How to Get Rid of Pigeons Fast and Permanently in Florida and Georgia

For many home and business owners in the Southeast, pigeons are a huge problem. These persistent pests are one of the most destructive bird species in Florida and Georgia, and their lack of fear towards humans means they are not shy about taking over human-made structures. Populated areas, rooftops, ledges, signs, and industrial structures are all fair game as far as pigeons are concerned. 

Whether you need to get rid of a small flock on your roof or a full-scale nesting colony, choosing the right strategy helps you avoid corrosive droppings, contaminated walkways, and some serious health concerns. 

For more effective pigeon control and removal, it’s best to hire professional pest control service in Alpharetta. 

Key Takeaways

• Pigeons cause costly damage and health risks in Florida and Georgia, and the most reliable way to stop them is a targeted plan that identifies sites, removes food and water, installs proper exclusion, and cleans up thoroughly.
• Physical exclusion is the backbone of lasting control, with netting for defined spaces and spikes, shock tracks, or slides for ledges, followed by sanitation to remove nesting debris and odor cues that draw birds back.
• DIY can handle small, accessible issues, but complex roofs, solar arrays, and multi-elevation buildings are faster and more dependable with a professional like Nextgen Pest Solutions, whose work is quick and guaranteed.

Why Pigeon Problems Are So Common in the Southeast

The Southeast is a perfect place for pigeons to thrive thanks to the warm climate, dense urban structures, and easy access to food and water. Unlike in many other parts of the US, the weather in Florida and Georgia never gets cold enough to send these birds packing, and they are able to breed all year long as a result. Left unchecked, pigeon populations grow very quickly in the region.

Pigeons are very adapted to life with humans as you can see from their attraction to man-made structures. Among other things, they have learned that structures within populated areas provide shelter, roosting spots, and places to build nests. Office buildings, warehouses, stadiums, parking garages, and malls all provide plenty of opportunity for these birds. Pigeons can also avoid danger by perching on nearby signage, rooflines, bridges, and utility equipment any time they feel threatened by something.

Food is also easy to find year-round. From a constant supply of crumbs around common eating areas and foodcourts to open trash cans to people intentionally feeding them, pigeons never have to travel far for food.

In most urban and industrial areas across Florida and Georgia, pigeons can live relatively predator-free lives. While cats and larger birds can certainly catch them, the overall predator risk is low for the pigeons in the area. This leads to flocks getting very large, and they can easy reoccupy any area that they have peen pushed out of. Unless, of course, exclusion devices are used effectively.

How to Identify a Pigeon Problem

If you are dealing with a pigeon infestation, chances are good that you won’t have to look very far to identify it for what it is. However, if you are uncertain about the signs and want an additional layer of confirmation, there are some details that you can look our for to confirm your suspicions that the birds you are dealing with are, in fact, pigeons. 

Here are the telltale signs that pigeons are around. 

• Droppings: Pigeon droppings have a lot in common with the droppings of many other types of birds. The droppings are white and gray when drying, but fresh droppings look darker and wetter. When they dry out completely, the become hard and chalky. One way to identify them as pigeon droppings is that they build up in large quantities on the same spots. Another way to tell is by observing the damage these droppings leave behind. You’ll see heavy staining and signs of corrosion on ledges, walkways, AC units, solar panels, and many other popular roosting spots.   

• Nesting Debris: Nesting debris is another common sign of pigeon activity, and you’ll see a lot of it. Pigeons are not very tidy when it comes to nesting, and if pigeons are nesting nearby, you’ll see a lot of feathers, twigs, leaves, and other items the birds have collected, scattered around their nesting sites. Another sign is when you see these items in high concentrations near eaves, vents, and under solar panels, or when gutters and downspouts become clogged with similar nesting material. 

• Pigeon Noises: Sometimes, you can see pigeon roosting areas even when there is a large flock present. They may be on the roof or some other hard-to-reach area providing you with no direct line of sight. When this happens, you can rely on your ears to detect them. Like doves, pigeons make a cooing sound that is very distinctive. You’ll hear this all the time, but it becomes more pronounced at dawn and dusk. Fluttering, scuffling, and thumping sounds are also common. 

• Odor and Insects: If pigeons are nesting in you attic area or some other enclosed space, the droppings and urine will accumulate. When enough buildup occurs, the area begins to give of a strong, ammonia-like smell. Enclosed nesting areas also encourage more flies and mites, and it is not uncommon to see these types of pest at the same time you begin to detect a pigeon infestation by its odor. 

Health Risks of Pigeon Infestations

In addition to the property damage pigeons are known to create, there are many health risks that these birds expose people to. The health risks may be small when the number of pigeons is low, but larger populations can present real health issues that should not be ignored. 

Here are some of the most common health risks assiciated with pigeons. 

How to Get Rid of Pigeons Fast: Step-by-Step

When you can confirmed that you are dealing with a pigeon infestation, the next step is to devise a plan to get rid of them once and for all. Unfortunately, scaring them off does not solve the problem as they just come right back. To ensure complete removal and to deter them from coming back, there are some specific steps that you should follow. 

Here are some of the best methods we’ve seen. 

Step 1: Inspection and Site Mapping

Knowing that you have pigeons is important, but knowing exactly where they are, how many you have, and whether they are using multiple locations for nesting, is crucial when developing a good pigeon removal plan. 

The first step is to ‘get eyes on’ the situation. Use binoculars or a drone to inspect rooftops, solar panels, parapet walls, behind signs, and any other location that is experiencing a high level of pigeon traffic. Note down each nesting location and consider the unique features of those locations. Are they out in the open, in an attic, protected by a natural barrier like a tree? Each situation will benefit from a different set of removal and exclusion strategies. 

Step 2: Remove Food and Water Sources

Once you have located all of the pigeon roosting sites on your property, it is important to consider why the birds chose your home or business in the first place. The most likely reasons is that your property offers the birds easy access to food and water. You’ll want to remove as much of it as possible to discourage the pigeons from using your property as a home base. 

Here are a few easy things you can do to make your property less attractive to them. 

• Secure Trash, Compost, and Recycling: Unsecured waste can easily provide birds with the caloric intake they need to thrive. Food waste, grass seeds, and even compost can all be attractive food sources for pigeons. Make sure that all of your bins are secured with tightly-fitting lids and that the surrounding areas are cleaned on a regular basis. 

• Improve Cleanup Efforts: Food waste and crumbs left behind when eating outside can also provide pigeons with enough food to live on. Whether it’s a food court where people regularly eat outside, a gazebo where you have the occasional backyard dinner party, or just you back porch where you eat your afternoon snacks, be sure to clean the area well after use. 

• Don’t Intentionally Feed Pigeons: This one may be obvious but people love to do it, so it is good to point out that intentionally feeding birds is the same as sending them an invitation to move in. When possible, restrict people from feeding pigeons near any area you are trying to keep them out of. 

• Limit Access to Water: As is the case with food, pigeons will nest near water sources. Especially when those water sources are constant and reliable. Seek out and repair leaky spigots, HVAC units, and reduce standing water on your property as much as possible.  

Step 3: Install exclusion devices

The best way to get rid of pigeons completely is to install exclusion devices around their favorite roosting areas and perches. These types of devices are also the best way to keep pigeons from coming back, but you have to be selective about which devices you use in different parts of your property. 

Here are the most common things home and business owners do to keep pigeons away. 

• Netting: Netting is the gold standard of pigeon exclusion methods as it provides full exclusion of well-defined areas. Some  of the most common places to install netting material is on balconies, loading docks, rafters, canopies, and under solar panels, but it can be used pretty much anywhere as long as there are clear boundaries to attach the sides of the netting to. Because of the climate in Florida and Georgia, it is best to use weather resistant netting maters that is UV-stable, and resistant to corrosion.   

• Bird Spikes: Bird spikes are another useful exclusion technique that keep pigeons from perching on high, narrow places. Spikes can be installed on ledges, gutters, parapets, window sills, and many other similar places, to keep birds away. For pigeons, it is best to make sure the entire area is covered in spikes because pigeons will try to sneak by the spikes if they can. Because of the extreme weather conditions that Florida and Georgia can experience, it is always a good idea to use mechanical fasteners for the spikes or exterior-grade adhesives. 

• Shock Tracks: Shock tracks are useful for areas that are either too broad for bird spikes or too open for netting. You can intall them on prominent ledges, signage tops, and across the ridgeline of your roof. These low-profile electrified strips do a good job at deterring birds from landing thanks to the mild conditioning pulse they deliver. When using them in areas with a lot of rainfall, always be sure to follow manufacturer specs on spacing and power supply very carefully. It’s also a necessary to weather-proof electrical connections to avoid shorting anything out. 

• Bird Slides: Bird slides are yet another useful way to keep pigeons and other types of birds from perving on ledges, overhangs, parapets, and steel beams. These angled devices basically turn any flat, perchable area that you have into an angled surface that pigeons cannot stand on. While these are very effective, it is good to remember that they can become loose and blow away in strong wind, so use mechanical fasteners where possible. 

STep 4: Habitat Disruption and Cleanup

Once the pigeons have been successfully removed and the exclusion devices have all been installed, there are still a few more things that you should do to ensure long-term success. One of the most important things you can do is erase the cues that draw the birds back.

Nest and debris removal is an important part of the cleanup stage. If pigeons see nesting materials that you have left behind, they are likely to come and explore, looking for opportunities to move back in. To discourage this behavior, bag and dispose of all signs of nesting activity, including twigs, feathers, droppings, eggshells, and loose insulation. You should also clear any clogged drains to reduce water pooling and to regain the performance of your water management systems. When cleaning up, always use proper PPE like gloves, eye protection, and a respirator to avoid harmful bacteria and other risks.

You’ll also want to sanitize all of the areas that were affected by the pigeon infestation. Using enzymatic cleaners to break down droppings and other organic residue can really help save your surfaces, and using disinfectants can help you ensure that your air quality remains safe and that no pathogens are left behind to make someone sick. When cleaning up dried droppings, using a HEPA vacuum can help limit the amount of airborne dust and bacteria spread, further protecting your environment and air quality.

In areas where corrosive droppings have completely damaged your surfaces, it is a good idea to power wash the areas, seal them with a product that locks out moisture, and then refinish or repaint the affected areas. Not only does this step bring back the original appearance of your structures and surfaces, but it also reduces the chances for residual odors and removes the cues new pigeons might see as an invitation.

DIY Pigeon Control VS Hiring a Pro

As you can see, it is certainly possible to handle a pigeon problem on your own. You might have also noticed, though, that many of the techniques used to exclude pigeons successfully and for the long-term do require some effort and expertise. 

It’s pretty easy to keep overhanging branches trimmed, gutters cleared, and surfaces clean. It’s also fairly easy to install motion-activated sprinklers and predator decoys. However, when it comes to properly installing some of the best exclusion methods available, it is often best to leave the work to professionals who have the experience to tailor those solutions to the specific needs of your property. 

The main benefits that come from hiring a professional to handle a pigeon infestation is that you get fast results, access to the best equipment in the industry, and guarantees on any work that is done. You also get follow-up visits and long-term treatment plans in high-risk areas. In short, when you hire a reputable pest control and wildlife removal company like Nextgen Pest Solutions, you get peace of mind from the quality work and guaranteed results. 

Final Thoughts

Pigeon removal in Florida and Georgia is more then just chasing birds away. It’s about understanding why they are attracted to your property, understanding how to block them from the areas they like, and keeping them away for good. Whether you are protecting a historic home in Savannah, a warehouse in Tampa, or a restaurant in Miami, finding pigeon removal methods that are fast and effective is crucial. 

Call us today to schedule a free, same-day inspection and see how we can help.