In case you’ve seen a relentless cooing coming from above your ceiling, there’s an excellent likelihood pigeons have taken up residence in your roof. Whereas they may appear innocent at first, these uninvited visitors can rapidly turn out to be an issue – damaging roofing supplies, spreading illness by means of their droppings, and inflicting a racket, particularly throughout breeding season.
One well-liked DIY repair making the rounds on-line is utilizing mothballs to cease pigeons in your roof – however does this trick really work? And extra importantly, is it protected? We spoke to pest management specialists to seek out out whether or not mothballs are a wise answer or simply one other city fable.
Utilizing mothballs to cease pigeons in your roof – intelligent trick or city fable?
“Mothballs are typically presupposed to be a approach to maintain pigeons off your roof, however they’re neither efficient nor dependable when used for repelling these birds,” says Tony King, founding father of The Pied Piper Pest Management Ltd.
“The naphthalene in mothballs has a really strong-whiff odour that’s certain to trigger some gentle irritation for birds, however pigeons are extremely tailored and have a tendency to get used to it quick,” Tony explains. “As well as, the odor is disagreeable to people, and therefore it’s impractical as a long-term plan for controlling pigeons. At finest, mothballs could deter pigeons briefly, however they shouldn’t be relied on as a first-line answer.”
Tony King
Tony King, the proprietor and supervisor of The Pied Piper, a number one pest management service with a legacy spanning over 25 years. He leads a extremely expert staff of pest exterminators proficient in dealing with every part from rat and mouse removing to tackling extreme bedbug and cockroach infestations.
Are mothballs harmful?
Mothballs (often known as naphthalene balls) are poisonous if ingested and might be particularly harmful to pets and young children. (Picture credit score: Kiran Thakur on Getty Photographs)
“Some mothballs include poisonous chemical compounds that may be dangerous to people, pets and the surroundings,” warns John Stewart, technical coaching supervisor at Pelsis Group. “Since deterring pigeons is just not the meant use of this product, it’s not really useful that mothballs are used on this approach.”
Tony King agrees: “Mothballs are toxic – significantly to pets and younger youngsters. The chemical compounds they include, similar to naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene, might be dangerous if ingested or inhaled.”
There are additionally broader environmental issues. When used outdoor, mothballs can leach into the soil or enter water sources. In lots of areas, utilizing them on this approach could breach hazardous supplies laws.
Briefly, whereas the odor of mothballs could deter pigeons briefly, the dangers far outweigh the advantages. It’s not a pest management shortcut value taking.
John Stewart
John is a pest management skilled, trade and graduate biologist. He specialises within the auditing of meals manufacturing websites and troubleshooting pest management points in business settings.
Alternative routes to discourage pigeons in your roof
Happily, there are a number of simpler and humane methods to forestall pigeons from nesting in your roof. Here is what the specialists advocate:
Fowl netting / mesh
“Probably the most well-liked methods to discourage pigeons is fowl netting, which might be put in to bodily stop pigeons from getting onto rooftops,” explains Tony King.
Fowl netting prevents pigeons from touchdown and roosting on roof areas, balconies, and below photo voltaic panels. It’s an particularly helpful answer for hard-to-access or awkwardly formed areas, similar to chimney stacks, pitched roofs, gable ends, or architectural options that provide sheltered spots for nesting.
Fowl netting has a number of benefits:
Discreet look: As soon as in place, fowl netting is barely noticeable from the bottom. It additionally permits pure mild to move by means of, so it gained’t darken balconies or courtyards.
Speedy influence: As quickly because it’s put in, pigeons are unable to land or roost in these areas.
Extremely adaptable: This deterrent might be tailor-made to swimsuit a spread of property varieties and layouts – from uncommon rooflines to ornamental options like canopies and cornices.
Black Photo voltaic Proofing Fowl Mesh
This photo voltaic panel PVC coated mesh is designed to deal with the difficulty of pigeons and different birds nesting and roosting below photo voltaic panels.
Fowl spikes
“One other humane methodology is utilizing fowl spikes that are mounted alongside ledges or different areas the place pigeons are inclined to roost,” says Tony King. “Although these could sound just a little excessive, these spikes are literally innocent.”
By creating an uneven touchdown space, fowl spikes make it uncomfortable for pigeons to roost – encouraging them to maneuver on with out inflicting them hurt within the course of.
As soon as put in, it’s barely noticeable from floor degree and gained’t block out pure mild – good for preserving the feel and appear of balconies, courtyards or roof terraces. Higher nonetheless, it really works right away by stopping pigeons from touchdown or nesting, and might be tailor-made to swimsuit all types of properties, together with these with ornamental options like canopies or ornate cornices.
Stainless Metal Fowl Spikes (Covers 3m)
The pack of fowl spikes contains 12 separate 25cm spike sections, making setup a breeze. In simply 2-3 minutes, you may simply set up, modify the size, and even divide them into smaller segments for tight areas.
Ultrasonic fowl repellents
Ultrasonic fowl deterrents work by emitting high-frequency sound waves that birds discover disagreeable, but are fully inaudible to the human ear. These discreet gadgets provide a low-maintenance approach to maintain pigeons at bay, working across the clock to create a constantly unwelcoming surroundings.
Compact and light-weight, they’re simple to put in and might be repositioned if wanted to focus on totally different areas. Most fashions are solar-powered or use little or no electrical energy, making them an energy-efficient choice, too.
Decoy birds
Decoy predators, similar to mannequin owls or hawks, can be utilized to trick pigeons into pondering a menace is close by. These visible deterrents work finest when moved frequently to keep up the phantasm of hazard, as pigeons are surprisingly clever and can finally recognise a static decoy.
Backyard Falcon Fowl Deterrent Pest Management
This life like falcon decoy is appropriate for all yr spherical use and is good for deterring different birds.
FAQs
Is it unlawful to take away pigeons out of your roof?
Whereas it’s not unlawful to discourage pigeons out of your roof, you should not hurt them or intrude with energetic nests. All wild birds within the UK, together with pigeons, are protected below the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This implies it’s unlawful to deliberately injure, kill, or disturb nesting birds with out an applicable licence.
Why do pigeons maintain coming again to my roof?
“To forestall pigeon populations utilizing a roof to roost or nest, the very first thing to do is to cease feeding them and advise neighbours to do the identical, as this may encourage pest birds,” advises John Stewart from Pelsis Group.
Pigeons are extremely routine creatures – as soon as they discover a protected, sheltered place to roost or nest, they’re more likely to return repeatedly except actively deterred. Your roof could provide heat, safety from predators, or quick access to meals, significantly if close by properties are feeding birds or leaving scraps exterior.
When do you have to name a pest management skilled?
“You must contact knowledgeable to pigeon-proof round photo voltaic panels and forestall them nesting,” says John Stewart. “They are going to have the talents and experience, entry to tools, and proper insurance coverage to have the ability to accomplish that.”
DIY strategies can typically fall quick, particularly in hard-to-reach areas or when tackling established infestations. However knowledgeable pest management supplier can assess your property, advocate probably the most appropriate deterrents, and perform the set up safely and humanely. They will additionally make sure you keep on the appropriate aspect of UK wildlife legal guidelines.
How a lot does it value to pigeon-proof a roof?
Costs can differ relying on the dimensions of your roof, the kind of deterrent you select, and whether or not specialist entry tools is required – however you don’t essentially need to lay our a fortune to pigeon-proof your property.
As a common rule, customary deterrents like fowl spikes or netting are inclined to value between £150 and £500. Extra complicated jobs – similar to proofing round photo voltaic panels or masking hard-to-reach roof areas – could value just a little extra.
Coping with pigeons in a couple of place? In the event that they’re pecking away at your garden, uncover tips on how to cease pigeons consuming grass seed, too.
