DIY Guide: How to Safely Remove Stray Birds from Commercial Properties

Finding a bird trapped inside your warehouse, sports facility, or factory might seem like a minor inconvenience, but ignoring the problem can lead to serious consequences. Bird droppings create slip hazards and carry diseases like histoplasmosis and salmonella. A single bird can contaminate products, damage equipment with corrosive waste, trigger additional cleaning services, and even create costly shutdowns if discovered during health inspections or if it interferes with events and facility operations. Additionally, one stray bird today can become a nesting problem tomorrow, attracting more birds and escalating the situation.

Rather than waiting for the problem to worsen, facility managers should safely remove these unwanted visitors from the moment they enter premises. Because birds can travel in three dimensions, and almost all bird species are protected at the Federal level by the Migratory Bird Act, removing a stray bird is not as simple as setting up a trap to get rid of it like other types of pests. To remove single birds from indoor facilities, Wild Goose Chase recommends using handheld bird lasers. Here’s your step-by-step guide to clearing birds from commercial spaces using handheld lasers:

Step 1: Locate the Bird

Before taking action, identify exactly where the bird is perched or flying. Note the nearest exits and assess the clearest path to guide the bird outdoors. This initial survey helps you plan your approach and determine how many people you’ll need.

Step 2: Clear the Area

If possible, before beginning the removal procedures, ensure the facility is not in active use. All personnel should be removed from the impacted space, and machinery should be turned off. This safety measure protects workers and prevents the stray bird from becoming more agitated by activity and noise. If shutting down operations is not possible, minimize activity and noise in the immediate area of removal.

Step 3: Control the Lighting

Turn off interior lights in the room or facility where the bird is present. The only light source should come from the exit where you want the bird to leave. Birds naturally fly toward light, making this environmental adjustment crucial to your success.

Step 4: Deploy the Agrilaser 500 Handheld Laser

Using the Agrilaser 500 handheld bird laser, begin sweeping the laser beam from the direction farthest from the exit. This gentle pressure encourages the bird to evacuate its perched area or fly away from the beam. Critical safety note: Never shine lasers directly at people or anyone’s eyes. Laser exposure can cause serious eye damage.

For optimal results, use two Agrilaser 500 units positioned across from one another. Operators should create a crisscross pattern that limits the bird’s escape routes, funneling it toward the exit. When using multiple lasers, ensure operators never point devices toward each other. Gradually guide the bird toward the open exit until it flies outdoors. As the bird nears the intended exit, it is important to reduce pressure and keep your distance with the laser to give the bird time to choose to exit. Closing in too aggressively and too quickly can often cause birds to bounce back to the far end of the area away from the exit.  If this happens, start the process over again with more distance between the bird and the laser and exercise extra patience.

Step 5: Using Mist Nets as a Last Resort

If the laser method proves ineffective or infeasible—particularly if the bird is injured, exhausted, or persistently avoiding the exit—mist nets can be strategically deployed. These fine-mesh nets are designed to safely capture birds in flight without causing harm. Position mist nets perpendicular to the bird’s expected flight path, ideally between its current location and areas it repeatedly flies toward. Once the bird flies into the net and becomes gently entangled, approach calmly and carefully extract it by working from the head backward, supporting its body to prevent injury. Keep handling time minimal to reduce stress, then immediately release the bird outdoors in a safe location away from the building. If mist nets are to be deployed, it’s important that your property works with professionals such as Wild Goose Chase. Mist net use may require permits in some jurisdictions. This method requires training and should only be attempted by trained professionals.

Prevention Strategies

The best approach is preventing birds from entering initially. Keep your facility clean of food debris and standing water that attracts birds and allows it to survive indoors. Close doors and loading docks when not in use. With proper technique and safety precautions, removing stray birds becomes a manageable task for any facility manager—but don’t hesitate to bring in experts when the situation demands it.

When to Call the Professionals

For more extensive bird problems—such as multiple birds, recurring intrusions, or established roosting sites—facility managers should contact Wild Goose Chase for professional support. Facility managers should also reach out to our team of professionals if the trapped bird is a federally protected species, such as hawks or falcons, as their protected status makes it particularly important to treat the removal process with care. Our team can provide expert removal, as well as install deterrent and exclusion mechanisms to minimize bird entry. We offer over 30 solutions that have been extensively field tested to ensure efficacy. Professional intervention ensures compliance with safety standards while addressing the root causes of bird intrusion. If you have birds in your indoor facilities, call Wild Goose Chase today to set up a consultation and assessment.