Speak to any property owner in Las Vegas, whether urban, suburban, or rural, and they will complain about pigeon infestations. These birds are hardy survivors and breed at a prodigious rate.
This happens to the extent that other bird species populations are declining due to a lack of food and water. While this continues, the pigeon population in Las Vegas keeps growing unabated, especially in urban areas. The problem is now widely regarded as a vermin infestation that requires action to minimize or eradicate it.
Eradication is a drastic measure and not as effective as most people would like to think. Instead, for the businesses and homeowners in Las Vegas, deterrents have proven to be a more sustainable approach that renders substantial results.
Deterring pigeon breeding
Once pigeons find a comfortable nesting place with easy access to water and food, they breed at an alarming rate. No sooner has one generation left the nest to fend for themselves than the parents are back at it, enlarging the pigeon population. Therefore, deterring them from breeding is essential. A pigeon removal service in Las Vegas recommends Ovo’s pigeon population control program. As strange as it sounds, the program involves feeding pigeons birth control so they cannot breed.
Pigeon birth control comes in the form of bait that building owners must feed their pigeon population. Once it takes effect, female pigeons continue laying eggs, but they do not hatch. Pigeons are survivors because they have a high degree of intelligence. They are unlikely to stick around once they catch on that they cannot breed, making it an effective deterrent. Once implemented, pigeon birth control can reduce a pigeon population by 90-95%. It has shown significant results when used in Las Vegas, especially in large buildings like barns, factories, and hospitals.
Netting
People living in apartments with balconies often bear the brunt of a pigeon infestation. Pigeons nest in the eaves of a balcony. Unfortunately, they do not have great personal hygiene habits and have no problem dropping excrement right next to their homes. This leaves the apartment dweller with a constant supply of pigeon poop to clean. Urban pigeons eat garbage, and some evidence suggests that their poop may be toxic to humans and other animals.
Placing netting across a balcony prevents pigeons from landing there and makes it impossible for them to find somewhere to nest. Pigeon netting can be a DIY task as it is easy to install. It is available at hardware stores and does not cost that much. If you are worried about fitting netting, ask a pest removal company to do so on your behalf. Netting comes in different colors, although most people prefer transparent options that are not too visible.
Light and sound deterrents
Sound emission works for pigeons and other pests, including raccoons and rodents. These devices emit a high-frequency sound that pigeons cannot stand. It will force them to relocate immediately. A quick search online will reveal how many sound emission devices are available. All you need to install this deterrent is access to a plug socket in a room as close as possible to the pigeon problem.
Pigeons do not like bright light either. Hanging a few old DVDs or CDs on a balcony or around a house’s eaves will keep them far away. Pieces of mirror work just as well. However, they act as a deterrent for other bird species and will not suit those wanting to attract others winged creatures to their gardens.
Predator models
Many predators love nothing more than catching pigeons. It might be possible to attract some, such as owls, to your property. Consider buying models of pigeon predators, including snakes, raccoons, hawks, and eagles if this is not your preference. However, remember that pigeons are not taking over the urban bird population by chance: they have strong survival instincts and more intelligence than most people would like to give them credit for.
These clever birds will soon determine that your predator model is a scarecrow and will not harm them. Some homeowners have even seen pigeons perching on their predator models, much to their frustration. However, models can still be effective if you move them around to make them seem more authentic. Some pigeon scarecrow devices are battery-powered and can turn their heads or blink their eyes. This will put the wind up your pigeon population and encourage them to start looking elsewhere for a new abode.
Pigeon wire
People opting for this deterrent do not need to buy any special wiring to use, although it should be available at a local hardware store. Instead, many homeowners have had great success with fishing gut. Span the wire between several posts across any surfaces where you do not want pigeons to land. Pigeons cannot perch on a wire as it is too narrow and quickly lose their footing.
Once the pigeons realize that they cannot land comfortably on a surface, they will look for somewhere else to go where landing, perching, and nesting are not such an inconvenience.