What you need to know to stop birds from threatening your re-opening
May, 2020, will see the re-opening of businesses in some parts of the country (that’s good!). This month also brings increased bird activity (that’s not-so-good). Meridian has deep and long experiences with birds and what they’re up to this time of year. But you’ve probably noticed 2020 has not been like other years.
Birds in the midst of the pandemic
We know all of you are taking extra precautions during the coronavirus pandemic, increasing your cleaning protocols and maintaining extra vigilance. Watching for birds should be part of that vigilance. We’ve already written at length on the diseases and parasites birds bring into buildings, and that’s aside from the damage their droppings cause. If a bird gets in to your facility, you need it removed ASAP.
The month of May is when most birds begin nesting. They are looking for sheltered locations, and whether your building is a warehouse or a retail store, it’s guaranteed to be attractive to birds. That’s why your first job is to stop birds from getting in. Make sure doors are closed when not in use. If you have holes or gaps in your walls or at the roofline, seal them.
Food safety is paramount
Also, train your workers to practice food safety. Keep break areas clean and dispose of all trash—especially food waste—in sealed receptacles. If an employee sees a bird, report it immediately to your designated Bird Point Person (you have one, right?). Also, it’s a good idea to train people to take steps to drive out nuisance birds quickly. We’ve seen customers lose thousands of dollars’ worth of food to these feathered critters. One supermarket we serve had to dispose of their entire hot food bar because a bird landed on it!
The Nuisance of Nests
If a bird does manage to start building a nest, stop it immediately. A nest will become the nexus for bird-carried diseases, and once eggs appear, you may not be able to remove it. You can take any action to remove nests-in-progress. You may also remove inactive (containing no eggs or birds) nests. If eggs are present and the bird is a recognized nuisance species, such as sparrows or starlings, you can remove the nest. However, if the bird is a protected species, you need to call Meridian. There are many federally protected bird species—Meridian can help you identify if you have one when you call.
Meridian and COVID-19
Meridian Bird Removal remained operational during the national shutdown as an “essential business.” We received this designation from state governments due to our role in safeguarding the food supply. With a checkerboard of shortages, food safety is more important than ever, as any contamination results in losses no one can afford.
With that in mind, we’ve been taking extra precautions, practicing social distancing, using personal protective equipment (PPE), and sanitizing our equipment. We have always recommended wearing masks when removing nests. If you remove the nests, we urge you to wear PPE and sanitize any surface the nest touched.
With the basic protocols discussed here, you can keep birds from getting a foothold in your building, protect your inventory, and also keep your employees and customers safe. We’re all doing our part to preserve the food supply, our businesses, and people’s health.