Tag Archives: bird nest removal

Preventing Wildlife From Entering Your Home

Summertime in the Chicagoland area usually means warm weather and longer days. It also means animals are out moving about and mothers are teaching their young how to forage. This time of the year you need to keep a lookout for animals who just might be trying to take up residence in your home. And they do not plan on paying rent!

Raccoons

Raccoons

We need some water!

Raccoons love food and there is an abundance of that this time of year, thanks to picnics and barbeques. Be sure to bring in your garbage cans as quickly as possible (try not to leave them out overnight), and keep any exterior porch or garage doors shut.

Opossums

I hope they don't see me!

Just hanging around!

Opossums are shy animals that only act scary to frighten away would-be predators. These meek creatures spend their nights in search of food, and now that it is warm out there is a tendency to have our pets and our pets’ food outdoors. If you leave pet food out, you can bet you will have an opossum taking up residency shortly. To keep them out, remove any food and do not feed your pets outside.

Birds

So what do we do now!

So what do we do now!

Now that is has warmed up, the birds are flying north again! Be on the lookout for any that may have nested in your chimney, attic vents or soffits, or vents. While all the birds have likely hatched by now, some may have decided to call your house their home. Permanently. If you are just looking to prevent any birds from moving in, consider a chimney cap and wire mesh around any exterior vent or soffit openings.

Small Rodents

Wood mouse

I sure hope no one sees me here!

These nocturnal creatures are out and about now that it is nice out. Window wells are an easy spot for these opportunistic animals to sneak in. To animal-proof your window wells, consider putting a plastic or metal grates over them.

Skunks

skunk-687964_640

Who can I tag next!

While we’re past full-blown skunk season in Chicago (it’s generally February through late March), there are still plenty of these smelly creatures around. Skunks aren’t much for foraging, so they go where the ground is soft and there are plenty of people. Skunks have been known to burrow under decks and porches, and an outdoor motion-activated floodlight might help scare them away before they move in.

And of course you have your deer, coyotes, squirrels, turtles, and foxes… Just hanging

How To Prevent and Remove Birds From Your Home

swallows-nest-335050_640Birds can be more than just a nuisance if they decide to take up residence in your home. Bird nests can damage your home and are filled with bacteria and germs that can be a health hazard.
What Damage Can Birds In Your Home Cause?
When wild birds decide to move into your home, you may be in for some expensive damage. Birds may come in through various points of entry, including the chimney, bathroom or dryer vents, windows, and cracks. If birds get stuck in your vents or build large enough nests, it can cause damage to your heating and cooling systems. If woodpeckers invade your home, they may do damage to the wood in your home, while Chimney Swifts can be very loud and obnoxious.
One of the diseases associated with birds and their nests is histoplasmosis. Some birds carry fleas and mites, and other parasites. The unsanitary conditions bird nests create can be harmful to human health, which is why it is important to keep wild birds out of your home.

How To Keep Birds Out Of Your Home

There are several methods to prevent and/or remove birds from your home.

• Seal all points of entry.

Some ways you can seal points of entry include capping your chimney and capping your vents with the proper material that still allows safe airflow.

• Bird deterrents.

While they might not be the most aesthetic method, big scary eye balloons are an excellent (and cost effective) way to scare birds away from structures. Another deterrent product includes tape and predator decoys.

• Bird repellents.

The most common bird repellant for prevention is bird gel. This product is good for areas where bird spikes cannot be used, however you have to be careful with its placement since it will melt if it gets too hot outside.

• Bird spikes.

Bird spikes will prevent birds from being able to have space to build nests. Bird spikes are usually placed along building ledges and under the roof lines.
If you find wild birds have decided to move into your home, call the trained professionals at Attic Solutions to safely and humanely evict them. The specialists at Attic Solutions are qualified experts in removing bird infestations and repairing any damage they may cause.

Watch Out for Birds Nesting in the Attic

An intrusion from a single animal can be troublesome enough within a home but the problem can become much more complicated if the animal is nesting.  One of the most common animals that nests within homes is birds.  Birds are always looking for nesting spots that are safe from predators and indoor spots such as vents and attics provide an appealing haven for birds to build their nests.  Nesting birds can cause a range of problems within a home and it is best to have a professional such as Attic Solutions remove intrusive birds and their nests.

Nesting Birds Create a Home in your home

Birds that build nests within a home are a huge nuisance because they are establishing a home for themselves and the egg laying and hatching process could cause them to stay in the home for months.  After the eggs are laid, the female bird will not leave the nest until the babies hatch which could take three to four weeks and they learn to fly which could take an additional three or four weeks.  This process could cause the birds to live in the home for up to four months and possibly longer if there is a disruption in the nesting process.

Problems with Nesting Birds

There are plenty of problems that a nesting bird can bring to a household.  One potential problem is disruption of the heating and cooling system that is caused when birds build their nests in vents or air ducts.  Bird nests in the vents can decrease the efficiency of the heating and cooling system and cause property damage as they build their nests in these areas.  The other major problems caused by nesting birds in a home are health related.  Large amounts of bird feces can lead to respiratory issues and they also may have lice and mites that could spread throughout the home.  Bird mites can infect personal areas such as beds and they leave behind itchy red marks with their bites.

Control Birds in Attic

Nesting birds present more of a problem than birds that have intruded alone because they actually establish a home and stay longer so that their eggs can hatch.  While nesting, they can cause destruction of property and introduce a range of health problems with their feces and the lice and mites they could be carrying.


As soon as you suspect you may have a bird infestation, call us immediately at 847-464-1861 for removal. We are trained professionals and equipped to deal with bird exclusion and removal, including humane live animal trapping (never poisons!). We will remove the birds and fix any property damage they may have caused. Click to read more about bird control and removal services from Attic Solutions.