Need bat or bird guano removal for your property?
Whether your concerns are bird guano health risks or the damage bats are causing to your metalworks, we provide bat and bird guano removal with DEFRA and Natural England permissions.
Reliable Guano Removal Services in the UK
At RJS Waste Management, we understand the serious problems that bat and bird guano can create for both domestic and commercial properties. Beyond being unsightly, guano poses health and safety risks and must be handled with care.
Whether you’re dealing with scattered droppings on exterior surfaces or significant build-up inside a property, our specialist guano removal services are here to help.
Why Bat and Bird Guano Removal is Essential
Bat and bird guano may seem like a minor nuisance at first, but if left unaddressed, it can lead to serious health risks and long-term maintenance issues for property owners. Understanding how guano builds up is key to recognising why professional removal is essential.
How Guano Accumulates
The presence of bats or birds leads to the build-up of guano, which requires regular removal to prevent health and maintenance concerns.
Bats often find refuge in buildings, particularly within roof spaces or hidden in narrow gaps behind tiles and boarding. Pigeons commonly take advantage of slipped roof tiles to access roof voids. These are spaces where bats and birds can roost and breed unnoticed for several years. Gulls usually prefer more prominent spots, perching on rooftops or chimney pots as they keep watch for feeding opportunities.
Why Guano Removal Is Critical
- Health Hazards
Guano can harbour dangerous pathogens. Both bird and bat droppings can contain bacteria and parasites that pose risks to humans, especially when dried guano becomes airborne and is inhaled. - Structural Damage
The acidic nature of guano can corrode metals and permanently damage surfaces. Guano removal is essential to prevent weakening of building materials and costly repairs over time. - Unpleasant Odours
Large guano accumulations emit a strong, persistent smell that can permeate buildings and become difficult to remove without deep cleaning and decontamination. - Attracting Other Pests
Guano attracts insects such as flies, mites, and beetles. Many of these pests may carry disease or become infestations themselves. This secondary pest problem can escalate quickly and impact building hygiene. - Aesthetic and Property Value Impact
Visibly stained ledges or roofs can negatively impact the appearance and perceived value of a property. For commercial premises, it can affect public perception and even violate health and safety regulations.
Health Risks of Bat and Bird Guano
Though bird guano is not a general health hazard, dried excrement that is disturbed can irritate the bronchial passages of those with pre-existing respiratory conditions. According to the Health and Safety Executive, when dust or water droplets containing contaminated bird droppings are inhaled, they can result in diseases such as psittacosis and salmonella. Cryptococcus has also been linked with soil contaminated by pigeon droppings, which can cause lung infections or meningitis.
The Bat Conservation Trust notes that while rare, allergic reactions to dust inhalation and gastrointestinal infections from consuming bat droppings are possible.
The proper removal of guano is therefore essential to minimise exposure to these harmful pathogens and reduce health risks.
Safe Removal of Bat and Bird Guano in the UK
In most circumstances, guano removal and disposal can be carried out by the property owner. Before starting, it’s important to carry out simple health and safety checks to make sure the cleaning can be done safely.
However, there are times when the scale of the problem is too large for an individual to manage safely. That’s where we come in. At RJS Waste Management, we are experienced in guano removal from large roosts that have been in use for many years. When dealing with significant amounts of well-dried guano, our experts use specialist protective clothing and equipment to carry out the work safely and effectively.
Our Expert Guano Removal Process
Whether guano is gathering at a perch site or roost site, the first step is to carry out an inspection to determine whether the area is currently being used by birds or bats.
It is a criminal offence to disturb an active bird nest or its contents. In such cases, removal requires permission from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and a licensed wildlife rehabilitator may also need to be consulted.
As a European protected species, bats, as well as their resting places and breeding sites, are also protected by law. If guano removal risks disturbing them, a licence may be required from Natural England before any work can be carried out.
Once we know we can proceed with the guano removal, we will then carry out the following preparations:
- Conduct a full health and safety risk assessment, especially if areas to be cleaned involve working at height
- Prepare appropriate protective clothing and equipment, such as Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE)
- Write a site-specific method statement and/or plan of works
- Where lawful and necessary, arrange for the safe removal of birds or bats
- Where possible, block entry and exit points
- Install plastic sheeting to avoid the spread of any contamination
Bird and bat guano removal techniques include the following:
- Dampening dried guano to make removal safer and easier
- Removal using a paint scraper or hot, soapy disinfectant water with a scrubbing brush
- Bagging up the waste and disposing of it at a registered facility, for which all documentation will be provided
- Bird deterrents installed as soon as the surface is clean and dry
With our efficient guano removal services, we are here to clean up when nature calls! Please get in touch for more information or for a no-obligation quotation.
Bird proofing
Alongside our bat and bird guano removal services, our trained operatives install a variety of bird deterrents. These include spikes, wires, and scarers to prevent birds from roosting and causing damage. We offer solutions for all property types, sizes, and budgets:
Anti-bird spikes: Rigid stainless steel or plastic spikes about 8 inches high to prevent birds from landing on chimneys, gutters or statues. Cost-effective, durable, and RSPB-approved for pigeons.
Post and wire bird proofing: Discreet solution using spring-loaded stainless steel wires fixed by posts on ledges, beams, and railings. Suitable for brick, stone, and concrete and are easy to maintain and remove.
Chimney bird proofing: Essential for preventing gulls and pigeons from nesting in chimney pots. Options include spikes or wire cowls, tailored to prevent guano removal and blockages.
Solar panel bird proofing: Wire mesh installed between panels and roof to prevent pigeons nesting and guano build-up. Fast, efficient installation, including hard-to-reach areas.
Bird scaring: Preferred methods include mobile predator decoys, reflective light repellers, and non-toxic repellent gels that deter birds visually and by smell, suitable for most solid surfaces.
Different types of proofing are required to effectively deter various species of bats and birds, so please contact us for advice tailored to your specific situation.