Why are Pigeons a Pest Problem in New Jersey?
Pigeons harbor 40 parasites on their bodies or in their nests, including harmful disease-transmitting ticks, fleas and mites. Known vectors for disease, pigeons transmit several hundred dangerous viral and bacterial pathogens through their droppings, including salmonella, plague, encephalitis, pox and meningitis. Airborne spores from dried feces can settle on food and contaminate it. If these spores settle on open cuts or wounds, they can cause infection and even blood poisoning. When spores are breathed into the lungs, they can result in serious lung infections and respiratory problems. Researchers recently traced a deadly new strain of encephalitis to mosquitoes that had fed on infected New York City pigeons. Pigeons not only transmit disease, they cause millions of dollars in property damage every year. Uric acid in pigeon feces is highly corrosive and can cause serious damage to human structures, particularly building roofs and siding, rooftop machinery and air conditioners and par
