Pest Control

Most bird species are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. It is also illegal to destroy or interfere with birds nests containing eggs or fledglings.

Bird proofing of a building can be carried out once a nest is empty. The Pest Control Section does not offer this service but advise you to seek advice from one of the local companies which do.

The Council sells seagull and pigeon spikes to prevent nesting and/or roosting and the Pest Control Section offers a pigeon control service.

• Spikes for use on ledges, flat surfaces etc are available from the Council at a cost of £3.00 per 33cm x 20cm strip
• Special spikes for chimneys are also available at £26.75 each
• Adhesive is available at £7.00 per tube.

Feral pigeons are common throughout Britain and cause many problems including nesting on and inside buildings, fouling of buildings and pavements, risk of disease from mites and insects in droppings which can cause food poisoning or lung infection.

The most important factor in controlling the number of pigeons in any area is to control their food supply as pigeons can breed for most of the year because they have a year round food supply. Attracting pigeons to the garden can deprive smaller birds of food and scare them away. Pigeons carry viruses that can pass to other birds. Food put out for pigeons can attract rats and mice if not eaten. Pigeon numbers will go down naturally to match the food available to them. In the same way that numbers increase as more food is supplied.