Bothersome Birds

Spring will soon be upon us once again and as it approaches we see animal activity begin to increase. Already, this year we have noticed a sharp increase in animal relocation calls for February and March. I believe this to be due to the inconsistent weather we have been experiencing.We have trapped and relocated dozens of animals, such as raccoons, opossum, skunks and coyote.

We have also spent a lot of time performing animal and bird exclusion services.Exclusion calls from frantic homeowners always begin this time a year. They desperately want for us to solve problems with birds nesting in dryer and bathroom exhaust fan vents. Bird often enter unprotected vents to nest for the spring. Often venturing throughout the vent piping system birds can get stuck in bathroom exhaust fans.Vents are a wonder spot for birds to build nests and protect their young. They are very difficult for predators to enter and they typically are fairly high from the ground.

Unfortunately nesting birds can be a problem with proper vent ventilation, vent operation,and odors entering the home. In addition the scratching, chirping and other noises birds make can be very annoying.My mother-in-law, Ruth, tells a story where she was doing her hair in the her bathroom when a very disturbing event happened. While brushing her hair, she saw something fall from the bathroom exhaust fan. To her horror, from the reflection in the bathroom mirror, she saw several maggots on her shoulder.

Apparently, a bird had entered through the outside vent, traveled through the pipes, got stuck in the bathroom fan and died. A typical bird exclusion call for us is to assess and inspect each vent for bird activity. Some homes can have vents as high as 25 feet off of the ground, requiring a sizable extension ladder. Nesting materials inside the vents are thoroughly removed and cleaned. We also inspect pipes to ensure that all connections are intact.After cleaning we install a bird cover over the existing vent. Vent covers are securely attached with four stainless steel screws.

Once the bird cover is installed we move on to the next vent.This process is not rocket science and is an easy preventative procedure that can be done by most homeowners. This is definitely a procedure that should be done to prevent birds from gaining access to the interior of your home.

Practical Jokes We Play.

My son, Erik, being a practical joker at times, got me one day while installing a bird vent. He was up the ladder about 15 feet cleaning a vent. He was pulling handful after handful of nesting materials and dropping it below. The bag I was using to collect the dropping was filling up, so I decided to go to the truck and get another bag.

My devilish son could not resist himself and as I turned the corner of the home, he quickly slid down the ladder and laid down on the grass. When I returned, I almost had a heart attack when I noticed him on the ground. I couldn’t believe that he fell and since he wasn’t moving I thought for sure that he was seriously hurt. I dropped the everything and ran over to him.

It didn’t take very long for me to figure out that he was all right since he started laughing hysterically. I was pretty upset at him for a while, however, I give him credit for holding a straight face for as long as he did.

As always, anytime you require a professional trapper, make sure they are licensed with the Michigan Department of Natural Resource and insured. Cost varies greatly so do your homework and call several trappers and compare pricing for the services offered.

Ron Baker is the owner of Trapper Rons Humane Animal Removal & Relocation Services located in Farmington Hills. He assists homeowners and business with all wildlife nuisance issues in Farmington and surrounding cities. He can be reached at (248) 426-0036.