Humane Solutions for Controlling Facility Pests

Humane pest methods offer an added benefit for food warehouses and production plants—less time and money spent handling live animals or disposing of dead ones.

Deterrent Options

Sonic pest control. These deterrents help keep food facilities free of animal-sourced health hazards and damages by transmitting audio signals that scare pest birds and keep them away. Some models work by emitting harassing bird distress calls and predator cries, like a hawk or eagle call.

Sonic pest control devices can target a range of birds or be designed to scare a specific species. These devices repel bats that might roost in warehouse nooks and crannies. Some sonic deterrents will also scare off other pest animals, including raccoons, foxes, and rodents.

Sonic pest devices offer a wide coverage area—with some systems like Bird-X’s Super BirdXPeller Pro covering up to six acres—making them ideal for large properties. They are often effective for controlling pests in remote outdoor areas. Because they’re designed for outdoor use, models may include heavy-duty, weatherproof enclosures to protect the devices from the elements. Generally, sonic repellents are easy to install and fully programmable for no-hassle use.

Ultrasonic bird control. These devices emit high-frequency soundwaves that are undetectable to the human ear but irritate, and even disorient, birds. This type of humane deterrent is non-species specific, allowing the devices to effectively repel many types of animals.

Despite the discomfort ultrasonic control triggers, these units don’t injure or kill the animals. This green pest control solution is typically easy to install and maintain. Because the ultrasonic sounds don’t penetrate solid objects, facilities may need to use an extension speaker to scare birds in difficult-to-reach areas.

This method is ideal for keeping pest birds out of enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces, including loading docks, warehouses, and factories. Ultrasonic deterrents can be used outdoors, but they generally work best in smaller areas. Since they produce a sound too high for humans to hear, they’re the perfect pest control option for areas where people gather, including employee cafeterias and workstations. They’re also non-obtrusive solutions to scaring pests away from guest-frequented areas.

Electronic bird deterrents. Electronic control produces a humane solution designed to disorient, irritate, or frighten pest birds, including pigeons, swallows, and starlings. Once installed, electronic bird control devices start work quickly to condition birds to think that an area is unsafe.

Some models incorporate strobe lights, which scare birds without creating additional noise. The lights also cast shadows that help frighten pest birds away in warehouses, production plants, or loading docks.

Another electronic bird deterrent employs laser technology. A unit fires lasers in colors that alarm birds. They interpret the laser as a threat and react the same way they would for other threats—they flee for safer areas. Since the lasers fire at random intervals, birds don’t become acclimated to them. Over time, pest birds become conditioned to avoid the treatment area entirely.

Laser pest deterrents are silent, so they won’t disrupt the auditory environment. Use laser control units day or night, in warehouses and production facilities as well as loading docks. Some laser options are designed for outdoor use and offer remote control access for easier control.

Additional Options

Protecting food facilities from pest invasions requires a dynamic approach in which deterrents work simultaneously to reinforce a multi-sensory message.

Visual scares and predator decoys. These approaches help boost the effectiveness of ultrasonic or sonic repellents when used simultaneously. Scare balloons, which are imprinted with predator-like eyes, are cost-effective deterrents that frighten birds by mimicking their natural predators. They’re ideal for outdoor areas, like orchards and parking lots, and require virtually no maintenance.

Realistic-looking decoys shaped like coyotes or owls can also be used in conjunction with other humane deterrents. Decoys may be detailed with natural-looking fur tails or flexible wings to increase their lifelike appearance. Utilize them in large outdoor areas frequented by geese, ducks, or small animals.