PiCAS INTERNATIONAL

Yet another instance of pigeons becoming trapped behind nylon netting installed as a bird exclusion device by pest control contractors.  This time the problem arose in the town of Visalia in California, USA.  Firefighters and animal control officers were called out to free trapped pigeons after a concerned member of the public called Valley Oak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to report the incident.

Firefighters managed to free at least one trapped pigeon but it was clear that other pigeons had died having become entangled in or trapped behind the netting.  The netting was installed under the eaves of the post office to prevent pigeons from nesting and roosting. It is clear that the use of netting was entirely inappropriate in this case and had the property owner been advised to install a product such as anti-roosting spikes or wire mesh, instead of the nylon netting, the issue would have been resolved at considerably less cost to the post office and no distress to the pigeons.

Incidents such as these are becoming more and more common in towns and cities worldwide as those experiencing pigeon-related problems are sold inappropriate and expensive products and services by the pest control industry.  It is also the case that a majority of pest control contractors have a little or no knowledge or understanding of the problems they are paid to resolve and this incident in Visalia is just another example of this.  In a vast majority of cases nylon netting is the most expensive and least effective product available to resolve pigeon-related problems and yet nylon netting is the most widely sold bird exclusion product on the market. 

PiCAS International will rarely ever recommend nylon netting as an exclusion device based on the high cost of the product, the fact that the product degrades extremely rapidly (particularly if it is inexpertly installed) and because nylon netting requires regular maintenance which adds to the overall cost of the product.

For further information of bird deterrents and bird exclusion devices please visit the Deterrents page.