Why You Don't Want To See Pigeons Flying Around Your Backyard

Pigeons are often considered pests and are very prolific in urban areas. However, they aren't only found in the heart of a city. Suburbs, farms, and rural homes may also face an abundance of these birds. In a way, the problems people have with pigeons are sad. People trained and basically domesticated the animals, and now that they're no longer needed, they have become nothing more than pests, like rats. In fact, they're often called rats with wings due to the way they dominate urban areas and cause problems.

Unfortunately, no matter how sad it is, the fact still stands that pigeons pose a danger to people. They carry diseases, bring in pests, and can damage your home if you aren't careful. Because of these dangers, it's important to pay attention to the birds entering your yard. There are several common birds you never want to see at your bird feeder, but pigeons are definitely not birds you want to invite into your outdoor space. 

If pigeons do start showing up, it's important to take steps to scare them away early before they get settled. Thankfully, there are ways to do that which don't involve harming or killing the pigeons. If done right, you can scare them off while still attracting bug-eating birds to your yard to keep away annoying mosquitoes and other insects.

The biggest danger pigeons pose to your family is the diseases and pests they carry. Pigeons are associated with a slew of diseases, including ones like Salmonellosis, Psittacosis, St. Louis Encephalitis, Candidiasis, and Cryptococcosis amongst others. They also bring in pests such as mites. Specifically, bird mites pose a risk if you have outdoor birds of your own. They also threaten your home by bringing in bed bugs, according to Trojan Pest Control. If not caught quickly, bed bugs can take over a home, infesting carpet, clothes, bedding, and stuffed animals. Ticks are another pest that pigeons bring with them when they fly into your yard. There are many dangerous diseases spread by ticks, which means you're dealing with not only disease by pigeons, but by the pests they bring with them.

On an annoying, but slightly less harmful note, feces is another problem. One pigeon can release quite a bit of excrement, which is pretty gross. This waste is also corrosive and can damage some of your outdoor decor. On occasion, it can also contain fungus connected to spreading histoplasmosis.

If they decide your home or yard is suitable to raise their young, their nests also get in the way. They like to build nests in areas such as vents, gutters, and attics. Depending on the location, size, and materials used to make the nest, they can block ventilation, create fire hazards, or damage wiring.

Keeping food and water away from the local pigeons is the best way to keep them out of your yard. Unfortunately, that's not always easy. Not only will pigeons flock around bird feeders and baths, but they'll also eat a variety of edible things. Make sure you always have secure lids on your trash cans, and remove all standing water they can access.

Bird spikes are one way to keep pigeons at bay. This not only keeps pigeons from landing on areas of your home and yard, but it stops them from nesting as well, as they prefer a flat and comfortable area to roost. Netting is another option and is a great choice if you're trying to keep other birds from getting into your garden. However, you have to make sure that they are sturdy and tight, or else you risk pigeons and other birds getting tangled up and injured in the netting.

Bird gel is another interesting option. The gel isn't sticky enough to capture birds or hurt them, but they have a weird texture that many birds, like pigeons, don't like. While this gel has to be replaced regularly, it's low-profile and doesn't cost very much. Decoy predators and lasers also work as deterrents.