by Alex A. Kecskes
Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin has some serious pest bird issues. It seems thousands of seagulls have been breeding in the large parking lots in the stadium areas of Green Bay. The gulls also seem to like the lots at Ashwaubenon. The lots bordered by Bart Starr Drive, Tony Canadeo Run, Reggie White Way and Lombardi Avenue have drawn the gulls in huge numbers, creating a nuisance for businesses.
While the presence of the large birds isn’t new, they have been gaining in number. The owner of a nearby sports bar admitted that his maintenance crews have been quite busy of late, cleaning up after the 5,000 to 7,000 gulls in the lot adjacent to his bar. Cleaning crews are constantly washing down the sidewalks and patio areas. No one wants to have bar patrons tracking in disease carrying gull droppings. There’s also the noise, which can be particularly loud and annoying.
Observers note that the gulls have been breeding on the roof of nearby Tundra Lodge, which was badly soiled from gulls that perched there for hours at a stretch. Over time, the acids in gull drippings can eat into roofing materials and cause a leak. Gull nests, droppings and debris can also clog rain gutters and spouts, again, causing roof leaks and possible long-term damage.
Officials say there’s not much they can do. The gulls are federally protected migratory birds, which means, once the eggs hatch, nothing can be done until they leave. The director of public works for Green Bay noted that more proactive bird deterrents would be used if the gulls return next year. Under consideration are kites that resemble ospreys and hawks to scare the birds away. The use of firecrackers is also being considered.
Fortunately, for the businesses around Lambeau Field, there is a solution to the gull problem. One that could save them a lot of grief and expense. It’s called the Stainless Steel Bird Spike.
These spike strips are easily mounted on rooftops, ledges, parapet walls, and signs--on any flat or curved surface where pest birds often flock. Today’s stainless steel spikes come in rows of spikes in 3-, 5- and 8-inch widths and two-foot sections. For gulls, 8-inch spikes provide 8 to 10 inches of deterrence on a 10-inch wide ledge. The best stainless steel spike features a patented “bend-and-crush” design for permanent installations. It has 40 spikes per foot in a linear array and a special “no-nest” design with no-gap spacing to deter birds from roosting or landing. Gulls faced with landing on or near these large spikes will simply move on.
Installation is a snap. Glue, nails or screws can be used to keep stainless steel spikes securely mounted. When installing the bird spikes, leave no gaps wider than two inches between the spiked strips. Multiple rows of spikes should be used for extra wide ledges.
Finally, before installing bird spikes, the surface should be clean and dry. Be sure to remove any loose rust, peeling paint, bird droppings, feathers and nesting materials. Leaving this debris will signal to birds that this is a lived-in area. You should also use commercial disinfecting cleaning agents to prevent exposure to any of the 60 known airborne diseases carried by birds. Use eye and respiratory protection if the area is heavily contaminated with droppings.
For additional advice on how to properly install stainless steel bird spikes, consult an expert like the folks at Bird-B-Gone.
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