E.coli and Pigeons: What You REALLY Need to Know

Did you know that pigeons were a big carrier of the bacterial infection Escherichia coli or E.coli? It's actually within the feces of this bird that you'll commonly find the bacteria, picked up as the pigeons feast and peck around the manure of other agricultural animals, particularly cows. Pigeons/birds aren't the only animal known to spread around this potentially dangerous disease; rodents are another common culprit. Now is definitely a very good time to start pest-proofing your home.

When the pigeons peck around cows and other animal manure, they pick up bacteria, and it actually passes through their tiny bodies with ease. They don't seem to experience symptoms, although they have done in some cases. When they defecate, they release the bacteria into their droppings, and this can then contaminate other materials and surfaces that it comes into contact with — soil, water sources, where you'll put your hands (or your kids') and potentially then in your mouth.

When the bacteria enters the human body, it starts to affect the digestive system, causing a lot of pain and discomfort, cramping, a very upset stomach, nausea and vomiting. It is relatively common to find blood in the stools when you are infected with E.coli, and there have been several cases where the disease has caused such bad side effects that it then proves fatal, usually by affecting the way the kidneys work and eventually causing them to break down entirely.

Although most adults are going to be just fine after a few days of what seems like a very nasty tummy bug, those who are already weak and vulnerable, including children and babies, the elderly, and those with existing medical conditions can find that they are particularly hard hit. Dehydration is a very big concern, and this can mean the need for a hospital stay to rectify. This is especially the case when important minerals are lost from the body during diarrhea and vomiting, including glucose, potassium, and sodium.

How can you avoid coming into contact with E.coli when you share your property with pigeons?

First and foremost, pest pigeons must leave the property, and then the property must be protected and secured so that they can't come back. This eliminates the risk of disease spreading in the future. To deal with the problem you have right now — pigeon feces — you may clear away any of the debris, ensuring that you dampen it a bit with a water spray bottle first. Under no circumstances should you sweep up dry pigeon droppings, as this could send histoplasmosis spores airborne, ready to then be inhaled. You can't contract E.coli in this way, but you must remember that pigeons come with a host of disease threats. E.coli is one of many.