Feeding birds might seem like a kind or harmless act—especially when you see them flocking around a shopping center or office building. But is it really okay to feed birds around your building?
While it may feel like you’re helping nature, the reality is that feeding birds in commercial areas often causes more harm than good. Here’s what property managers, facility operators, and store employees need to know.
Birds Are Wild Animals — They Don’t Need Our Help
Many people feed birds because they worry about them during bad weather or believe they’re doing something kind. But birds are highly adaptable wild animals with natural instincts for survival. They’ve lived for thousands of years without human handouts and are fully capable of finding food on their own—even in colder months. In fact, regular feeding can disrupt their natural foraging behavior and make them overly dependent on people. What might feel helpful is often doing more harm than good in the long run.
Feeding Birds Encourages Unwanted Habits
One of the biggest issues with feeding birds near commercial buildings is that it trains them to stick around. Instead of finding natural food sources, they learn to rely on humans—especially store employees or customers who toss bird seed their way. This leads to larger flocks congregating around entrances, rooftops, parking lots, and loading docks.
We’ve seen situations where employees throw handfuls of bird seed outside the store “just to be nice.” While well-intentioned, this behavior leads to persistent bird activity, which can quickly spiral into a major issue.
Health Hazards and Property Damage
Where there are birds, there’s bird droppings—and that’s no small matter. One common complaint we hear from commercial property owners is bird poop on shopping carts. This not only creates an unsightly and unsanitary experience for customers, but also presents health concerns.
Bird droppings can contain bacteria, parasites, and even fungal spores, which can become airborne and pose respiratory risks. In fact, some facilities end up posting signs telling customers not to use carts because they’re so contaminated. That’s a red flag for any business.
Feeding birds doesn’t just invite them to stay—it creates an environment where they feel welcome to nest, roost, and leave behind messes.
Damage to Supplies and Inventory
Feeding birds can also lead to costly damage. In one case we observed, a bag of bird scratch left outside a store was torn open—not by a careless employee, but by the birds themselves. Once they learn food is available in a certain area, they’ll return again and again. Over time, this leads to ruined supplies, loss of inventory, and ongoing cleanup costs.
Feeding Birds = Long-Term Problems
Commercial buildings that attract birds can face a cascade of issues: blocked vents, contaminated HVAC systems, and customer complaints. What begins as a single bag of seed or a small feeding habit can quickly turn into a much larger bird control problem.
The best way to prevent bird infestations is to eliminate food sources, secure trash bins, and ensure that no one is feeding the birds. Education is key—let your employees and customers know that feeding birds, while well-meaning, creates long-term problems for your facility.
Final Thoughts
So, is it okay to feed birds around your building? The answer is clear: No. Feeding birds at commercial properties invites health hazards, structural damage, and reputation issues. If you’re already seeing signs of bird activity—like droppings, torn bags, or flocks lingering near entrances—it’s time to take action.
A professional bird removal team can assess the situation and help you address it in a safe, effective way—without relying on harmful or ineffective tools.