Why Starlings Invading the Home is a Bad Situation

A home’s roof may be prone to invasion by a multitude of different pests, particularly birds. Starlings are especially prone to nesting in a roof and can cause damage and other issues that you cannot tolerate. Thankfully, many treatment methods provide you with the care you need to get them out for good. Learn more about these birds and the treatment methods below.

How Starlings Invade Homes 

Starling entry methods vary depending on the home. For example, the Humane Society states that various openings to a roof — particularly vents and windows — provide easy access to many starlings. These roof areas may be unprotected or ignored by many homeowners and degrade to the point where easy access is possible for starlings and other pests. 

However, these birds are not incredibly hefty and may also push their body through small cracks in your shingles and roofing and gain easy access to the inside of your roof. Cracks as small as one-inch in diameter may be large enough for starlings to invade your home. 

Why Starlings Invade Roofs 

Starlings, like other birds, are smarter than you may think. These birds want to find a nest that is too high for predators to find and sheltered in an unexpected area. And once a starling finds an opening in your roof, they’ll happily move in because your roof is safe from predators and will be protected from the elements. 

You cannot tolerate starlings once they enter your home. The United States Department of Agriculture states that these birds can create health concerns for homeowners because they carry dangerous diseases and may do minor damage to a home’s structure. This damage, while small, may worsen pre-existing problems such as cracks in shingles.

Even worse, starling fecal matter may collect in your roof and cause an unsanitary and bad-smelling home that may be problematic for you and your family. As a result, you need to get the birds out as quickly as possible. 

What Methods Manage Starlings 

Many starling control methods exist, and the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management discusses them all. This site breaks down each control method into several categories, including habitat modification, repellents, traps, and toxicants. Each technique provides unique benefits that make them useful in a variety of situations. 

For example, you could modify the starling’s environment and seal all one-inch openings throughout the exterior of your home. This step is wise as a preventative method or if you don’t want to harm any birds. Repellents, such as bad-smelling sprays, visual repellents, and sound producers will keep starlings — and all other birds — away from your roof and the rest of your home. 

If you already have one or two starlings in your roof, traps provide a nonlethal way to remove them. After you trap the starling, you can take the bird to a wild location where they can safely nest. However, you may also use toxicants, such as various forms of chemical pesticides, to kill the starlings in your home and to make them easier to remove. This option is wise if your roof contains many birds.

Who Can Help You Out 

While some homeowners may be capable of starling treatment methods, professional help is often a wise choice. Many pest professionals fully understand starling control techniques and will implement them on your home to keep these birds out for good. 

If starlings invade your home and you want them out, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Craig & Sons Termite & Pest Control, Inc., to learn more. Our professionals focus on a variety of different pests and control methods and will get your home free of invasive birds.