Birds are beautiful creatures when they’re in the sky, and we’re watching them from afar. However, having birds inside your bathroom vent or in your eaves can quickly turn into a nightmare because birds are highly destructive pests that can cause a lot of damage to your home in a short period. On top of this, birds also pose a serious health risk to humans because they can carry various dangerous diseases that can be passed to humans.
There are a wide variety of factors that can affect wildlife control costs. On average, you can expect to pay about $500, which is the nationwide average bird removal cost currently.
| National Average | Average Cost Range | Minimum Cost | Maximum Cost |
| $500 | $350 – $650 | $100 | $2,000 |
If trying to exterminate birds on your own becomes too challenging, we recommend Orkin, Terminix, and Aptive. These exterminators have some of the best-trained professionals that are able to use traps, baits, and other chemically treated solutions that are often more effective than standard DIY methods.
4.6
Over 90 years of experience
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Treats 20 types of pests
Offers instant online quotes
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What Influences Cost?
Type of Bird
A pest control professional will start by identifying what kind of bird you have on your property. Most birds do not nest inside a residence. However, knowing what kind of bird is on your property can significantly help a pest control specialist remove the bird safely and determine pricing for their bird removal service.
Common birds that make nests inside a residence include pigeons, house sparrows, house martins, crows, and barn swallows. Other birds that may create nests on your property include Brown-headed Cowbirds, Eastern Bluebirds, and American Goldfinches. However, these birds are protected. You may be fined if you try to remove these birds, which is why an animal control inspection is vital for both the safe removal of birds and being made aware of which birds can be removed from your property and how to block entry points.
Severity
The severity of your bird problem will be the most significant contributing factor to how expensive the animal removal ends up being. If you only have a small family of birds on your property, the cost will be relatively low. However, if you have a large group of birds that have taken up residence in your home, you’re likely looking at a higher total cost to both remove and repair damage after the birds are removed.
Location
The location of the birds on your property has a significant influence on the cost of wildlife removal. Bird nests can be found in many places, including vents, gutters, chimneys, drains, and even grills. A professional pest exterminator will first need to make sure that the bird can safely escape an area before they exclude the bird from coming back and dispose of the nesting materials.
Methods Used
There are a variety of methods that can be used to remove birds. Bird spikes are a standard method that can be used after birds are removed from your property. Another mechanical method is bird netting which makes it difficult for birds to bypass certain areas, resulting in them staying away.
Another popular way to keep birds away is auditory methods. Birds can be repelled using ultrasonic repellents, which are in a sound range that humans cannot hear but are irritating and deters birds. Birds are also sensitive to certain visual deterrents, such as giant balloons and shiny, reflective materials that move. These products seem “alive” to the birds, which scares them away. Another option is using a bird decoy that resembles another critter. The most common example of this is a fake owl or hawk decoy, which may scare smaller birds away.
Repairs
Birds are destructive pests that can cause a variety of damage to your home. The type of damage they cause varies greatly depending on the kind of bird. For example, woodpeckers can cause significant damage in the form of holes in wooden structures, roofs, and trees on your property. Many types of birds can cause a mess with their nesting material being strewn about. They can also destroy attic insulation, tear window screens, damage gutters, and clog vents.
As a whole, bird damage can fluctuate greatly, making it difficult to predict how much bird damage repairs will cost. It’s essential to begin by addressing the bird problem because a woodpecker will easily peck through a wooden structure that’s been patched up, and many birds will create a new nest shortly after you’ve removed their nest. Always deal with the initial problem before beginning any repairs on your property.
Signs & Causes of Infestation
Birds are beautiful, but they can be a pain when they begin to nest on our property. You never want to wait for birds to make themselves too comfortable in your home, but how can a homeowner tell the difference between a bird passing through and the beginning of a bird infestation?
Common signs of bird infestations include:
- Large amounts of bird droppings and feces, especially on flat surfaces or around the perimeter of your home
- An increasing number of pests that are often with birds, including fleas, mites, flies, and even rodents
- An unpleasant smell on your property that isn’t associated with garbage or rotting materials
- Many insects in the area. These insects may be attracting the birds, as many birds eat insects
- Increased number of live birds on our property
- Birds nesting or sleeping on your property. Even if you only notice a few birds, this can be the beginning of an infestation
- Nesting materials thrown about your property
- Bird noises, such as bird cries which may indicate that baby birds are on your property
- Damaged property, such as drywall, from pecking
- Dead animals
If you begin noticing an increase in the number of birds or droppings on your property, it’s strongly recommended that you reach out to a professional pest control company immediately. Birds can quickly infest and cause immense damage to your home if not dealt with immediately.
Health Risks
Birds can carry various dangerous diseases, including foodborne illnesses, such as Salmonella, E. coli, Yersinia, Listeria, Campylobacter, and Cryptococcus. Unfortunately, these diseases can be transferred to us through bird droppings, quickly leading to foodborne illnesses. There are reported fatalities from these diseases.
Other bird health risks include the parasitic mites that live on birds and within their nests. Mites are constantly searching for their next host, so they may choose to latch onto a human next if they are close by. Common signs of mites include small reddened bumps on the body, itchiness, feeling crawling on your body, and lesions. Birds may also carry other blood-sucking insects like poultry and swallow bugs. These bugs prefer birds but will feed on humans if birds are unavailable.
Another bird health hazard is their droppings. Different types of fungi, like histoplasma, grow in soil that has been contaminated with bird droppings. Histoplasmosis is a pulmonary disease that can cause various adverse side effects, such as fever, exhaustion, and chest pains. This is why cleaning bird droppings can be very hazardous to your health, as you may inhale fungi or come into contact with bacteria that can cause disease. As a result, it’s always recommended that you reach out to a licensed pest control provider to remove bird droppings.
DIY vs. Hiring a Professional
DIY bird removal is difficult because many laws protect different species of birds, especially migratory birds. Often, you may need to wait until the nesting season is over to remove the bird nest and then use other techniques to prevent birds from creating nests on your property again. For people interested in DIYing bird removal, there are a variety of bird traps and bird deterrents that can help prevent birds from returning to your property after the infestation is effectively dealt with.
However, professional bird control is strongly recommended. A professional pest control company will be able to comply with any local and national laws regarding the type of bird they’re dealing with. On top of this, you’ll avoid putting yourself in danger by removing the birds personally. Birds are wild animals that carry various diseases and can spread other pests to you, such as fleas or mites. As a result, they are dangerous and should be dealt with carefully.
Bird droppings also need to be handled very carefully. Professional handling of bird droppings is recommended because many diseases can be spread through bird droppings, whether through touch or inhalation.
However, if you choose to remove bird droppings yourself, make sure you take appropriate precautions, including:
- Do not clean up bird droppings if you have a weakened immune system
- Wet the area with bird droppings down to help prevent inhalation and reduce inhalation of fungi
- Wear protective clothing, such as boots and gloves, and a respirator
- Use dust control measures to prevent the spread of fungi
Overall, professional help is recommended because they can ensure that the birds are removed and treated humanely while also preventing future infestations through the use of bird repellents, such as spikes.
Some pest control companies that offer bird control services:
- Terminix has specially trained professionals who can help you determine the best course of action in dealing with your birds. Terminix has a variety of professional bird nest removal services they offer, including spikes and exclusion techniques.
- Orkin uses a variety of techniques to treat birds. Some of these methods include exclusion with netting and a multi-sensory, gel deterrent which scares the birds away from your property. Other methods they’ve used include UV paint, which is a visible deterrent for birds, though it can’t be seen by the human eye.
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What is the Standard Bird Extermination Process?
Like many nuisance wildlife pest control services, the first step to the bird extermination process is a thorough inspection of your property. Your bird control technician will begin by asking you various questions about your property, birds you’ve spotted, and other signs of bird infestation, such as bird droppings, nests, etc. Then they will perform a detailed inspection of your property, including common roosting places like crawl spaces and in the attic, to look for additional bird infestation signs and birds living on your property.
After this inspection is complete, they will discuss different bird removal methods with you. Depending on your property, they may recommend bird netting, bird spikes, or other bird removal methods. The recommended removal methods will also rely heavily on the area you live in and the type of bird on your property. Different areas have different laws protecting different kinds of birds and their young. Some nests may not be moved or need to be handled in a particular way, which is why professional help is strongly recommended with birds because it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to identify the exact protected bird on your property.
Certain birds may also be attracted to your property due to another underlying pest problem. Since many birds eat insects, they may be attracted to bugs like carpenter bees, leafcutter bees, or termites, which provide a steady food source. If this is the case, your technician will recommend nuisance bird pest control services for treating the other pest problem. After all, if the other pests aren’t addressed, the birds will likely continue to come back again and again.
After the bird removal is complete, many pest control companies will suggest ways to make your property less habitable for birds. This can include steps like adding bird deterrents, decoys, repellents, and household repairs. For example, birds cannot typically make nests under shingles, but if your shingles are in ill repair, addressing this issue can help prevent birds from nesting there in the future. Preventative measures, like shingle repairs, can save you a lot of money in the long run.
Many companies also offer repair services to address any damage the birds caused to your property.
Final Thoughts on Bird Removal Costs
While birds are beautiful animals, they’re better left in the skies flying near our homes rather than creating nests on our property. Unfortunately, birds can quickly cause massive amounts of damage to our property if left unchecked. If you notice a nest or other signs of bird infestation, we recommend immediately reaching out to a wildlife control company to take care of your bird problem before the damage is done. The repairs are often more expensive than the bird exclusion costs, so act now before the needed repairs stack up.
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Because pest control products can be dangerous to your family if mishandled, we always recommend consulting with an exterminator even if just to ask for advice on how to apply pest control products yourself.
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4.6
90+ years of experience
Nationwide service area
Free treatments if pests return
4.7
Treats 20 types of pests
Offers instant online quotes
30-day money-back guarantee
4.3
Treats 20 types of pests
Offers instant online quotes
30-day money-back guarantee
4.0
Treats 20 types of pests
Offers instant online quotes
30-day money-back guarantee
