Feral pigeons are very common in the Phoenix metro area. They are extremely territorial and once they find an area that they have identified as a suitable roost they will seldom leave without extreme intervention. Feral pigeons prefer roosts that offer them shelter from the weather such as the sun, wind, rain and cold. Once they have established an area where they can suitably roost, they can begin to construct nests, lay eggs, and hatch chicks. Pigeons that are born in certain roosts tend to stay there. Again you have got to consider their extreme territorial nature they can seldom be scared away or run off. They usually will only fly away temporarily then return at the first available opportunity. Spraying them with water, chasing them off, making loud noises, putting up other distraction items usually will only work temporarily and then once the pigeons figure out that the items will inflict no physical damage and are only minor inconveniences; they simply will return to their roost where they feel comfortable.
When dealing with pigeons it is important to keep in mind that there are areas that the pigeons roost in build nests and rest overnight. There are also areas where pigeons will simply lay down or rest for short periods of time but do not offer them protection from the environment. When dealing with pigeons on your home you must consider that eliminating them from the areas they roost in is realistic but keeping them from landing on the house is not realistic.
On commercial properties, it may be feasible to eliminate pigeons from certain areas where they don’t necessarily nest in, such as long ledges that exist and intricate aesthetic construction forms on different types of buildings. Many times when dealing with pigeons on commercial properties, one must take into consideration not only the areas that they nest and roost in but also the areas that they tend to perch, as customers or tenants may frequently walk under those areas.
Feral pigeons are flock animals and therefore when you have one, you usually have many. The methods of dealing with pigeons are mechanical exclusion, trapping, baiting, or deterrents. Each situation is unique and each situation requires the expert advice of a trained, and certified technician who has knowledge of feral pigeon’s biology and general habits. On residential structures the best method of exclusion is using a deterrent spike.
These are commercial grade materials applied to the areas where the pigeons roost and nest. If done properly and effectively this causes the pigeons to stop roosting or nesting and pushes them out of that environment. The areas where the material is applied must be properly cleaned, nests have to be removed and debris removed.
It is important to keep in mind accessibility to the different areas that pigeons might nest. Sometimes these areas are very high and require specialized equipment such as 40-foot extension ladders or articulating boom lifts. It is best to allow the professional to deal with these situations as they can be dangerous. If you are not familiar or comfortable with lifts or ladders then its best not to press your luck. In some situations the best choice is the repellent. An excellent material known as hot foot is applied as a liquid gel and has a crystal coat to protect it. This material will hold up in our harsh Arizona climate. All other repellents tend to break down get dusty and over a period of time begin to look nasty and unsightly and lose their effectiveness. Using the cheap material or purchasing spikes at home depot and trying to deter the pigeons on your home generally are a waste of time and money. In commercial setting you may need to deploy exclusionary materials in the form of spikes and gel bait deterrents.
You could also utilize trapping or baiting and sometimes you have to use both. Commercial settings offer unique opportunities and defiantly provide an exceptional challenge when dealing with feral pigeons. When trapping for pigeons one must use the proper trap, stock it frequently, and service it accordingly. The traps have the capability of removing large populations of pigeons from specific areas. One of the drawbacks is that they are not a permanent solution they require ongoing maintenance. Baiting programs are very inexpensive and offer control over large areas. The draw back again is that they have to be maintained on an ongoing basis.
Exclusion in a commercial setting can become extremely costly and run between one thousand to ten thousand depending on the size of the building and configuration. And therefore has its own drawbacks. As each situation and property is assessed the Anteater Exterminating, Inc. technician can determine the proper control method suited to your property. The technician will then prescribe a treatment to be effective and then give you a proposal on the fees to eliminate this extremely difficult to control problem.