All the risks to ourselves and the damage to our buildings and heritage can be controlled. If you have a problem with these or similar pests, give us a call. Obviously due to location, etc. we may not be able to help you, but if we can, we'll do it for FREE.

Common Pests:

Feral pigeons build their nests in or on buildings and other structures like bridges. Fouling of these structures is inevitable. This is not only unsightly but may also have destructive effecs from feral pigeon droppings.

Feral pigeons also carry diseases that are harmful to man. Significantly more than a rat. The best known disease passed from birds to man is Psittacosis but over 40 more diseases can be passed from the feral pigeon to humans.

The growing house crow population created particular problem areas on the Cape Flats, including the Edith Stevens Wetland Park at Philippi, the fish market at Princess Vlei, and Cape Town International Airport.

The crows have also "attacked" Mitchell's Plain residents while scavenging for food, prompting dozens of complaints to the city's nature conservation authorities.

Because of the species' predatory and scavenging habits - it feeds on carrion and stores food in places like the eaves of houses - it carries several diseases, including cholera, salmonella and entero-amoeba.

Other problems caused by this aggressive and clever species - another collective noun for a flock of crows is, appropriately, "a murder" - include predation on indigenous birds and wildlife; attacks on pets and small livestock, particularly poultry; nests made of wire, which poses a short-circuiting threat; and droppings and noise at roosting sites which constitute an environmental health nuisance.

Starlings are a major nuisance in urban areas due to their nesting, eating and living habits. When the bird is in its flocking phase, thousands of starlings often overwhelm urban buildings. Large scale buildup of feces from these flocks will lead to structural damage. The uric acid in the feces will corrode stone, metal and masonry. Gutters and drainage pipes clogged with starling nests often backup, causing extensive water damage. The bacteria, fungal agents and parasites in the feces also pose a serious health risk.

These little brown birds might look harmless but the World Conservation Union takes them very seriously. They put them in the list of the 100 most invading species in the world and describe them as an extreme threat. Mynahs carry bird mites and have the potential to carry avian-borne diseases that are dangerous to people, not to mention the huge amount of droppings they leave under their communal roosting trees. Described by some people as 'rats with wings' the Indian mynah is an extremely aggressive bird that attacks baby native birds and takes over all the best nesting spots. The indigenous birds are driven away to compete for a diminishing supply of nesting spots in neighboring areas.

Another invasive alien bird species is the mallard duck. This species (the ancestor of the domestic duck) is able to interbreed with closely related indigenous species such as the yellow-billed duck and the African black duck. The offspring are fertile, which means there is the risk of a complete dilution of the indigenous species.

Rats & mice when living in close proximity to man can cause considerable problems. Many people are afraid of rats and mice and with their capacity to cause damage & carry disease they have good reason. Rats & mice breed extremely quickly, what starts off as a small infestation can quickly spread throughout the premises, causing damage and posing a fire risk from potential damage to wiring by their constant gnawing.