Stop Birds From Entering Your Home With Chimney Caps

Stop Birds From Entering Your Home With Chimney Caps in Kalamazoo MI | Griffin Pest Solutions

There’s a delicate balance between enjoying the presence of birds around your home and facing potential bird-related issues. Failing to monitor the bird activity around your property can expose your home to a wide range of problems. Birds in or around your home can lead to problems ranging from minor disturbances caused by noisy birds to more severe concerns, such as health and safety risks due to chimney obstructions and droppings, as well as causing damage to your home or property. If you are struggling with these feathered nuisances infiltrating your chimney in Michigan, keep reading to learn how the experts at Griffin Pest Solutions deter birds from causing problems around your home.

Issues Caused by Birds Around Your Home

Birds can present challenges for homeowners in Michigan in a variety of ways. If you have noticed an increase in bird activity around your property, make sure to watch out for these common bird-related problems:

  • Droppings: Bird excrement can contain fungi. When the spores of the fungi are inhaled, they are known to cause histoplasmosis in humans. This illness can escalate to dangerous levels and may cause symptoms like fever, aches, and chills. 
  • Clogged Gutters: Your home’s gutters are the perfect spot for a bird to build their nest. Clogged gutters from bird nests can result in water damage to your home and waterlogging your landscaping.
  • Chimney Blockage: Large bird nests within your chimney can trap fireplace fumes indoors, leading to potential carbon monoxide poisoning and other health and safety risks.

Preventing Birds in Your Chimney

While you may enjoy birds on your deck, birds in your chimney can cause property damage and increase safety and health risks for you and your family. Birds around your property will often seek refuge in your chimney due to the warmth and shelter it provides. To deter birds from nesting in your chimney, we recommend installing chimney caps. These specialized caps cover your chimney with a grate-like cover, allowing fireplace flumes to escape safely while preventing debris, droppings, and birds from entering. These caps are extremely effective at deterring birds and other wildlife from entering your chimney and causing problems.

Griffin Pest Solutions – Michigan‘s Wildlife Experts

While in most cases chimney caps are highly effective in keeping birds out of your chimney, sometimes persistent birds can still get through. If you’ve installed chimney caps and are still battling with birds around your chimney, it is important to enlist the help of your local pest control and exclusion experts. The bird removal specialists at Griffin Pest Solutions have extensive experience handling Michigan’s diverse bird population and can create a tailored plan for your home. They will use humane and effective bird elimination methods to ensure birds no longer wreak havoc on your home. For a free estimate or to learn more about our bird control services, contact the bird experts at Griffin Pest Solutions today!

Ant Eating Animals in Michigan

woodpecker eats ants in a tree - one of several animals that eat ants in michigan

Did you know that some of the animals found in Michigan are nature’s own ant control experts? That’s right, though they act as a nuisance to humans, they serve as a valuable food source for a variety of creatures that call this region home. These remarkable animals, ranging from birds to mammals, have developed a taste for ants. By including ants in their diet, these Michigan residents help keep ant populations in check while providing a fascinating example of nature’s delicate balance. Let’s take a look at some ant eating animals in Michigan.

Which Animals Eat Ants in Michigan?

Ants may be annoying to people, but they’re a vital part of the ecosystem. Many animals eat ants, and these common in Michigan animals even rely on ants as an important part of their diet:

  • Black Bears – Black bears are omnivorous and have a varied diet that includes insects. They are known to dig through ant hills to consume ants, especially during the spring and summer months when ants are more active. With their insatiable appetites, bears eat a large amount of ants in addition to their other food choices. 
  • Woodpeckers – While many birds feed on ants, woodpeckers have long, sticky tongues that they use to extract ants from crevices in trees or on the ground. Woodpeckers common eat ants out of infested wood. Unfortunately, woodpeckers can also cause damage to wooden structures that are not just infested with ants and insects. Keep an eye on where they nest and feed if you see them in your yard.
  • Raccoons – In Michigan, raccoons are in urban and rural areas. These opportunistic animals eat a wide variety of things, including ants. When foraging, an uncovered ant’s nest is a bountiful feast. Raccoons are often more active during mid-March through mid-May which is when you may see them feasting on ants. Much like woodpeckers, raccoons can also have adverse effects on your property.
  • Skunks – Skunks are scavengers, eating whatever they can find. With their strong front claws, they can dig apart ant’s nests and devour the insects inside. They have a keen sense of smell and can scent out ant nests easily through the dirt. During the spring and summer, when ants are highly active, skunks will seek out and eat as much as they can!

Ant Control with Griffin Pest Control

While nature takes care of itself in many cases, professional ant extermination is always the best and proven method. While local wildlife can and will help keep ant populations in check, significant ant infestations in a home or business require a more targeted approach. For effective and long-lasting results, leave it to the experts at Griffin Pest Solutions. Since 1929, Griffin Pest Solutions has been providing Michigan residents with cutting edge pest control innovations. We provide year-round, ongoing solutions to help you and your family live pest-free*. Call us today to get started with Griffin and get a free quote!