Birds are very beneficial to the ecosystem and should never be harmed, but if a bird has made their nest inside your attic or any exterior vents on your home, then you should always have them removed by a licensed wildlife removal company like Summit Wildlife Removal. Birds are known to bring their dry nesting material inside your home, which can create a fire hazard. Bird droppings also contain environmental hazards like uric acid and histoplasmosis, and birds themselves can spread their own diseases and parasites. Never attempt bird removal yourself, as most bird species are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Always leave bird removal to the experts at Summit Wildlife Removal.
Bird Nesting Material
Birds are known to build nests inside exterior vents on the home, with dryer vents being a particular favorite for them. Unfortunately, birds will often bring their outside nesting material like dead leaves, dry grass, straw, and twigs. This dry material can build up into massive piles, which can become a serious fire hazard. When dryer vents blow out the hot air from the dryer, this can react with the clogged up, dry, dead organic material from the nests and cause a fire.
Birds also nest inside attics, which can create its own set of issues. When birds are building nests inside your attic, not only will they bring in outside nesting material, but they might scavenge your attic for anything they can repurpose into nesting material. Birds might rip up your insulation to add to their nests, (which will decrease its effectiveness), and they can also tear out electrical wires, which can also pose a fire risk.
Bird Droppings, Uric Acid and Histoplasmosis
Bird droppings pose a health hazard as well as an environmental hazard. Bird droppings contain the spores that cause the fungal lung infection histoplasmosis. Some of the symptoms of histoplasmosis include fever, cough, chills, headache, chest pain and body pain. Never attempt to clean up bird droppings without the proper PPE equipment, as this can stir up the spores that can get into your lungs.
Bird droppings also often contain uric acid, which can erode buildings when it is repeatedly deposited in the same place over a long period of time.
Bird Diseases and Bird Mites
Birds can spread a variety of diseases, including cryptococcosis, salmonella and E. coli. Birds also carry the avian flu, also known as the bird flu. Birds carry a wide variety of parasites, including bird mites. Bird mites are a type of mite that feed on the blood of birds. Bird mites cannot reproduce with human blood, only bird blood, so unless you have a bird with bird mites living in your house, they cannot establish an infestation. However, bird mites are more than capable of biting people, which can leave itchy, red bumps.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Birds can do a lot of damage to your attic and vents, but you should never attempt to remove these birds yourself. Most bird species in Virginia are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prevents the killing, capturing, selling, trading or transport of migratory birds. There are some birds that are not protected under the MBTA, like pigeons, sparrows and starlings, but always play it safe and leave bird removal to the professionals at Summit Wildlife Removal.
Bird Removal in Fredericksburg, Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax
Birds like pigeons, sparrows and starlings are known to cause fire hazards with their nests inside attics and exterior vents, and they can also damage buildings with the uric acid found in their droppings, and spread diseases like histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis and bird flu. Prevent these birds from, getting inside your home, contact Summit Wildlife Removal today. We can remove birds from your property and install preventative measures like bird guards to keep them from coming back. Contact us today for a FREE estimate at 703-884-2124
