What Birds Are Classed As Vermin In The UK?

When you think of vermin in the UK, birds do not immediately come to mind. Instead, you think of things like rats, mice, squirrels or foxes. Well, believe it or not, many birds (besides pigeons) can actually be classed as vermin in certain circumstances. In this article, we’ll list some of these birds. However, this is not as simple as it sounds.

Wild birds and their nests are protected by law, so it is vitally important that you do not harm any bird or interfere with their nest, when it is in use, in any way. If you have problems, you will need to speak to a pest control professional.

Why are some birds a problem? 

Several birds are classed as pests in the UK. These include seagulls (including herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls), collared doves, starling, and house sparrows. Other birds which are occasionally seen as pests include crows – because they sometimes attack people – and swallows.

There are several reasons why these birds are seen as vermin in the UK and why we encounter them so often in a pest inspection. In the case of gulls, this is mostly because they harass people for food. Anyone who has been to the seaside will know that these birds are highly irritating. If you have food, they will immediately swoop down and try to steal what you have. They also beg incessantly and will even steal food from people.

Collared doves are a pest because these birds are not native to the UK, and actually originate in Asia. The problem with these pests is that they carry several diseases and viruses. These are often passed onto native species, which results in death. Collared doves are also a massive problem for farmers. These pests eat seed and grains and can destroy crops.

What problems do birds cause?

The reason why starlings can be known as vermin in the UK is because of their numbers. These birds fly together in enormous flocks, which can reach up to 100,000. If they decide to roost on your roof, this will cause significant damage and physical pest control will be needed. These birds are also known to invade farms and decimate entire crops.

Finally, house sparrows can be seen as vermin in the UK, due to the damage they do to the food industry. These pests are often found in the vicinity of food processing and packaging plants. Their faeces are known to contain large amounts of bacteria and also viruses. This can cause significant contamination issues.

Along with this, you also have feral pigeons. Most people know about these pests because they are in almost every major city in the UK. These birds cause a number of problems such as damaging roofs with nests and droppings. They are also known to harass people for food.

But what can you do about any of these birds? There are things you can do such as placing bird spikes and netting to deter them from landing and nesting, but it’s honestly best to call in a pest controller for responsible pest control that protects wildlife. We can professionally assess the situation, and take measures to end the problem, while following the law correctly.