Sunday, December 16, 2007

Bird Droppings - What You Don't Know Can Hurt You

Bird Droppings - What You Don't Know Can Hurt You
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.


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