When we think of pests, we usually think of rats or mice, or scuttling insects. The very word "pest" brings a connotation of annoyance, something that people in general could do with less of. So, when birds are lumped into that category, the general reaction is one of confusion. However, as some of you may have already realized, birds are a bigger pest than one would commonly think. And unfortunately, this goes for everywhere. Seagulls at the beach make it impossible to enjoy food and listen to what should be the calming crashing of waves. Instead people spend their time chasing off would be avian thieves and keeping their eyes peeled for diving snatches. The city faces a similar problem in the form of pigeons. Anyone living in a big city knows how annoying these flying cockroaches can be. Pudgy, fat, and fearless, these birds have made cities part of their habitat, and they do so by making it our problem. Outdoor eating spaces are usually littered with birds, and if you make the costly mistake of donating some crumbs to one a murder of them will quickly be upon you. Bird control services may not be the first thing we think of when we need pest control, but they are just as if not more important.
Birds may be inconspicuous in many cases, but their nests can cause significant structural damages to houses and buildings. They easily block guttering and degrade roof materials, and for buildings they usually find comfort in essential generators or HVAC areas. Unfortunately, birds may not know the dangers of nesting in these areas, and can meet an untimely end, which is sad but for the rest of the building their death poses a different problem. Beyond the smell of a deceased animal, their decaying bodies are hotspots for unsavory pests, maggots, and diseases, which can obviously pose significant health risks for the building inhabitants.
Although the biggest argument for bird control may be the level of annoyance, these services play an even more massive part in protecting public health beyond clearing out unlucky bird bodies from vents and gutters. Sometimes we forget that birds are some of the biggest carriers of disease in the civilized world. Influenza in the early 2000s was a massive scare, but many diseases dangerous to humans that can be transmitted by birds is the West Nile Virus or E. coli. The latter is especially dangerous considering it is most commonly found in bird feces, and as we all know, birds tend to go a lot and without a care for what is under them. By controlling the bird population, cities will be able to minimize the biohazards that may pollute the city, and also limit the marring effect bird feces has on buildings, cars, and monuments. Bird feces are very corrosive and if left alone, can damage roofing, building materials and plant machinery, all of which are expensive to fix.
The City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is seeking bids from qualified vendors to provide bird control services to specified areas within the city. If interested in this opportunity, click on the link to learn more. The bid closes April 30, 2026 at 9:00 AM ET.