Birds are habitual species. They continue to come back to an area until an environment sparks danger or becomes undesirable. To rid their facilities of pests, many golf courses and parks acknowledge have taken on a green mentality, using dogs instead of poisons to scare pests away.
While this method worked initially, most pests returned. There's a need for permanent and green solutions opposed to temporary satisfaction.
Pest control companies have invested their time and money to create and test products that will deter pests in humane ways that are safe and effective. These products are categorized in four ways – sight, sound, taste and physical barriers – and can help end a critter crisis in an ecofriendly and environmentally sound manner.
Sound deterrents. Because birds get used to the same sound repeated over and over, choose a device that has programmable sounds that are intermittent in nature: for example, one that varies in frequency, duration and sequence, and features the sounds of birds in distress and predators looking for food. This is a key factor in long-term discouragement. For outdoor spaces, there are sonic devices, but for indoor spaces, ultrasonic device are available that won’t disturb people.
Visual devices. As with sound deterrents, visual change is important. If you just put a plastic owl in the yard, birds will quickly realize it isn’t a threat because it never moves. To be effective long term, a repeller must involve movement. One option is a large orange sphere that has holographic eyes on front and back. It appears to move when the bird looks at it from different angles. In addition to the eyes moving, it’s mounted on a spring that causes the entire predator to move and bounce in the wind. A second is a life-like owl that moves up and down with a wingspan that makes it look like the owl is flying. Another option is holographic tape, which makes a snapping noise in the wind and reflects light at any angle.
Taste. A food-grade chemical called Methyl anthranilate is sprayed directly on crops and harmlessly, yet effectively repels birds. Geese, pigeons or other pest birds won’t want to graze on your property when the overwhelming sensation of these products hits them.
Physical barriers. Bird spikes (think barbed wire for birds) prevent a bird from roosting on ledges, sills, roof peaks, etc. Bird netting works well, too. If birds don’t have easy, comfortable roosting access to a property, they’re less likely to congregate there.
Infestations can be a hassle, but there are products that will help resolve such a problem instead of adding to it. Killing, trapping or poisoning the pest is an initial reaction to pest infestations; but when the critters return, the temporary fixes lose power. Humane pest control can applied to each specific need, and while nonhumane methods are used still, pest control is starting to be seen in a new and greener light.
Kelly Crost is a media correspondent for Bird-X, a supplier of green and humane bird deterrent and repellent products. For more information, call 800-662-5021 or visit www.bird-x.com.