When our BRTs (Bird Removal Technicians) are on a worksite, they get a lot of questions. Far from being put off by these questions, we find they provide an excellent public relations opportunity for us and for our customers. Here are some of the common questions we get from curious onlookers.
You’re not going to kill the birds, are you?
One thing we’re very proud of at Meridian is how we’ve changed the traditional process of interior bird removal. Before our patented process, exterminators had no choice but to come in when the store was closed and stage a precision air rifle shoot. Because this was done inside, the potential for property damage was high, and having bird corpses in the building wrought havoc on food safety and sanitation.
Some pest control companies still use precision shooting exclusively. This is not Meridian’s preferred method. We specialize in live bird capture and removal inside buildings. It’s safer for staff and customers, and we can usually stage our capture while your facility is open. Best of all, this capture method does not harm the bird.
Are those nets electrified?
No! We use the same nets ornithologists use to catch specimens in the wild. Like these scientists, we have no need or desire to harm or incapacitate the bird.
Why do you have to remove the bird? Can’t you just let it live here?
Birds may enter buildings by accident. They may also be enticed by the shelter, heat, and food found inside a store or warehouse. No matter the reason, living inside an artificial structure is very harmful to birds. Many birds suffer injuries from negotiating enclosed spaces latticed with metal beams, hanging signs, lights, and other obstructions. And the longer a bird lives inside, the less likely it can re-adapt to its natural habitat. We have captured birds that have lived inside for more than a year and found their feet deformed from perching on hard, unnatural surfaces. Some birds suffer health problems from a radically changed diet. We’ve even seen naturally diurnal birds become nocturnal. The place for birds is outside in their natural habitats.
So what do you do with the birds?
We release predatory birds (such as owls or hawks) right outside the building. A raptor almost never enters a structure purposefully, and they are always glad to be out.
For nuisance species (such as sparrows, grackles, and starlings), we take them in a ventilated container some distance and then release them into the wild. We will sometimes drive as far as ten miles from the capture site, as these birds have a tendency to return to the building if they can find it.
If a bird is injured, we take it to a wildlife rehab center. We maintain close relations with local wildlife and conservation groups, and more than a few BRTs are volunteers themselves. Some of the injured birds we’ve captured now reside in zoos.
The PR benefits of Meridian
Because we can work when your store is open, we often attract spectators. Store customers and employees find the process fascinating, and we never discourage an audience as long as it’s safe for them to watch. The capture is usually fast, and our BRTs always get the bird out of the nets as soon as possible. Concerned spectators can see the bird is alive and soon to be freed.
Our customers tell us this kind of transparency helps them present a compassionate face to the public, one that’s both concerned with customer safety and conserving wildlife. Our BRTs enjoy answering questions from customers and employees and will do everything they can to appeal to their curiosity. To a person, Meridian’s BRTs and team members are nature lovers, and nothing makes us happier than sharing our respect and knowledge of the natural world with you and your customers.
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