Bird lice: the uninvited guests that don’t mean to bite you

Why do bird lice bite humans?

Bird lice survive on one thing, and that is bird blood. When they bite you it is by mistake. They are confused, mistaking us for their feathered hosts. Sadly for them, and fortunately for us, they can’t survive on human blood, so they keep searching for the nourishment they need without much success. It is during that frantic search that the accidental bites become a problem for anyone nearby.

How do bird lice end up in your home?

Bird lice find their way in when birds build nests on your property. Nests turn up in roof eaves, in the roof space itself, or tucked into other small spaces around the house. Once the young birds leave, or the nest is abandoned, the lice are left without a host and start looking for a new source of food. That is when they spread out into the rest of the house.

How to deal with bird lice

If you have an unexpected bird lice problem, there are some effective steps to take.

• Locate and remove the nests. The first priority is removing any bird nests around your property. They are the source of the infestation.
• Treat the affected areas thoroughly. Once the nest is out, the surrounding area needs treating. Bird lice spread quickly and end up in other parts of the house if this is not handled properly.
• Call someone in. If it feels overwhelming, a qualified pest control operator can identify the problem areas and use targeted treatment to clear the lice completely.

Where we come in

We remove the nests, treat the affected areas and close up the way back in. If you are dealing with bird lice, tell us what you are seeing and where.