Nests cleared lawfully, and kept from coming back

Bird nest removal in Missoula & the Bitterroot Valley

Lawful removal of old and inactive bird nests from vents, eaves, gutters, and signs in Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley, with the entry point closed after.

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Bird Nest Removal

Nests cleared lawfully, and kept from coming back

A nest in a dryer vent, behind a sign, in a gutter, or under an eave is a blockage, a mess, and in a vent a fire concern. It is also, quite often, protected. Most native birds, and their active nests and eggs, are covered by federal law, so the first question about any nest is not how to get it down but whether it can be touched yet.

HJ Property Care & Tree Service LLC removes bird nests across Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley, and we begin by identifying the species and whether the nest is active. Where it can be removed, we remove it, clean up, and close the opening so it is not rebuilt. Where it cannot, we tell you plainly, and we schedule the work for when it can.

Removing a nest without closing the way in solves nothing. Birds return to a site that worked, and a cleared cavity is an invitation.

Not sure if a nest can be removed? Ask us to look.

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What nest removal covers

Every job starts with identifying the bird and the state of the nest:

Species identification and an active-nest check
Removal of old and inactive nests and nesting material
Clearing vents, flues, gutters, eaves, and sign cabinets
Cleanup of droppings and debris beneath the nest
Mesh, covers, or netting fitted so the site is not reused
Clear advice on timing when a nest has to be left

Which nests can be removed, and when

The rule that covers most situations is simple. An old nest with no eggs or young in it can generally be cleared. A nest that is in use by a protected species has to be left until the young have gone. A few introduced species are not protected in the same way, which is why identifying the bird comes first. Our guide to which birds you can remove in Montana explains the law, and the Montana bird nesting season calendar shows when each species is on the nest.

That makes the calendar the most useful tool there is. Nests removed and openings closed in late winter, before birds return, are not a legal question at all. The same job in June may mean waiting several weeks.

If the nest is in a tree that needs work, the same rules apply, and our tree crew plans pruning and removals around them.

Vents, flues, and other places a nest is urgent

Some nests cannot simply be left to run their course without thought. A nest in a dryer vent restricts airflow and collects lint, and one in a bathroom or kitchen exhaust pushes moisture back into the house. If you suspect a nest in a vent, stop using the appliance until it has been checked. Our guide to birds in dryer and bathroom vents covers what to do.

Once a vent is clear, it gets a cover made for the purpose, so that it still exhausts properly and cannot be nested in again.

After the nest is gone

Old nests leave droppings, parasites, and debris behind. Cleanup is done with wet methods, so dust is not raised, and the material is bagged and removed. See bird dropping and nest cleanup.

Then the site is closed. Depending on the place, that means mesh over an opening, a cover on a vent, an angled insert on a ledge, or netting across a larger space. See bird netting and exclusion.

Good to know

Bird Nest Removal questions

Common questions about our bird nest removal in Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley.

It depends on the species and whether the nest is active. Most native birds and their active nests are federally protected, so those nests are left until the young have gone. Old, inactive nests can generally be removed. We identify the bird before touching anything.

Stop using the dryer and have it checked. A blocked dryer vent is a fire concern. We will tell you whether the nest can be removed now and fit a proper vent cover afterward.

Old swallow nests can be removed outside the nesting season, and the eave can then be fitted so they do not rebuild. Active swallow nests are protected and are left until the birds have gone.

To a site that worked, yes, unless it is closed. That is why removal and exclusion are done together.

Yes. Droppings and nesting debris are cleaned up with wet methods and removed from the property.

Leave it where it is if it is safe, and contact Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for advice. We do not rehabilitate wildlife.

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