Bird Management for Food Processing Facilities
Their adaptability, vision, and flight mobility make birds one of the most difficult pest to confront in the food industry. Birds present risks to your business, including your staff, property, products, and ultimately your profit. They threaten your food safety program because of the pathogens and parasites they carry. That is why bird management strategies are created with urgency and care. When approaching bird management tactics, it should always be met with sensitivity and the ultimate goal of encouraging birds to go elsewhere.
Is Your Facility Attracting Birds?
Like other pests, birds search for food, water, and shelter – factors your food processing facilities offer. Your food processing plant will provide these three factors that could result in birds getting inside. Inspecting your facility for these attractants is necessary to keep birds away from your facility:
- Spillage of grain, flour, or other ingredients on the rooftop and on the surrounding grounds.
- Tall structures such as grain elevators or towering buildings that cliff-dwelling birds, like pigeons, appeal to.
- Covered roof areas with good exposure for birds to find sun or shade.
Bird situations can develop over time, sometimes taking years to fully develop into a major issue. The most difficult pest issue to overcome is the attachment of birds to a nesting site.
How Do I Deal with Indoor Birds?
Structures are susceptible to birds getting inside on occasion, but having a plan and being prepared for an immediate reaction is what sets facilities apart from others. Consider these immediate actions for handling indoor birds:
- Exclude the bird from entering the most critical areas with exposure to products. Be prepared to cover critical lines and equipment quickly.
- Allow the bird to fly out of the building. Darken the area the bird has entered and give the bird an open-door opportunity. Birds are drawn to light, consider coordinating with your staff to herd the bird towards an opening with flashlights or laser pointers.
- Prepare for fast trapping of indoor birds. Mist nests, or fine nests shaped like oversized volleyball nets, are invisible to birds and can be put up in flyways very quickly to entrap flying birds.
What’s Your Bird Management Plan?
Taking proactive bird precautions is the first step in avoiding risks. Birds can be difficult to control, making it imperative to work with a highly trained pest management expert to help develop a comprehensive, proactive plan to encourage birds to stay away from your facility. With the collaboration of a trained professional, your staff should always be aware of the procedures and protocols for a successful bird abatement program. IFC has over 85 years of experience, providing food safety professionals with strategies, products, and methods to maintain a pest-free environment.
