| July weather doesn’t look the same everywhere across the country. While the Southeast and Gulf Coast often deal with tropical storms and heavy rain, much of the Pacific Northwest and Northern states experience something else entirely…extended heat and dry conditions. But regardless of location, one thing stays consistent: extreme weather changes bird behavior. So you might be wondering, do hurricanes or tropical storms drive birds indoors? Do heat waves increase the likelihood of birds inside your facility?
Do hurricanes or tropical storms drive birds into stores? The answer is that they definitely can. These potentially volatile storms can create conditions where species we don’t see very often end up seeking your store for shelter. One year, we even received a call about a duck and her six ducklings wandering into a garden center of a store in Florida. Due to the nature of the species, the mother hen was confused and had wandered deeper into the store and into restricted areas trying to find an exit while the ducklings had been scooped up by a local wildlife rescue volunteer. Meridian helped to quickly and safely get the mother hen out of the store and reunited with her ducklings. This is just one example of how hurricanes and tropical storms can change bird behavior, driving them into places that they won’t find their way out of on their own. Hurricanes can also cause their own damage which can lead to birds finding their way into areas they wouldn’t have before. In 2017, Hurricane Maria damaged a customer’s building and destroyed an exclusion net, giving pigeons access to an elevator shaft for three years. We were able to assist in getting the birds out in time for the store’s routine safety inspection, which they passed easily once the birds and nests were removed. These instances are only two of several over the years that help illustrate how hurricanes or tropical storms can drive birds into stores. The heavy rainfall and wind can lead to you having a bird problem once the sun comes back out. Meridian can help solve the bird problem while you focus on other items on your to-do list. If you’re affected by a tropical storm or hurricane and now experiencing bird problems, give us a call today. Do birds become more aggressive during summer heat? On the other side of the country, we have an entirely different question and a similar answer. The summer heat can indeed make birds more aggressive and likely to find their ways inside your stores. During extended heat events, facilities may experience concentrated bird activity around cooling systems and shaded rooftop areas, increasing the risk of equipment interference and contamination. Not only that, but we’ve all seen the doors propped open with fans blowing in, in an effort to make customers and employees alike cooler. The birds think so too, leading them to fly right into the store with the extra gaps. Water features can also draw birds closer to your facility as you see an increased reliance on man-made water sources due to lack of water in the dry conditions. One thing is clear, whether driven by storm displacement or extreme heat, bird activity in July is largely reactive to environmental stressors—and commercial buildings frequently provide the most stable and resource-rich alternative. If you are dealing with a bird problem, we can create an Integrated Pest Bird Management program that fits your unique issue. Your protection from bird problems is our priority. If you need help, contact us today for a free consultation. |