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Contact with bird droppings poses serious health risks and exposure to incurable diseases.
If you have areas where birds congregate on your property, there is reason for concern.
The only sure way to avoid these debilitating diseases is to avoid contact with these droppings or to prevent the droppings from occurring in the first place.
As the line between man and nature becomes increasingly blurred, many of you may find that contact with wildlife is a part of daily life.
Most of these encounters are an enriching part of your day. The sight of a cardinal in your bird feeder or a fleeting glimpse of a wild fox or raccoon surely adds excitement or joy to anyone's day.
Problems can arise when these encounters become more frequent or more concentrated. For some, this issue is in the form of critters of the avian variety.
Yes, we are talking about birds, and they can be a threat to your health.
Birds may frequently roost or congregate on your roof, dock, boat, or in your patio area. The accumulated droppings can become more than just a nuisance. These droppings may carry serious diseases that can endanger your family, friends, and even pets.
We have all heard of Salmonella, which we typically associate with undercooked poultry or eggs. This bacterial disease can also be spread through bird fluids including droppings.
Salmonella can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea or even go undetected. In some cases, humans may unknowingly carry the disease and transmit it to others. The treatment generally consists of antibiotics, but may require the removal of the gallbladder to fully cure.
There are other lesser known diseases that are transmitted by bird feces for which no known cures exist.
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that, if left untreated, can lead to blindness. Other diseases can infect the respiratory system after breathing in the dust or spores contained in bird droppings.
Histoplasmosis and Blastomycosis are two such fungal diseases. Histoplasmosis can lead to the loss of vision and chronic bronchitis/pneumonia-like symptoms. Blastomycosis begins as lesions to the lungs and skin before spreading to the bones, liver, and nervous system. Again, there are treatments for these diseases but no cure.
To ensure your safety and the safety of those you love, you should avoid touching or breathing bird droppings of any kind.
To further minimize your risk, you should consider placing bird deterring devices in areas where birds typically congregate or where droppings are a problem.
Safe and effective products are available that do not harm the birds but will aid in eliminating the mess and health hazards associated with bird droppings.
