Prevent Gulls From Nesting On Your Rooftops This Spring

While gulls can be a nuisance in any season, nesting season, which begins in March and April is when gulls are most territorial and aggressive to other gulls and humans alike! Biologically, gulls will return to where they were born or previously nested to lay eggs, so if your property has experienced gull issues in the past, you may be at risk of returning nesters this Spring. However, proper management of gulls and gull egg removal is not a simple process, and requires permits and approvals by multiple regulators, including the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the United States Fish & Wildlife Service, and in some instances, State regulators. Gulls are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and as such, you may find yourself hosting hundreds of unruly and destructive “guests” this May, if you don’t take action now to secure permits.  

As it’s February, there’s still time to take action. Here are 4 signs your rooftop is vulnerable to nesting gulls. If you identify with these signs, contact us, before it’s too late. 

4 Signs Your Rooftop Is Vulnerable To Nesting Gulls

Before selecting a site to nest, gulls will scout different locations. There are telltale signs to their behavior that might alert you in advance of their intentions to nest on your property:

1. Loafing: If you see gulls repeatedly spending time on your property, chances are they’re scoping your building as a potential site to nest. 
2. Increased Droppings: When you begin to see more than the usual amount of gull waste on your rooftop or around the building, it’s time to take action. Gull droppings are acidic and can harm rooftops and equipment: bacteria from gull waste can get into HVAC systems and create a health risk inside the building. Accumulation of fecal matter can also clog roof runoff drains and cause general damage to the roof itself. 
3. Increasing volume of gull sounds: Gulls are social creatures. Colonies range between 30-1000 birds and become deafening when disturbed. If your rooftop has been selected as a nesting ground for gulls, chances are, you are at risk of dozens, if not hundreds of gulls. 
4. Rooftop debris: The appearance of debris like twigs, rocks or pebbles on your roof is a good sign that gulls may be taking an interest in your rooftop. 

When to Call an Expert

Managing gulls on your own in nesting season is not recommended – from a safety, effectiveness, and legal perspective. In addition to navigating the complexities of multi-agency permitting requirements, the most effective management of gull conflicts is built around a deep knowledge of bird biology and behavior. 

At Wild Goose Chase, our staff is well-trained and experienced in the identification and management of problem gulls. Our team of experts has over 25 years of experience helping properties obtain permits and coming up with safe and cost-effective bird management strategies that are proven to protect your property and the people who use it. Wild Goose Chase will visit your property frequently (every 2-3 weeks) in order to keep the problem under control. Our goal is to deter gulls from your property to prevent nesting, or to remove eggs with proper permits if nesting has already occurred. Below is one example of a solution we offer: handheld lasers: 

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Finally, once the nesting season is over, we can do a roof cleanup to make sure debris from nesting gulls doesn’t clog drains or cause further damage to rooftops. Get started today with professional help from Wild Goose Chase, before birds hatch and your options disappear. Once the gull eggs hatch, we have to wait until next season, so February is the best time to get your permitting process started.

Your Partner for Nuisance Bird Management

With years of experience, Wild Goose Chase uses the best practices with proven results. The use of multiple tools and techniques will help in keeping your rooftops safe and clean. When it comes to problem birds you must have the proper permits and handle damage management with care. Wild Goose Chase will take away the guesswork on how to properly deal with problem gulls on your property. With proven results it is always best to ask the experts! See how Wild Goose Chase can help you today!