How To Get Birds Out Of Your Attic

Attics are an important part of any home. They help with the circulation of air throughout the living space, allowing hot air to vacate while the cooler air stays inside. Attics can also sometimes be used for storage; however, you may be storing more than your holiday decorations. Animals can sometimes take up residence in the attic of a home, the most common culprit: birds. Birds typically don’t cause any problems when they’re flying high outdoors, but once they’ve found their way into your attic they can quickly  become a nuisance pest. Our feathered friends can turn your attic into a nesting site and pose a health hazard to you and your family if not tended to in a timely manner.

It is often quite easy to know whether or not you have a bird problem. Birds are not known for being quiet. In fact, their endless chirping is what leads many people to discover birds living in their attic in the first place. House finches, pigeons, starlings, and house sparrows are the most common species of birds you may find in your attic. These birds oftentimes will just stick to roosting in the eaves of a roof, but if they have access to the attic they will take the opportunity to make it a place to call home. 

Is It Birds In Your Attic Or A Different Rodent?

If you’ve become suspicious of bird activity within your attic it’s always best to be sure. Calling in a professional pest control company is your best bet, but if you take it upon yourself to assess the situation, do so with caution. Limiting your exposure to your attic is important as birds nesting in this area can pose a health risk. Quickly look for feathers, droppings, and nesting materials but do not spend a large amount of time in the area. 

Bird droppings and materials used in bird nesting can pose a risk to human health.  Birds poop constantly, so when they’re living in your attic you can be sure it’ll be everywhere. Feces can allow for mold to grow in your attic and contain certain pathogens. Breathing in spores from bird droppings can also result in the transmission of certain infectious diseases. Additionally, these droppings can be attractive to cockroaches and other bugs. Lastly, materials birds use to build their nests can pose a fire hazard as they can clog up vents, and they may bring with them bird mites and lice which can make their way into your home. 

There are several ways to attempt to rid your attic of birds. The first step of bird removal is determining how they are entering the attic in the first place. Once you discover how they are making their way in you can try to trap them, or use an exclusion method.

What Options Do I Have To Remove Birds From My Attic?

TRAPPING: Birds in the attic can be very difficult to remove due to their ability to fly. Trapping can be difficult and must be done properly. Depending on the state in which you reside there may be laws protecting birds so kill traps may be out of the question. Using humane traps is a safe way to remove birds from your attic. Once a bird is trapped it can then be released outside where it belongs. 

EXCLUSION: This method allows the birds to exit the attic by themselves through their entry point. The use of a leaf blower or loud music can startle the birds, forcing them to depart from your space through a window or other exit. The exclusion method can be tricky and difficult to get in one go, but if you have the time, it is another human way to rid your attic of birds.

Once the birds have been removed from your attic it’s important to prevent it from happening again. Be sure to enter your attic with protective clothing and a mask filter to check for any remaining birds or nests. Remove the nests from the attic and place them outside. You may have already found the entry point, but if not look for all possible places in which a bird could enter your home’s attic. Be sure to seal off these points; chicken wire is a low cost way to block any entrances. Bird spikes are another way to repel birds from entering your attic, but if you are unable to seal or repel birds from entering your attic, it’s best to call in a professional.