After spending over a quarter million dollars and battling pigeons for more than a decade, Fresno County has finally found their answer: OvoControl.
This remarkable success story demonstrates exactly why humane bird control isn't just the ethical choice, it's the most effective one.
The Pigeon Problem That Wouldn't Go Away
For 15 years, Downtown Fresno's Crocker Building was completely overrun. Pigeons had fully taken over the building in the downtown area, nesting, leaving droppings everywhere, and multiplying rapidly.
Raymond Hunter, Fresno County's Director of General Services, recalls the mounting concerns from both the community and employees in the area. What started as a nuisance had escalated into a serious health and safety crisis affecting workers and the broader community.
Costly Traditional Solutions That Didn't Work
Like many property owners facing severe pigeon infestations, Fresno County tried multiple conventional approaches over the years:
$142,000 to tear off the building's back facade (a popular nesting spot) , but the pigeons continued to nest
$39,000 for massive cleanup of bird droppings
$87,000 for netting installation, and other deterrents
Despite these substantial investments totalling $268,000, the pigeons kept coming back. Why? Because traditional exclusion methods don't address the root cause of the problem.
The Science Behind Persistent Pigeon Problems
Understanding why pigeons are so difficult to control requires understanding their behaviour. Pigeons are resident birds that don't migrate and typically stay close to their nesting areas. But the real challenge lies in what experts call their "powerful nest fidelity”, once pigeons have established a successful nest, they always return to the same location.
As Erick Wolf, CEO of Innolytics puts it: once they have a successful nest, you have them for life.
This powerful nest fidelity explains why exclusion methods like netting and spikes often fail in the long term. They may block access to specific areas, but they don't reduce the underlying population pressure that drives pigeons to seek new nesting opportunities nearby.
OvoControl: The Game-Changing Pigeon Contraceptive
When Fresno County installed OvoControl automated feeders, they finally saw real results. The concept is elegantly simple; it’s birth control for pigeons (pigeon contraception). The county is already seeing about a two-thirds decrease in their pigeon population, with realistic expectations for even greater reduction over time.
Wolf is clear about setting proper expectations: the treatment reduces pigeon numbers significantly but doesn't eliminate them entirely. Sites typically experience 90 to 95% decrease in pigeon numbers over time, which represents a dramatic improvement for any property manager dealing with persistent bird problems.
What makes OvoControl different?
Humane approach: Recommended by the HSUS along with PETA
Highly effective: 90-95% population reduction over time
Simple implementation: Automated feeders dispense bird-friendly kibbles once daily
Cost-effective: Ongoing treatment costs are minimal compared to repeated cleanup and damage repair
Smart Investment, Lasting Results
Hunter reflects on the investment: when you consider the total cost versus the potential expenses from workers' compensation claims and other issues, they would have faced without addressing the problem, the money was well spent.
The county's experience perfectly illustrates the true cost of pigeon problems:
Health and safety liabilities
Ongoing cleanup expenses
Property damage and maintenance
Lost productivity and public relations issues
A Sustainable, Long-Term Approach
Unlike one-time exclusion methods, OvoControl works with pigeon biology rather than against it. Wolf compares the approach to rodent control, it’s not something you do once and forget about. The ongoing treatment ensures consistent results as long as you have a problematic pigeon population.
This ongoing approach ensures:
Consistent population control without harmful side effects
Reduced property damage from nesting and droppings
Lower long-term costs compared to repeated cleanups and repairs
Peace of mind knowing the problem is being actively managed
County officials say once the pigeon population is fully under control, they plan to dial back the OvoControl program to maintenance mode, demonstrating the ultimate goal of sustainable population management.
Your Pigeon Control Success Story Starts Here
Fresno County's experience proves that the right solution exists for even the most challenging pigeon problems. After 15 years of frustration and hundreds of thousands in costs, they found their answer with OvoControl.
Ready to solve your pigeon problem once and for all?
Don't spend another day dealing with:
Health and safety concerns
Expensive cleanup costs
Property damage
Frustrated tenants or employees
Failed traditional deterrents
Join Fresno County and countless other success stories in taking control of your pigeon population the smart way.
Contact our team today to learn how OvoControl can provide the humane, effective, and cost-efficient solution your property needs.
