Bird control is a huge concern for any business operating in the food service industry. However, there are a few steps you can take to ensure your outdoor areas remain a pleasant place for your customers to dine.
Birds – like all pest animals – pose many issues for the food industry. The threat posed by these creatures is greater in food-related businesses than in other industries, due to the far higher risk posed to the public by infestation.
Birds cause damage to property and premises as they build their nests and scavenge for food. They can cause spillage litter as they tear open bin bags to access the tasty morsels inside, and they can damage roofing as they attempt to gain access into premises. Bird droppings are highly acidic and, if not cleaned up promptly, can damage wood, stone, metal and vehicles – as well as providing a significant slipping hazard.
More significant, and indeed, more relevant to the food industry, is the risk of the contamination of food with one of dozens of communicable diseases. These infections can be fungal, viral and bacterial, and range from the relatively benign, such as the common cold, to the potentially fatal, such as salmonella.
Keeping birds away from internal areas can be a difficult enough task. However, when it comes to al fresco dining areas, it becomes a more challenging matter entirely.
Bird Control for Outdoor Areas
Obviously keeping birds away from outdoor dining areas will be a challenge – especially in seaside towns where gulls and other birds are prevalent in much larger numbers. The problem is exacerbated when tourists intentionally feed the birds, thereby encouraging them further.
Therefore, one of the best ways to keep birds away from your al fresco areas is to put up signs instructing your customers not to feed the birds. As well as this, make sure that your waiting staff are instructed to clear outdoor tables promptly, to reduce the amount of leftover food lying around for birds to scavenge.
However, while these preventative measures will help with the situation, you may find you need some more concrete bird control solutions.
#1 Bird Spikes
Proofing vantage points surrounding your dining area will humanely discourage the birds from loitering. Anti-perch bird spikes are an ideal measure for such installations.
#2 Netting
Protecting your al fresco dining area with bird netting will prevent birds from accessing any potential food sources. However, while effective, the netting is not the most aesthetically pleasing solution.
#3 A Professional Bird Control Solution
The best way to effectively prevent birds from becoming an issue at your food related business, is to employ the services of a qualified and experienced bird control expert. Safeguard Pest Control has over 30 years’ experience in the commercial bird control industry, and can recommend and implement all manner of solutions, from permanent installations, to innovative methods to using birds of prey to deter pest birds.
If you need effective and quality bird control services, to ensure your customers can continue to enjoy relaxing and luxurious al fresco dining, then Safeguard Pest Control has a solution to suit all businesses and situations.
Get in touch today to talk about how we can help.
