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04.20.2008 - Pigeons thrive in urban areas. They are one of the few animals that thrives with people in general. They like to live on buildings, and they like to live in buildings, and this means that they like to live in the attics of homes when they can get access. I deal with many cases of pigeons in attics each year. The first step is to remove all of the pigeons. I accomplish this via a number of tactics, from the use of one-way exclusion devices to physical removal. The second step is to seal off all of the entry points so that no more pigeons can enter the building again. The third step is to clean the attic. Pigeons make a terrible mess inside the attic. Most animals make a big mess when they live in the attic, but pigeons are especially nasty about spreading their feathers, nesting material, parasites, and most of all, droppings inside the attic. It's very important, in my opinion, to clean an attic after pigeons have lived in it. They've left behind parasites that could infest your pets or yourself, and the droppings will attract cockroaches. Worse yet, the droppings will promote mold growth, and they can grow a mold which can dispense airborne spores and lead to lung disease, such as histoplasmosis.
In order to clean an attic of pigeon droppings, I conduct the following steps:
Remove the big debris by hand - First I remove all of the nesting material and such by hand, and carry it out of the attic in trash bags.
Vacuum the droppings - Next I use an industrial strength vacuum, and suck out all of the remaining debris and the droppings. I make sure to filter out the spores or place the vacuum outside of the building.
Decontaminate the attic - Finally, I fog the attic with a special enzyme-based decontaminant which destroys all remaining organic and biohazardous waste, by breaking it down and digesting it. This product kills any remaining parasites or pathogens, and is not harmful to people, pets, or the structure.
Once these steps are completed, the attic is pigeon free and waste free, and good as new.
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