When a major logistics warehouse in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Montérégie, reported the persistent presence of rock pigeons in and around its facilities, managers knew they had to act quickly. The manure accumulated on loading docks, metal structures and equipment not only posed a serious health risk to employees, but also a threat to the company’s compliance with industrial hygiene standards. Nova Extermination was mandated to design and deploy a sustainable pest bird exclusion and control solution.
Initial Inspection and Risk Assessment
From the first days of the mandate, our team carried out a complete inspection of the building envelope and interior spaces. We identified several areas of active perching: the high-rise steel beams inside the warehouse, the exterior canopies above the docks, and the window sills on the north side. The pigeons had taken up residence in at least three separate nesting areas, indicating a well-established colonization.
The assessment also identified entry points used by birds to enter the building: two poorly jointed dormers, openings around ventilation ducts, and inadequately caulked spaces under the sectioning doors. This phase of analysis is fundamental to any serious pest control program, as it guides all subsequent actions.
Exclusion and deterrence work
The intervention strategy was based on three complementary components. First, we installed high-strength exclusion nets at the most critical interior entry points, especially around loading areas. These nets physically prevent birds from accessing storage spaces while allowing air circulation.
Secondly, stainless steel anti-perch spikes were installed on all horizontal surfaces suitable for landing: roof ledges, exposed beams, canopies and wall caps. This type of mechanical device is recognized as one of the most effective and sustainable methods of discouraging pigeons from establishing themselves on an industrial structure.
Third, a polybutylene-based repellent gel was applied to windowsills and narrow surfaces where the application of spikes was technically difficult. This product creates an uncomfortable feeling when in contact with the birds’ paws without injuring them, prompting them to leave the area permanently.
To consolidate these measures, our team worked with the warehouse maintenance department to hermetically seal the openings identified during the inspection. The work included the installation of galvanized mesh around the ventilation ducts and the application of expanding foam in the wall cavities, in coordination with our caulking service at the points of entry.
Cleaning and decontamination of soiled areas
Pigeon droppings contain potentially dangerous pathogens, including the bacterium Chlamydophila psittaci that causes psittacosis, as well as fungi such as Histoplasma capsulatum. After the birds were excluded, our specialized team carried out a deep cleaning of all roosting and nesting areas. The work involved high-pressure dry suction of solids, followed by spray disinfection with a registered biopesticide that is effective against bacteria and mould.
All nesting material (twigs, feathers, organic matter) was bagged and disposed of according to the appropriate protocols. Employees with access to the treated areas were informed of the protective measures to be followed during the treatment period.
You can consult other similar mandates we have carried out, including our bird exclusion in a commercial building and our intervention against starlings in an industrial environment, to better understand the extent of our expertise.
Monitoring and results
A monitoring program over several weeks was set up to verify the effectiveness of the installed devices. Regular inspection visits confirmed that pigeons were no longer present inside the building and that attempts to relocate to the outer ledges had ceased. Minor adjustments were made to a few areas where birds were still trying to land despite the spikes, including adding an additional row of devices to an accessible section of roof on the east side.
The operations manager reported a noticeable improvement in the cleanliness of the docks and a significant reduction in employee complaints about droppings. The company can now maintain its hygiene standards without constant intervention. Our team remains available for annual follow-up inspections and to adapt the system according to the evolution of the avian pressure on the Saint-Jean-Baptiste site, at the foot of Mont Saint-Hilaire.