by Pigeon Patrol | Mar 11, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes
Dear Porky,
My two cats, George, age 7, and Elaine, age 2, mostly get along great.
I adopted Elaine a year ago to keep George company.
But every once in a while, for reasons that are not at all obvious to me, they will start hissing at each other, sometimes swatting, and then stalk away in a huff.
They haven’t hurt each other yet, but it worries me. What should I do?
Sally
Dear Sally,
Just maybe they’re getting cranky because you ignore them while you watch endless reruns on the TV.
Just sayin’.
No seriously, cats have occasional disagreements.
They can be, you know, “catty.”
Their behavior may include hissing, spitting, swatting or chasing. If cats occasionally hiss and swat and don’t cause injury, or if they take turns doing the chasing, not to worry.
Play aggression is not a cause for alarm.
But major altercations can become serious and should not be tolerated.
Howling, yowling, flattened ears, dilated pupils, raised hackles, arched back and puffy hair are indications that a battle is on the horizon; so, you need to intervene before they get to that stage.
Staring at each other with a twitching tail is an early warning sign.
Cat-to-cat aggression is one of the major behavior problems experienced by cat owners.
If cats have unresolved issues with one another, they may injure each other, spray your house to mark territory, become lethargic, hide, refuse to eat and subsequently lose weight, experience stress and fear and even become sick.
It doesn’t sound like you have a serious problem yet, but there are steps you can take to minimize the chances that it will become serious.
Basically, you can create an environment that promotes harmony between George and Elaine rather than one in which they have to compete for resources.
Provide more than one litter box in more than one location, and let them decide for themselves which to use.
Providing a food dish for each cat or feeding stations at multiple locations can help reduce competition for food.
Multi-level cat trees or shelves make use of vertical space within the home and give cats optional places to hang out.
The more opportunity for cats to have their own spots, the better.
And it goes without saying that your cats should be neutered.
They have enough things to argue with each other about without adding sex to the mix.
If George and Elaine begin what appears to be a serious fight, interrupt them.
Make an obnoxious loud noise by shaking a jar of pennies, snapping your fingers, or clapping your hands.
If that doesn’t work, blast them with a stream of water or throw a blanket over them.
Once they stop fighting, separate them and reintroduce them gradually, even if they have lived together for some time.
Make sure they are settled before putting them together again.
Never ever try to separate fighting cats with your hands! It could result in injury to your hands, face or other parts of your body.
If you are bitten by a cat seek medical attention right away as cat bites are unusually infectious.
The Oswego County Humane Society provides spay/neuter services and assistance, fostering and adoption of animals in urgent need, humane education programs, and information and referrals to animal lovers throughout Oswego County.
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 Pigeon Patrol | Mar 10, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
A pigeon which caused a flap at the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Bishop’s Stortford town centre by taking up residence for several days has left.
Shopper Mick Sleeman was surprised to see the bird in the rafters of the Jackson Square store and droppings on the floor by the delicatessen counter on Monday evening (Oct 19).
“I saw seven or eight Sainsbury’s workers and they were all looking up,” he said. “I looked up and saw what I think is a wood pigeon on one of the rafters. I spoke to someone there and they said it had been there for about three days. There were a lot of droppings on the floor in front of the deli counter.”
On Tuesday, the branch duty manager referred the Herts & Essex Observer to the Sainsbury’s press office, but said: “We have got a pigeon. [It’s] not taken up residence. At the moment our pest control team are dealing with the issue.”
A Sainsbury’s media spokeswoman said the same day: “We are taking the appropriate action to safely remove the pigeon.”
Today (Wednesday), another spokeswoman said: “The pigeon was safely caught and released within 24 hours, and it’s now business as usual at Bishop’s Stortford.”
On the Observer’s Facebook page, Chris Murdoch posted: “There were pigeons in there this time last year. I told Sainsbury’s about it but they didn’t seem particularly bothered.”
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 Pigeon Patrol | Mar 9, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes, UltraSonic Bird Control
A PIGEON infestation at Cunupia High School has forced teachers to seek refuge in the school’s library.
Additionally, the school is also faced with another problem of stray dogs living on the compound and sleeping in classrooms.
Teachers who reported for duty yesterday decided to suspend classes and operate from the library as most of the classrooms were covered with pigeon droppings while in some areas, the birds were living under desks in classrooms.
Sources at the school told Newsday that the stray dog population increased during the recent August vacation with several puppies playing in the yard. Students have in the past complained about being bitten by ticks and fleas. Shortly after 9 am, teachers took a decision not to operate under these conditions and informed school principal Noreen Rajkumar about their decision.
The teachers also informed the TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) and the PTA about their decision to abandon classes. TTUTA has promised to send a representative today to assess the situation. After taking roll call, the teachers left their respective classes and headed for the library. Teachers also claimed that equipment purchased for use by students are missing.
Equipment include power saws, compressors and other pieces of equipment valued thousands of dollars. Teachers pointed out that even the timetable for students for the various forms were not provided until Tuesday and when students checked the timetables given to them, it clashed with other classes and now the timetables have to be redone. They added that parents of students attending classes have been seeking transfers because of the numerous problems. They are calling on the new Minister of Education (Arima MP Anthony Garcia is tipped for this post) to intervene.
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 Pigeon Patrol | Mar 8, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes
Restrictions in other cities have caused an increase in the trapping of wild birds in Pittsburgh so they can be sold for pigeon shoots in eastern and central Pennsylvania.
To counter this, Pittsburgh City Council advanced a bill Wednesday that would ban the trapping of wild birds in the city.
Councilwoman Darlene Harris, who introduced the legislation last week, said during the council’s Standing Committee meeting that her office has fielded an increasing number of complaints about pigeons being trapped in the city for shoots at gun clubs in eastern and central Pennsylvania.
“These pigeons are sold to gun clubs, held in inhumane conditions, thrown in the air and shot for sport,” she said.
The ordinance is headed for final approval Tuesday, though likely with some amended language to avoid impeding the city Animal Care and Control Bureau’s ability to trap pigeons if necessary.
Rebecca Reid, a wildlife advocate with Humane Options Pittsburgh, which promotes non-lethal means of dealing with urban wildlife, called the shoots “quite a horrifying spectacle.” She said the trapped birds, sold by “pigeon brokers,” are often crammed into cages and “stockpiled” for days at a time before shoots while exposed to the elements.
Trappers get about $5 per pigeon and have been spotted Downtown and in the Strip District in large vans with cages on top, she said. The shoots themselves can kill thousands of birds depending on how long they last.
Mary Kennedy Withrow, shelter director and director of government affairs for the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society, said bans on trapping pigeons in New York and Philadelphia have pushed the practice to Pittsburgh.
Attempts to ban pigeon shoots at the state level have failed for more than two decades, said Heidi Prescott, senior vice president of campaigns for the Humane Society of the United States.
“There is an underground trade in pigeons for live pigeon shoots and there have been an increase in complaints of pigeon trapping in both Pittsburgh and New York,” she said. “This ordinance will certainly help stem the flow of pigeons for the shoots.”
Ms. Prescott has been lobbying against pigeon shoots in Harrisburg since 1993 and last year succeeded in getting a bill through the Senate only to have it languish in the house, where Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Marshall, then House majority leader and now speaker of the House, blocked it from coming to a vote. It has been introduced again this year.
Most states have either banned pigeon shoots outright or through the interpretation of animal cruelty laws, she noted.
The chief opponent of a pigeon-shoot ban has been the National Rifle Association, which called it “misguided” last year.
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 Pigeon Patrol | Mar 7, 2016 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, UltraSonic Bird Control
Bungling council workers put up netting to stop bird poo falling on pedestrians but ended up trapping pigeons above a pavement.
A team working for Edinburgh Council installed the net following complaints that the birds were relieving themselves on those walking underneath a bridge.
But, despite an elaborate system to allow the birds to escape the netting, it soon emerged that pigeons were trapped inside and, in the words of one resident, were ‘slowly starving to death’.
Pigeons have been trapped inside a net which was supposed to stop them defecating on pedestrians below
The council have said netting included special pigeon ‘hatches’ which were supposed to let the trapped birds out but prevent free birds getting in.
But residents in the city say the ‘imprisoned’ pigeons appear to be struggling with the hatch arrangement and have complained to the council that the birds are slowly starving to death.
A video posted online shows trapped birds frantically flapping about under the bridge in the Portobello area of the Scottish capital.
Alex Allan, who filmed the clip, tweeted: ‘Thanks for fixing the bridge but you’ve condemned 20-plus pigeons to a horrible death.’
Mr Allan added: ‘Also they are nesting so there are lots of chicks in there too, slowly starving to death.’
The netting was put up last week following complaints that the birds were relieving themselves on pedestrians.
Local residents near the bridge in Edinburgh are angry that the problem will continue and the birds will die
Workers failed to scare off many of the pigeons before installing the netting but carried on regardless.
An internal council email, believed to have been sent from an official to a councillor, states: ‘I suspect they were actually caged in. To me this smacks of poor workmanship or is it acceptable?
‘The pigeons are still flying about inside this morning and I assume will until they die and rot/decompose away. So the pigeon poo will persist for a while longer.’
Andy Matheson, Area Roads Manager for Edinburgh Council said as many as 200 pigeons were moved on from the bridge.
He said the trapped birds could take two-three weeks to escape using the ‘outlet’.
He added: ‘If the numbers of pigeons don’t appear to drop….a section of netting may have to be removed temporarily in order to release them.’
A spokewoman for RSPB said: ‘Pigeons aren’t everyone’s favorite bird but we still need to make sure they are safe and get rescued.’
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 Pigeon Patrol | Mar 6, 2016 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services
Q: My elderly, disabled mom owns and lives in a old two-story house in downtown Hutchinson. It is infested with pigeons.Throughout the past years I’ve worked hard to get rid of them, but nothing has worked. Twice, I’ve rented a long ladder and climbed to heights that no one should go without a safety harness in order to try and rid her house of these rodents. The roof is complex and has over 20 roof supports for the eves. I’ve tried every nonlethal approach to deter them: sticky glue, fake owls, nail beds, and blocking their access to perches with wood barriers. I’ve considered hiring a contractor to make alterations to the house, but I don’t know if that would help. I’ve researched this subject for years and I have not found an answer, other than having plenty of hawks around to eat them. Dillon’s grocery store has metal cups spinning on their roofs in an attempt to deter pigeons. According to the store manager they don’t work. I am to the point where I would consider using poison to kill the pigeons. I don’t think that poisoning them would stop other pigeons from nesting. We need help. Is there anyone who can help us?
First of all, I think you are a very good daughter. But, please be safe in your effort to rid your mother’s home of pigeons.
I spoke with Jeff Wells at Advance Pest Control. He says as frustrated as you may feel, poison is not the option. There is a product called Avitrol to get rid of pest-like pigeons. But, it causes them fall from the sky and frighten people. Instead rethink those methods you mentioned. Wells said they should work if properly installed.
For example spikes should work if properly deployed. However, Wells said a lot of times people leave too big a gap between spikes so that they won’t work.
There is an all-natural grape extract product that has been a success at repelling pigeons at Gowans stadium. If you have walked around the area you might have noticed the smell of grapes. Though it hasn’t completely eliminated the problem, it has made a difference.
“At night there will be hundreds of pigeons on the roof of the Cosmosphere while over at Gowans there will be three,” Wells said.
Wells said the product works, but costs $160 a gallon for the grape scent, plus it’s necessary to have a special machine to disperse the spray, which isn’t cheap.
“It’s high rent, but it works,” said Wells.
Wells says your best bet is to hire a contractor to eliminate the roosting sight. Then use Pignx bio-repellent or spikes and make sure they are spaced correctly. Forget owl decoys, he says, they only work if they are moved daily so birds think the owls are real.
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)
