
Find the Best Bird & Pigeon Control for Your Business
No obligation • Fast responses • Nationwide coverage
- Home
- Bird & Pigeon Control
- Ohio
- Kettering

Why you can trust Pest Crews
Pest Crews is a leading U.S. resource for finding and evaluating residential and commercial pest control services. Our team researches providers, reviews treatment approaches, and organizes unbiased information to help you make informed decisions. Companies cannot pay to change our editorial content or influence how they appear.
Search providers near you
Top Bird & Pigeon Control in Kettering, Ohio Ranked
Bird and pigeon control involves managing nuisance bird populations to protect your property and health. In Kettering, common pest birds like pigeons can cause significant damage to buildings, create unsanitary conditions, and pose health risks through their droppings. This guide helps you understand the local solutions available, from physical barriers to habitat modification, so you can find the right professional approach for your residential or commercial needs.
Understanding the Bird Problem in Kettering
Pigeons are the most common nuisance bird in urban and suburban areas like Kettering. These birds are not just a minor annoyance; they are persistent and can cause real damage. Their droppings are acidic and can corrode building materials, including metal, stone, and wood 1. Accumulated droppings on ledges, sidewalks, and loading docks can create slip-and-fall hazards and are expensive to clean safely. Beyond property damage, birds and their nests can block vents and gutters, leading to moisture problems and even fire hazards if nests are built near electrical equipment 2. For businesses, a bird infestation can negatively impact a company's image and create an unhealthy environment for employees and customers.
Common Problem Areas on Kettering Properties
Effective bird management starts with identifying where birds are landing, roosting, and nesting. Local professionals focus on these key areas:
- Ledges & Windowsills: These flat, elevated surfaces are prime real estate for pigeons to land and loaf. Over time, droppings accumulate, staining facades and creating an unsightly mess 1.
- Roofs & Loading Docks: Large, open areas like warehouse roofs and commercial loading docks offer shelter and vantage points for flocks. Birds often gather here in large numbers, leading to significant droppings and noise 3.
- Vents & Openings: Attic vents, soffits, and gaps in building exteriors are attractive nesting sites. Birds entering these spaces can build nests that block airflow and attract insects or other pests 2.
- Gardens & Yards: While often focused on fruit trees and berries, birds can also be attracted to residential gardens by feeders, uncovered water sources like birdbaths, and dense shrubbery that offers cover 4.
Professional Bird Control Methods Used Locally
Kettering pest control experts employ a range of strategies, often combining several for a long-term solution. The most effective plans are tailored to the specific species, the building's architecture, and the severity of the infestation.
Physical Barriers (Exclusion)
This is the most permanent and effective category of bird deterrents. It involves installing structures that physically prevent birds from landing or entering spaces.
- Bird Spikes: These are rows of pointed rods made from stainless steel or polycarbonate installed on ledges, signs, and beams. They do not harm birds but make the surface uncomfortable and impossible to land on 1 5.
- Bird Netting: Heavy-duty polyethylene netting is used to block off large areas like courtyards, overhangs, warehouses, and loading docks. When installed properly, it creates a physical barrier that completely excludes birds from the protected space 6 3.
- Wire & Mesh Systems: High-tension wire systems can be installed on parapet walls, and steel mesh is perfect for sealing off vents, chimneys, and other openings to prevent nesting 2 7.
- Architectural Modifications: For new construction or renovations, professionals may recommend designing ledges with a steep slope (45 degrees or more) to prevent perching in the first place 5.
Visual and Sensory Deterrents
These methods aim to scare or disorient birds using sight, sound, or touch.
- Visual Scare Devices: Reflective tape, spinning deterrents, and predator decoys (like owls or hawks) can provide a temporary solution. However, birds often become habituated to these if they are not moved regularly 8.
- Bird Gels & Liquids: Non-toxic, sticky substances can be applied to ledges. Birds dislike the tactile sensation on their feet and will avoid the treated area 5.
- Sonic & Ultrasonic Devices: These emit sounds that are irritating or alarming to birds. Sonic units play recorded distress calls, while ultrasonic devices emit high-frequency sounds inaudible to humans. Their effectiveness can vary with the environment and bird species 9.
Habitat Modification (Source Reduction)
This critical step addresses why birds are on your property. By removing attractants, you make the location less appealing.
- Eliminate Food Sources: Securing trash cans with tight-fitting lids, cleaning up spilled grain or seed around loading docks, and advising neighbors to stop feeding pigeons are essential steps 1 4.
- Remove Water Sources: Fix leaky faucets, cover or regularly change water in decorative features, and ensure proper drainage to eliminate standing water 7.
- Manage Landscaping: Trim tree branches back from roofs and buildings to remove easy access routes and landing spots 2.
Find the perfect bird & pigeon control for your needs
Get personalized recommendations and expert advice
What to Expect from Professional Bird Control Services
When you contact a local Kettering specialist for bird abatement, the process typically follows a structured approach. It begins with a thorough inspection of your property to identify the bird species, entry points, roosting sites, and attractants. The professional will then discuss a customized plan that may combine several of the methods listed above. The goal is always a humane, long-term solution rather than a temporary fix.
Installation of physical barriers like spikes or netting is a common part of the service. For commercial properties, this can be a significant project requiring specialized equipment and safety protocols, especially for large warehouses or multi-story buildings 3. Many companies also offer ongoing maintenance plans to ensure deterrents remain effective and to monitor for new activity.
Understanding Costs for Bird Management
The cost of bird and pigeon control in Kettering varies widely based on the property size, infestation severity, and methods required. An initial inspection or minor repair job may range from $100 to $250 10. For a typical residential home requiring spikes on several ledges and vent screening, homeowners might invest between $300 and $1,000 11. Commercial projects, particularly those involving extensive netting systems for large facades or loading docks, can cost several thousand dollars 6 10. It's important to get a detailed, written estimate that outlines the scope of work, materials, and any warranty offered.
Legal and Humane Considerations
It's crucial to remember that most birds, including pigeons, are protected under federal law (the Migratory Bird Treaty Act). However, common pigeons (rock doves), European starlings, and house sparrows are not protected and can be managed more freely. A reputable Kettering bird control professional will understand these regulations and focus on humane deterrents and exclusion methods. Lethal control is rarely necessary or recommended for long-term success and often carries legal and public relations risks 12. The focus should always be on creating an environment where birds choose not to be, not on harming them.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
Footnotes
-
Pigeon control: Removal & Information | Ehrlich Pest Control - https://www.jcehrlich.com/pest-insights/birds/species/pigeons ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4
-
Greater Dayton Ohio Bird Removal Service - https://barneswildlifecontrol.com/bird-removal/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4
-
Bird Control for Warehouses - https://www.birdbgone.com/bird-problem/warehouse-bird-control/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3
-
Pigeons in the garden - RSPCA - https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/birds/pigeons/garden ↩ ↩2
-
How to Get Rid of Pigeons: Overview of All Available Solutions - https://www.ovocontrol.com/how-to-get-rid-of-pigeons ↩ ↩2 ↩3
-
Bird Deterrents For Businesses - RK Environmental Services - https://www.rkenvironmental.com/blog/pest-management/bird-deterrents-for-businesses ↩ ↩2
-
How To Keep Birds Away From Your House - State Farm® - https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/residence/how-to-keep-birds-out-of-my-yard ↩ ↩2
-
Best Bird Deterrents: Buyers Guide For 2024 - Avian Enterprises - https://aviancontrolinc.com/best-bird-deterrents/ ↩
-
Best Bird Control Methods | Top Solutions for Your Needs - https://www.networksbirdnet.com/blogs/best-bird-control-methods.html ↩
-
How much does Bird control services cost? - Yelp - https://www.yelp.com/costs/bird_control_services ↩ ↩2
-
Pigeon Control Cost and Pigeon Removal Cost - https://billstermiteco.com/pigeon-control-cost/ ↩
-
Bird control - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_control ↩
