How to Safely Remove Pigeons From a Warehouse

Birds are a health and safety hazard especially in food grade warehouses as they may carry diseases. Their droppings also make floors slippery, and their nests are a fire hazard.

Pigeons trapped in a warehouse can lead to expenses that may be avoided if they are removed quickly.

There are several methods of removing pigeons from a warehouse that will not harm the birds. These include installing deterrents like spikes and gel, using scare devices, and installing bird netting.

Get Rid of Pigeons Using Spikes

It used to be that pest control exterminators would use all kinds of lethal weapons like pellet guns to kill birds trapped in a building.

Things have changed now and there are more humane ways to remove birds trapped in a warehouse facility.

You can keep pigeons away from your warehouse without causing them any harm by installing deterrents like spikes, sounds, wire coils, or stainless steel wire. None of these devices hurt the pigeons but they will scare and stop them from entering the warehouse.

Anti-Bird Spikes

These devices can be installed onto the roof, beams, and other roosting areas.

They will stop pigeons from perching on the roof and beams because they are uncomfortable. They are also reasonably easy to install and effective at keeping pigeons away. 

Scare Pigeons Out of a Warehouse With Sound

One of the best methods of removing pigeons from a warehouse is by scaring them.

You can use pigeon distress calls to trick the birds into thinking there is a threat nearby.

You may broadcast this prerecorded distress call to get rid of pigeons from a warehouse and keep them away.

Pigeons have a specific distress call, a sound they make when they’re being attacked or threatened by a predator. 

The distress call sounds like an ordinary bird call to humans; however, to pigeons, it is a sound that distinctly emphasizes that another pigeon is in trouble. Pigeons that hear this call will think that there are predators in the warehouse and will be motivated to leave. 

Another option is to play the sounds of birds of prey. Rather than hearing the sound of another pigeon in distress, the pigeons will be scared away by the sounds of a predator they think is in the warehouse. 

You can download these sounds over the internet and play them through a loudspeaker, for example.

If you don’t mind bird sounds, this method can work effectively and is very cheap. 

Scare Pigeons Out of Your Warehouse With Decoys

One method is to attach a kite shaped like a bird of prey to the roof. The kite will fly in the wind, scaring away and stopping pigeons from flying into the warehouse.

You can also place decoys of predators in the places where the pigeons like to roost. Common predators are owls, snakes, and other birds of prey. Make sure to move the decoys regularly as pigeons catch on pretty quickly.

wooden owl decoy

Installing lasers is an alternative scare tactic. The lasers are typically motion-activated and will flash when they pick up the pigeon’s movement or landing. The flash will scare the pigeons and deter them from roosting. 

Bird Scare Devices (Examples)

To recap, these are a few of the most effective devices to use when it comes to scaring birds out of your warehouse:

  • Kite decoys
  • Predator replicas
  • Lasers

Scare tactics won’t harm the pigeons, but the pigeons might become accustomed to them in the long term, and they will no longer be a deterrent. 

Remove Pigeons Using Falconry

Using falconry is a less common way to get rid of pigeons, as it imitates how animals behave in the wild.

Consider falconry if you’re looking for a natural solution to remove pigeons from a warehouse. Falconry is a sport that involves hunting wild animals by birds of prey.

You would need to hire a falconer who will use birds of prey like hawks and eagles to hunt the pigeons and scare them away. When pigeons see the falcons or birds of prey, they view them as a threat and won’t come back.

Remove Pigeons With Pigeon Repellent

Pigeon repellent, or bird gel, is a sticky substance that you can place on surfaces to keep pigeons away.

Place bird gel onto beams and any other flat surface pigeons perch on. Bird gel is a sticky substance. It does not trap the bird or hurt it, but pigeons don’t like the gel’s sensation, which keeps them away. 

The bird gel will need to be reapplied every six months because dirt and dust get trapped in it, causing it to lose its stickiness and become ineffective. 

Bird Netting for Warehouses

Installing bird netting will effectively keep pigeons out of the warehouse without hurting them. 

Bird netting is another excellent solution to keep pigeons out of the warehouse. This is especially the case for warehouses with little nooks and eaves that pigeons will find attractive for roosting.

Bird netting is a nylon net that blends in, so it’s not an eyesore. The best type should be a dark color, lightweight and strong. Bird nets are fantastic for the long-term as they won’t affect ventilation and are relatively cheap to install. 

How To Install Bird Netting

Bird netting can be difficult to install, but it works well at keeping pigeons out. Because different types of bird netting are made differently, they may have different installation requirements. Always follow the instructions that accompany the type of bird net you plan to install.

This straightforward YouTube video by Bird B Gone Bird Control Products demonstrates how to install a basic bird netting system:

Keep Pigeons Out of Your Warehouse by Closing Entry Points

Keep pigeons from coming into the warehouse by keeping doors closed and eliminating things that will attract them.

Once you’ve successfully removed the pigeons from the warehouse, you need to ensure they don’t come back inside. The first thing to do is keep all the doors closed when they are not used.

Busy warehouses usually have forklifts and people moving in and out frequently. This can’t be prevented, so it is worth installing overlapping plastic curtain strips for doors that are used constantly during the day.

These curtains are relatively cheap to install and maintain and easy for people and vehicles to pass through but will prevent pigeons from coming inside.

Make sure there is nothing inside the warehouse that will attract pigeons that might sneakily get through an open door. Attractions include food, stagnant water, and cozy nooks to build nests.