Content updated: October 16, 2026

Key takeaways

  • Food processing facilities consider birds a nuisance because many carry disease-causing pathogens and bird lice, damage property, contaminate products, and create distractions and hazards for employees.
  • Birds can compromise a food processing facility’s cleanliness and reputation and lead to food safety violations.
  • Common nuisance birds at food processing facilities include pigeons, swallows, sparrows, and starlings.
  • Bird prevention tips include keeping doors and windows closed whenever possible, sealing gaps and openings, having the roof inspected, removing food and water sources, looking for nests or roosting areas, and keeping trash areas clean.
  • Pest bird management methods include control gel, wire barriers, spikes, jolt tracks, and other specialized strategies such as netting, hazers, and video and audio deterrents.

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Many bird enthusiasts go to great lengths to attract winged creatures to their property using bird baths, feeders, seeds, and nectar. Some people even enjoy bird watching as a hobby. For food processing facilities, however, most birds are not desirable because of the contamination and other issues they can cause. Professional pest bird management services can help.

Bye, bye birdie

Different species of birds can pose problems for food processing facilities, depending on the location, but common offenders include:

  • Swallows
  • Pigeons
  • Sparrows
  • Starlings

If you notice birds in your facility, it’s important to act quickly to determine how they got inside. To help prevent birds from entering and becoming a problem, here are some bird-proofing tips:

  • Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible.
  • Properly seal cracks, gaps and holes in the structure.
  • Have a professional inspect the roof for any potential entry points and make necessary repairs.
  • Look outside your facility for any nearby nests or roosting areas where birds could be waiting to enter.
  • Remove any food or water sources.
  • Keep trash covered and emptied as often as possible. Pick up any garbage or trash that’s fallen around containers.

Dont wing it alone

Because bird problems can cause serious issues for food processing plants, including potential operational disruptions, it’s important to seek help from a commercial pest control company with experience in treating bird invasions. Terminix® Commercial has proven strategies for solving bird problems and helping keep birds away. In fact, Terminix Commercial technicians undergo protocol training and have knowledge of the local bird species that can undermine your business.

Terminix Commercial understands birds and matches their behavior with proper deterrent:

Control gel – An effective treatment for smaller birds, this gel helps repel birds because they likely won’t want to perch. Waterproof, almost colorless and odorless, the gel is effective, even in high temperatures.

Wire barrier – By creating an unstable surface, wire barriers help keep birds from landing on ledges. This post and wire system is ideal for areas where aesthetics are a concern.

Spikes – Using a system of stainless steel or polycarbonate spikes, this treatment helps prevent nuisance birds from landing or resting on building ledges and signs. The spikes are flexible enough to fit any contour and are virtually invisible.

Jolt Track – This low-profile treatment helps keep birds off ledges with a harmless electrical jolt (similar to a static electricity shock) when birds land on the track.

Other - There are other options that Terminix Commercial may use as well, like bird netting, bird hazers, Agrilaser® and various visual and audio deterrents. 

Don’t stand by and let birds peck away at your profits and productivity. Terminix Commercial can help you with bird problems, as well as other pest control procedures in the food industry. Start with a free estimate and watch your bird and pest problems fly away.

Request a free estimate