Need bat or bird guano removal for your property?

Though we love wildlife here at RJS Waste Management UK, we know that guano from bats and birds can cause real issues for building managers and property owners alike. Not only are they an eyesore but they can have health and safety implications and must be removed with care.

Whether your domestic or commercial building suffers random soiling to its exterior or guano exists in large quantities inside the property, our bat and bird guano removal services could be just what you need.

Why remove bat and bird guano?

Bats can be found sheltering in many buildings, especially in cracks behind tiles and boarding or in roof spaces. Often, pigeons will exploit a slipped roof tile to gain access to a roof void and, if there is no access from within the property, the birds may roost and breed unnoticed for several years. While gulls can usually be found perched atop roofs or chimney pots from which they look out for feeding opportunities. And where there are bats and birds there is guano…

The two most common causes of bird soiling to buildings are:

1. Overnight/breeding roosts
2. Daytime perches

Overnight roosting usually results in much larger quantities of bird droppings being present than daytime perching. Roosting birds are static for 8-16 hours a day and their soiling is found in deeper piles directly beneath their roosting spot.

But perched birds will use a building as a vantage point to exploit food sources during the day and so tend to move around more, checking other feeding sites and staying wary of predators. This means guano from perched birds is more random and spread over a larger area.

Bats, on the other hand, hibernate in the winter so are dormant from November until March at the earliest. During this time, they only wake to excrete occasionally. Once active, they roost during the day and leave their colony at around sunset. Between dusk and dawn, they tend to fly around for two-five hours at a time. So, they spend longer periods at roost sites than their feathered friends.

You might have installed bird deterrents, such as spikes or netting, to the outside of your building or had a flock of pigeons removed from inside your building, but their excrement might still be causing you issues. Likewise, bats as a protected species in the UK, might be creating a foul problem at your property that is not easily dealt with. These might include:

• Permanent damage to building materials e.g. etched polished surfaces, stained porous stone and corroded metals
• Ruined aesthetics
• Unpleasant smells
• Attraction of insects and further pests
• Possible health risks

In most circumstances, guano removal and disposal can be carried out by the property owner. Common sense combined with a basic health and safety risk assessment is all that is required before undertaking most cleaning operations.

But there will be instances where the scale of the problem is beyond the capability of an individual and, in these circumstances, the RJS Waste Management team would be happy to help. We are usually called in for the clearance of guano in large-scale roosts that have been used for many years. For these jobs, where there are large quantities of well-dried guano, specialist clothing, equipment and experience is necessary.

Alongside our bird guano removal services, we offer a range of bird deterrent solutions that our work at height trained operatives can install at your convenience. Spikes, wires bird scarers and alike are designed to discourage birds from resting on your property and making a mess. We have bird proofing solutions to suit all property types, sizes and budgets detailed below:

Anti-bird spikes – Rigid spikes (stainless steel or plastic), at around eight inches high, stop birds from landing and roosting in popular bird guano problem areas. Whether installed on a chimney, gutter or statue, bird spikes are cost-effective, enduring, and unobtrusive. Along with metal coils, they are also approved by the RSPB for use against pigeons. Different anti-bird spikes are required to deter pigeons and gulls so please contact us for more information.

Post and wire bird proofing – Often preferred as a discreet solution, post and wire bird proofing is ideal for ornate and high-profile buildings. Spring-loaded stainless-steel wires fixed in place by posts on ledges, signs, beams, balustrades and handrails create a barrier for birds. Suitable for use on all types of brick, stone and concrete, once in place, post and wire bird proofing can be easily maintained and removed for building works. Different versions may be required to deter different types of birds so please contact us for more information.

 Chimney bird proofing – As chimney pots are a popular place for gulls and pigeons to perch and nest, good chimney bird proofing should be your priority. As well as protecting yourself from further bird guano removal costs, having an avian adversary fall inside a chimney stack is a huge inconvenience. Whether it is spikes or a wire cowl, we will assess and install the best chimney bird proofing to suit your needs.

 Solar panel bird proofing – Pigeons are known to nest under solar panels and, over time, bird guano removal becomes essential. To avoid damage to your solar panels, extra expense and health and safety implications, we can install wire mesh to cover the gap between the panels and roof. Boasting a fast and efficient team with cherry picker access to reach those awkward spots, you can count on our solar panel bird proofing service.    

Bird scaring – There are a variety of bird scaring devices on the market but RJS Waste Management favours three. Mobile predator decoys that move in the wind, such as hawk kites, should be positioned high for the best results. Reflective light repellers also use the wind but they catch the light and deter birds with a glint. However, these only work during the day. While non-toxic bird repellent gel combines strong visual and olfactory effects to discourage birds from landing. These can be applied to most solid structures.