Swallow Infestations: Risks, Damage, and Prevention Tips

Like many of nature's creatures, swallows have their purpose. However, they also have a tendency of being significantly annoying. These aggressive birds build mud nests, accumulate corrosive feces, cause damage and, to horrified residents, are known to dive-bomb. Worse, they are territorial, known to return to the same properties every season.

Unfortunately, the swallow is federally protected, meaning they cannot be harmed. To do so, you could face penalties and criminal and civil violations.

Issues Swallows Can Cause

Swallows’ mud nests and actions can threaten a property's health. Here are a few issues caused by swallows that promote environmental stress.

• Health considerations: Swallow droppings are acidic and destructive. They erode metal, paint and even concrete. The waste carries disease-influencers like Salmonella. Droppings also hold mold spores that can aggravate respiratory conditions.
  
• Noise pollution: Swallows can be loud and disruptive.
  
• Property damage: Swallows live in nests made from mud. Over time, the nests can ruin eave effectiveness, deface siding and clog vents or gutters. The nests have led to fire hazards and water damage.
  
• Unwanted behaviors: Territorial swallows are defensive. They tend to return to the same properties and will dive-bomb occupants they feel are threatening nests.
  
• Parasites: Nests breed blood-sucking ectoparasites and bugs. These creatures will migrate from the nest into property structures where they bite humans and pets.
  

Keep Swallows Away with Critter Guard

Unfortunately, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to disturb or remove swallow nests, making it difficult to deal with an infestation.

Fortunately, Critter Guard’s BirdBloc product is engineered to deter swallows from nesting on your property in the first place. Eco-friendly and approved, BirdBloc adheres to federal laws while keeping properties safe. BirdBloc is a specialized product used before nesting season that forces the animals to find other places to live. For more information about BirdBloc and how it can help prevent swallows from invading your property, contact us today!