but peck holes in larger produce like apples. Apples eaten by starlings are relatively intact outside but hollow inside. Gardeners may see triangular beak marks on the outside of the fruit.
Problems with Starling Control
Starlings feed in large groups, often joining with grackles, cowbirds, and other common pests to create huge flocks. This makes some types of traps ineffective for removing starlings in the garden, as they only catch a few birds at a time.
How to Keep Starlings Out of the Garden
To protect gardens, place bird netting around fruit trees or tall plants. Timing harvests carefully can also be helpful. For example, sunflowers only attract starlings after their seeds are mature, so gardeners should collect the plants immediately to avoid losses. For professional exclusion and removal of starlings in gardens, turn to the wildlife experts at Critter Control.
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Best Bat Removal
Brandon was out to please and make out lives easier with out bat situation. Above and beyond of the call of duty and got the job done. Thank you!
BAT POOP CLEAN-UP AND PREVENTION! Bat guano removed from gables. No bats found in attic, so put new screens on all gable vents, as one screen was close to breaking and then bats may have gotten in! Great work in
Tulsa!
Squirrels and chipmunks were in our attic. So we called Critter Control to do an inspection. Their representative climbed all over our very steep roof and found several places where squirrels had entered our attic.
Upon inspection of the attic, evidence of bats was also found. The Critter Control team came on time to completely caulk the entire perimeter of the house and create an exit strategy for the squirrels and bats.
Because
bat droppings can cause histoplasmosis, this also required total removal and replacement of our attic insulation and sanitizing the space. Not a small job in a 1,300 sq. ft. attic! While Critter Control’s cost was high, our homeowners insurance covered most of it. Everyone representing Critter Control was professional, courteous and timely. I would highly recommend them to anyone who thinks they might have unwelcome guests living in their attic
On recommendations from a nearby pest control company, I called Critter Control for suspicious
bat droppings.
Madison came out the same day to do an inspection. She was knowledgeable, thorough, and highly professional. She examined the ‘matter’ that had been scattered on my threshold and thought it was foliage. But she then asked to go up to my attic space where the bats could be roosting. She had to walk up 3 flights of stairs with a heavy ladder. She again spent some time searching all the nooks and crannies and found nothing.
She seemed so interested in her craft, it was truly inspiring to see! She reassured me and is writing up a prevention strategy for my appraisal. She charged me NOTHING!! I am so impressed. We need more Madisons in this world!
Service:
Bat Removal in San Diego
We noticed droppings on our brand new deck - we were given their number from our contractor. They came the next day. Brian looked at it and said - yeah, bats!! He then checked every area in our attic and he explained exactly what needed to be done.
He found evidence of a mice infestation, provided a referral and they are helping us as well. Great service, very informative, very professional! We are very satisfied and would recommend them to anyone who has any issues with any critters!
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