Birds poop. A lot. Some people have had the unfortunate experience of being pooped upon by a bird that flies overhead. Others find that their patio furniture or deck has dozens of droppings in a matter of days when it’s left uncovered. Any place you sit outdoors has likely come into contact with bird droppings at least once, and chances are you’ve touched some by accident holding a handrail outdoors.
You can’t avoid all bird droppings. Like most animal waste, all droppings can technically carry a risk of disease, which is why it is important to wash your hands before touching your face. But on your property, the occasional bird poop is not necessarily dangerous. The problem is when there is a lot of it, especially when it is in an enclosed or small space.
The Dangers of Bird Droppings
Birds can carry many pathogens that are harmful to humans. Some of these include, but are in no way limited to:
- Histoplasmosis
- Cryptococcosis
- Candidiasis
- Salmonella
- E-Coli
Some of these are bacteria. Others are fungi. Some bird fecal matter may contain actual viruses that in extremely rare cases can be passed to humans.
While any contact with bird droppings can theoretically cause these illnesses, the biggest concern is not the disease but the quantity. Bird droppings are far more likely to spread pathogens when there are considerable droppings in a single area or in an enclosed space. That is because typically, when a bird poops, the droppings quickly dry out and eventually decay.
But when there are too many droppings, or when the droppings are indoors (like an attic, HVAC system, or other enclosed area), the droppings do not have an opportunity to dry. Instead, they remain moist, which allows the bacteria and fungi to grow and spread. That is why it is so important to have birds prevented and removed from a property by professionals, and why it also important to have only trained experts clean the property after bird infestation has taken place.
What About Droppings in Small Amounts?
In small amounts, bird droppings are not typically dangerous, though of course you would not want to come into contact with bird droppings and touch your eyes or mouth. But these droppings can still cause challenges:
- Bird droppings are corrosive, and can eat away at your paint.
- Bird droppings are slippery, and are known to cause slips/falls.
- Bird droppings are unsightly, and can cause a property to lose value.
You can’t stop birds from flying near your property and potentially leaving droppings behind. But you can stop birds from living in your property and causing more significant health risks. For more information about bird control in NYC, contact our team today.
