Like many large metropolitan areas, Las Vegas, Nevada, has a significant pigeon population problem. Large buildings, such as casinos, hotels, hospitals, factories, and power plants, have pigeons nesting in them. This poses a hazard to people who work in these buildings, could cause workplace accidents, or make employees ill.
Pest control specialists regard urban, feral pigeons as vermin, ranking them alongside rodents and insects. These companies provide various pigeon population control measures to their customers.
Here are the main options you have for controlling a pigeon population and the relative efficacy of each:
Contraceptive Measures to Control Pigeon Population
Las Vegas pigeon control providers believe that feeding these birds birth control bait is the best way to control pigeon pulation. It works by disrupting the breeding cycle, causing females to lay eggs that do not hatch.
The pigeons continue mating, but they do not have any chicks. Feral pigeons reproduce at a prodigious rate. Unlike those living in rural areas, urban pigeons do not face food or water scarcity, threats from natural predators, and a lack of safe breeding space.
Indeed, city centers are fertile breeding grounds for pigeons, leading to the current overpopulation issue that building owners are struggling to manage. Urban pigeons breed almost continuously, starting each new cycle as soon as their squabs leave the nest.
The number of squabs a pair of pigeons can produce in a year is astounding, compounded by new generations of these birds that begin breeding from the age of six months. Pigeon birth control bait can reduce the population by up to 50% within the first year when utilized correctly. Long-term use leads to a 90% population reduction.
Controlling the Environment
As mentioned before, urban pigeons reproduce at such astounding rates because they have everything they need around them, including food, water, and a safe place to nest.
Making the environment uncomfortable for pigeons will force them to move on in search of somewhere else to stay. While this does not control the pigeon population, it reduces how many birds make a building their home.
The necessary measures include denying pigeons easy access to food. This is easier said than done, given that pigeons eat just about anything. Their palates are less than discerning, and pigeons are pretty happy to root through garbage looking for scraps of food.
They also chase other bird species away to eat seed from bird feeders. Deprive pigeons of food, and these greedy creatures will think twice about nesting there. Remember that after trying everything, you always have the option to call a company such as Hawkeye Bird Control for assistance.
Preventing Nesting
Pigeons thrive when they find a quiet place to nest and breed uninterrupted. Building roofs, rafters, and eaves are ideal nesting locations. Pigeons are not known for being great nest builders.
All they need is a few sticks and twigs to fashion a crude nest and start breeding. Making nesting conditions challenging is another effective way to get pigeons to seek new accommodation and control pigeon poulation.
Barriers that prevent pigeons from nesting and landing are a great idea, provided they are installed over every inch of a building where pigeons can land and nest. Among the options building owners have are netting and pigeon spikes.
Have professionals install these barriers in large buildings. Pigeon repellent gels make surfaces slippery and impossible for pigeons to perch on. Any barriers require regular inspection to ensure they are not missing or damaged.
If you give pigeons an inch, they will take over the building.
Nest Destruction
As mentioned before, pigeons do not put much effort into building their nests. They are quite easy to destroy, although this process is risky.
Pigeon dander lining their nests contains mites, lice, and other dangerous substances that could make people ill. They should not touch or inhale pigeon dander.
Nest destruction should be undertaken in full protective gear, including masks, gloves, and safety glasses. It is a dangerous job that needs to be repeated to make any noticeable difference.
Pigeons can build a new nest to replace a removed one within hours. Pigeons will take the hint and find somewhere else to nest where their homes are not destroyed or removed.
Using Scarecrows to Control Pigeon Population
Urban pigeons lack the natural predators their country cousins face, including snakes, possums, foxes, owls, and hawks. These animals stay away from populated areas.
Pigeons use this to their advantage by nesting in these places to breed unabated and unthreatened by predators.
Scarecrows date back hundreds of years and were put in cornfields to frighten birds off the farmers’ crops. Pigeons can be deterred similarly. Various life-sized figures of natural predators are sold in stores and online.
Placing them strategically gives pigeons the impression they are under threat, causing them to move elsewhere. However, pigeons are wily and know a fake when they see one. Building owners should shift their deterrent figures around or by ones fitted with animatronics that allow them to move or emit sounds.
This makes them more realistic and likelier to keep pigeons on their toes.