by Ryan Ponto | Sep 22, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services
Ideal pigeon cleaning suit.
Health Canada announced Sept. 30 it has launched a new database of inspections of pesticide companies, part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to increased transparency so the public will be protected from unsafe products. Information on inspections of companies that manufacture pest control products are now available to the public online, and Canadians can search the Pest Control Registrant Inspections Database for specific inspection findings, summary report cards from inspections, and information about companies’ history of compliance with the Pest Control Products Act and its Regulations.
The launch “is a milestone under Health Canada’s Regulatory Transparency and Openness Framework and Action Plan 2015-2018,” according to the government, which stated that the plan made specific commitments to provide more information about Health Canada’s health and safety decision-making, including inspection outcomes and inspection ratings.
Health Canada also launched a Drug and Health Product Inspections Database in April 2015. The plan outlines steps Health Canada is taking to continually improve public access to timely, useful, and relevant health and safety information while respecting privacy, confidentiality, and security concerns.
When conducting inspections of pest control product manufacturers, inspectors check facilities, take samples for testing, and examine documents, such as sales and incident reports. If a risk to health or the environment is identified during an inspection, companies are required to take corrective actions.
“Our government is committed to helping Canadians make informed decisions about the products they buy and use, including pesticides. By providing information from pesticide manufacturers in a publicly searchable way, the Pest Control Registrant Inspections Database can also help Canadians gain a better understanding of how Health Canada conducts inspections and what actions the department takes if requirements are not being met,” said Minister of Health Jane Philpott.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Ryan Ponto | Sep 21, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services
ROSEBURG, Ore. — Roseburg animal shelter Saving Grace is starting a program to help control the feral cat population in Douglas County, called Operation Fix ‘Em.
To help get the program started, Saving Grace got a $10,000 grant from PETCO to fund the operations to spay and neuter the cats, and reduce feral numbers.
“Communities that have been practicing trap-neuter-return of feral cats are slowly over time seeing progress on the issue of community cats in their communities, so this is something we’ve been wanting to do for a long time,” said Executive Director Wendy Kang.
Feral cats sometimes come into the shelter, but often don’t do well in homes. So, Kang said the best option is to catch, fix, and release.
“So, for feral cats, really, their best option is to be able to stay where they are, but not producing more kittens, and creating more problems for humans,” said Kang.
Kang said that in communities like Portland, they’ve been doing this program for 10 years and are seeing their feral population decrease.
Saving Grace’s veterinarian says there’s another benefit as well.
“We’re stopping unwanted cats getting a lot of unhealthy issues at home.. because if you spay and neuter them, you don’t have a lot of cats out there that are going to spread disease amongst themselves,” said Veterinarian Steve Frack.
They’ve fixed 46 cats so far, and have enough money to fix about 240 more.
However, they said they can always use more donations and help with Operation Fix ‘Em.
Kang said, “One of the things we need is more people to volunteer and help us with the trapping. We also need to identify more of the colonies that are in Douglas County.”
If you’d like to volunteer, donate, or adopt an animal, you can call the shelter at (541) 672-3907, and visit their website.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Ryan Ponto | Sep 17, 2016 | Bird Netting
The problem of feral cats on Bowen waxes and wanes. Feral cats are intact cats, meaning that they breed. They breed fast, they interbreed, and they breed with family cats that are still intact and allowed to roam free. Intact cats fight with other cats for food, for territory, for shelter. Mostly they do not stay in one place. The male feral cats leave to copulate in other territories and spread their genes. The females leave with their family units to find other territories. In a small community like Bowen, they end up being nuisance cats and cause all kinds of problems.
Intact feral cats that wander, as well as cats that are not properly cared for, are more prone to infectious diseases such as Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Feline Upper Respiratory Disease, and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). These are horrible diseases and they are easily spread amongst the feline population.
By contrast, healthy, spayed/neutered barn cats who are well fed and have warm, safe shelter are extremely likely to stay put and take care of the vermin problems on the farm or in the stables. Their very presence can deter small critters and most (but not all) will catch and kill rats and mice.
Feral cats typically inbreed, which is very bad for the cats. Inbred cats don’t live long and have more health problems, especially heart disease. And if they are having kittens at just six months old, it stunts the growth. Signs of excessive inbreeding include small litter sizes (i.e. one or two kittens), crooked noses, misaligned jaws, and abnormal eye set.
Sixteen years ago, Bowen had a major problem with feral cats. That’s one of the reasons why C.A.W.E.S. (Coast Animal Welfare & Education Society) came into being in 2000. Because of the vigilance and hard work of many C.A.W.E.S. volunteers over the years, feline infectious disease on Bowen is almost non-existent. The work involved setting up feeding stations to trap the feral cats and then getting them spayed/neutered before releasing them. Some volunteers have given hundreds of hours to tending the feeding stations and trapping the feral cats. BC SPCA is well aware of the problems caused by feral cats and has given support to this work, as has the Municipality. Bowen’s vet, Dr. Westcott, told me that he has noticed a significant decline in the feral population on Bowen Island and attributes this to the persistence and hard work of the C.A.W.E.S. volunteers. He can’t stress enough the importance of spaying and neutering all cats to prevent over-population as well prevention of certain diseases and maintaining individual and herd health.
Particular signs of inbreeding among the Bowen feral cat population were feet with five or six toes and short, misshapen tails, which were dubbed “the Bowen tail”. These tails occurred on about 50% of the cats caught at that time. Many of the cats were already infected with FIV, which means they could easily have been spreading the disease throughout the entire feline population on Bowen.
Sadly, in the past two or three years C.A.W.E.S. has once again started to receive lots of reports of feral cats. These cats don’t come out of nowhere. The only possible conclusion is that there are members of the Bowen community who have intact cats that are allowed to roam free. When female cats leave with their offspring, probably only half of the litter will survive. There have been several reports in the past two years of kittens found dead or dying, which is a clue that inbreeding is taking place and that the momma cats are too young to take proper care of their kittens.
Currently, on Bowen, there is no limitation on the number of cats that a farm owner or anybody else can adopt. Sterilized cats live longer. A good-sized group of sterilized, healthy cats will take care of the vermin problem on a farm for fifteen to twenty years. In fact, there are cats at the original C.A.W.E.S. feeding station (cats who were sterilized many years ago but never found a human family) who are still alive and kicking at sixteen or seventeen years old – and still catching rats and leaving little “gifts” for the volunteers!
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Ryan Ponto | Sep 15, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting
KANAZAWA, ISHIKAWA PREF. – A falcon takes off in a flurry of motion from the arm of a falconer at Kanazawa Station in Ishikawa Prefecture as tourists stand enthralled.
Surrounding landmarks such as Tsuzumi-mon, a wooden gate in the motif of traditional Japanese hand drums, and a modern glass dome named Motenashi, after the word for hospitality, provide a compelling backdrop for the remarkable exhibition.
Set amid such conspicuous structures, its small wonder that Kanazawa Station was recently lauded for its beauty by a U.S. travel magazine.
“Cool!” one spectator cheered. “Impressive!” commented another.
Though it has all the trappings of a tourist attraction, the avian display is actually driven by a crucial mission: keeping pigeons, and their regular aerial bombardments, away from the station.
Pigeon droppings had been a source of concern for city officials since the dome, which was completed in 2004, was in its design stage. From around 2008, local pigeons began using it to shelter from inclement weather as well as from their enemies. For a city that hosts one of the world’s most beautiful train stations, this was a serious concern.
At first, the city tried nets, then wires and pigeon repellent — all to little effect. Their droppings, meanwhile, continued to sully the buildings and were the scourge of tourists.
In dire straits, a section chief at the city government’s road management department, Masahiro Fujita, consulted with a bird control company managed by a falconer in an attempt to get a handle on the situation. The grand opening of the extended Hokuriku Shinkansen Line was not far off.
From June 2015, trained falcons began to circle Kanazawa Station twice a week, and after two months, the area’s roughly 100 pigeons had disappeared. Each day of patrolling costs ¥30,000, and the city set aside nearly ¥500,000 for the campaign under its budget for the current fiscal year to March 2017.
“No large-scale construction work is needed. It only involves one person and a falcon,” Fujita said, emphasizing the method’s cost efficiency.
To the delight of the local tourism industry, the falconry also proved a hit with visitors to the city of Kanazawa, which is an old castle town.
The falconry is also attracting attention from overseas visitors. Falconer Takayuki Yoshida was questioned and photographed so much that he set up a signboard with an explanation in Japanese and English.
“I like it. It goes well with the atmosphere of the station,” said Satoru Kawauchi, a 36-year-old visitor from Tokyo who watched the patrol.
According to the Japanese Falconers’ Association, a nonprofit organization, falcons have come to carry out a wide range of assignments, including tackling problems with wild bird droppings at factories and reducing the number of aircraft bird strikes. Some falconers have started businesses, an association official said.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Ryan Ponto | Sep 14, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes
Last week, WIRES rescued an eastern brown snake that had been trapped in netting left on the floor of a garden workshop.
Two snake handlers were required to complete the task, one to hold the head and body of the snake and one to cut the mesh away. Fortunately the snake suffered only minor injury and will be released after some time in care.
Native animals, increasingly displaced from their natural habitat by tree clearing and extreme weather, are resorting to flowering and fruiting trees in our gardens. Tree netting is a popular way to protect fruit from wildlife, but the wrong type can be deadly.
Every year thousands of animals are injured in inappropriate backyard netting or discarded netting. It entangles birds, lizards, snakes, bats and the occasional possum. Hungry animals are easily caught in ‘bird netting’, which has a mesh size greater than 1cm square. Wildlife friendly netting should have a mesh size of less than 5mm. A quick test: If you can poke your finger through the netting space, the mesh size is too big.
If you are using netting in your garden, make sure it is the wildlife friendly type and that it is installed in a way that wildlife do not become entangled. The mesh should be white and have holes smaller than 5mm. There are three wildlife friendly brands of netting: Fruitsaver, Hailguard and Vegenet. Ideally the netting should be tightened over a frame which is clear of the foliage. Netting should be gathered and tied at the base of the tree or drawn tightly to the ground and pegged so that no wildlife can get underneath.
Netting should always be stored in closed bags and disposed of carefully. For further tips, search for ‘wildlife friendly netting’ or have a look at WIRES’ fact sheets on wildlife friendly fencing and wildlife friendly netting.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Ryan Ponto | Sep 10, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting
Dustin A. Duffy, 28, of San Angelo, was arrested on multiple charges after he ran from San Angelo Police Sunday evening, according to a news release.
Police were dispatched to the 3200 block of Guadalupe Street around 6:40 p.m. for the report of unwanted subjects on church property, according to the release. When officers arrived, Duffy, ran from police and jumped a fence at a residence in the 3200 block of San Antonio Street. Officers pursued and watched Duffy jump another fence into a neighboring backyard, according to the San Angelo Police Department.
Duffy was located hiding in a backyard next to a shed. He was taken into custody without incident, according to SAPD. Duffy was charged with two counts of criminal trespass, evading arrest detention with prior conviction, possession of controlled substance Penalty Group 3, and an outstanding parole violation warrant. He was transported to the Tom Green County Jail without incident.
The second subject, a 31-year-old San Angelo man, was cooperative and released from the scene, according to SAPD.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
