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Managing and manipulating bird populations is an important facet of urban wildlife management. Problems associated with concentrations of migratory birds, such as the contamination of food and materials, health hazards, costly destruction to buildings, plus other liabilities, can usually be reduced through various techniques of dispersal or relocation.
Since birds are more apt to leave a newly-established roosting site, prompt action greatly reduces the time and effort required to successfully relocate unwelcome birds.
- Environmental or Habitat Modifications
- The use of “Frightening Devices”
HABITAT MODIFICATIONS
Thinning or pruning of vegetation. Removing protective cover discourages birds from roosting. Thorough pruning is the first step we recommend as a lasting and less expensive strategy for making your trees less attractive to flocking birds.
Tree Netting. It’s been our experience that this method often proves too expensive, unsightly and temporary. Therefore, we usually do not recommend tree netting as a sound and lasting method for habitat modification.
Thermal Fogging. A safe and humane bird dispersal method using pulse-jet thermal foggers. Designed for the precise application of liquid solutions over open areas.
FRIGHTENING DEVICES
The key to success with frightening devices is timing, persistence, organization and diversity. No single technique alone is effective, so we recommend the integration of numerous and varied techniques. We utilize Audio Systems, Pyrotechnics, Exploders, Hawk kites, Helikites, Light Lasers and Radio-controlled Flying Hawks, as well as other miscellaneous auditory and visual frightening devices.
Audio Systems of broadcasted alarms and distress calls are very effective in frightening many species of birds, and are useful in both rural and urban situations. Calls are amplified and broadcasted, and the units are periodically moved to enhance effectiveness.
Pyrotechnics have long been employed in bird frightening programs, and our technicians are trained to handle them with safety and caution in mind.
Automatic LP Gas Exploders (such as Zon Guns), are a reliable source of timer-controlled, unattended sound for frightening birds from roost sites.
Hawk Kites have been studied extensively on agricultural crops since 1979, resulting in significant reductions in the presence and damage caused by migratory birds.
Helikites are a combination of kite and helium-filled balloon offering an erratic flight pattern that is perceived as a danger by most species of birds, and can protect a large area.
Light Lasers are a humane bird scare device that consistently disperses many species of birds. It is directional and used as part of a diverse and mobile bird dispersal operation.
Radio-controlled Flying Hawks are proven highly effective in dispersing large flocks of birds from passing through airspace, resting on open bodies of water or from any location where access can be an issue.
- Consulting: We assess your property and devise an effective dispersal and management program customized to your unique needs.
- Installation: Our experienced technicians install devices needed to disperse and manage your bird populations.
- Maintenance: We maintain and execute on-going or seasonal dispersal programs with our experienced technicians.
- Maintenance Training: If you prefer, we can even train your own personnel how to maintain ongoing or seasonal aspects of your dispersal program.
- Protects up to 3 acres (1.2 hectare)
- Includes 2 external speakers
- Sound chips easily replaced in the field
Bird Gard Pro Plus features two high power amplifiers and two external speakers for crystal-clear digital output. The solid-state electronics are mounted inside a NEMA rated control box that is suitable for most any weather condition. The Bird Gard Pro Plus is fully programmable, with adjustments for volume, specific sound combinations, daylight, night, or 24-hour operation. Every six seconds a randomly selected sound is broadcast at a randomly selected frequency out of a randomly selected speaker. It sounds like there are many different birds in distress spread throughout the protected area. Also included are four different random features that vary the sound, the sound duration, length of time between sounds and the sound location so birds don’t get accustomed to the sound pattern.
The sound chip is located on the face plate so it can be easily changed in the field for protection against a greater variety of birds. Please click here for help in identifying the birds causing you problems. The controller electronically modulates calls so it sounds like different injured birds of the same species.
The control unit mounts easily to a post or pole using the included mounting hardware and bracket, and features two built-in amplifiers for high-volume, crystal-clear digital sound output. The two weatherproof speakers with cable allow many diverse sound coverage patterns, including long narrow applications. Each speaker effectively covers a cone shaped area approximately 300 x 200 feet (91.4 x 61.5 meters).
- Repels Deer from vineyards, crops, orchards, commercial landscaping, and airfields
- Each speaker protects up to 1.5 acres (0.6 hectare)
- Includes 1 PA Speaker (up to 4 speakers may be used)
Deer Shield Super Pro is specially designed to repel deer from vineyards, crops, orchards and other commercial growing operations as well as airfields and commercial landscaping. Digital recordings of aggressive, hostile and territorial deer trigger a primal fear and flee response, effectively controlling deer. Sounds are broadcast through high fidelity weather-resistant PA-type speakers. One, two, or four speakers may be used depending on the size of the area needing protection from deer. Each speaker protects up to 1.5 acres (0.6 hectare).
Deer Shield Super Pro deer repellent system incorporates multiple random features designed to prevent habituation to the sounds. The solid-state electronics are mounted inside a weather-resistant housing suitable for most any weather condition. With all four speakers connected, every six seconds a randomly selected sound is broadcast at a randomly selected frequency out of a randomly selected speaker. With two speakers connected the sounds will alternate between the two speakers. The generating unit mounts easily to a post or pole using the included mounting hardware and brackets.
- Motion Sensor Activated
- Motion Sensor Range 25 feet to 75 feet
- Speaker Protects up to 1.5 acres (0.6 hectare)
Deer Shield Pro is ideal for repelling deer from yards, gardens and landscaping. Deer Shield Pro is also proven effective at getting rid of deer from crops, vineyards and orchards by disrupting their normal feeding patterns. Deer Shield Pro uses digital recordings of aggressive, hostile and territorial deer, broadcast through high fidelity weather-resistant speakers to trigger a primal fear and flee response, effectively controling deer.
A built-in motion sensor activates the deer deterrent sounds only when deer are present. The range of the motion detector can be adjusted from 25 feet to 75 feet. The detachable high fidelity weather-resistant speaker can cover up to 1.5 acres (0.6 hectares). Deer Shield Pro is fully adjustable for volume, motion sensitivity, sound duration, and day, night or 24-hour operation.
- Protects up to 6 acres (2.4 hectares)
- Includes 4 speakers
- Sound chips easily replaced in the field
Bird Gard Super Pro is our most popular unit and features four high power amplifiers and four external speakers for crystal-clear digital output. The solid-state electronics are mounted inside a weather-resistant control box suitable for most any condition. The Bird Gard Super Pro is fully programmable, with adjustments for volume, specific sound combinations, daylight, night, or 24-hour operation. Every six seconds a randomly selected sound is broadcast at a randomly selected frequency out of a randomly selected speaker. It sounds like there are many different birds in distress spread throughout the protected area. Also included are four different random features that vary the sound, the sound duration, length of time between sounds and the sound location so birds don’t get accustomed to the sound pattern.
The sound chip is located on the face plate so it can be easily changed in the field for protection against a greater variety of birds. Please click here for help in identifying the birds causing you problems. The controller electronically modulates calls so it sounds like different injured birds of the same species.
The control unit mounts easily to a post or pole using the included mounting hardware and bracket, and features four built-in amplifiers for high-volume, crystal-clear digital sound output. The four weatherproof speakers with cable allow many diverse sound coverage patterns. Each speaker effectively covers a cone shaped area approximately 300 x 200 feet (91.4 x 61.5 meters). A 4-speaker metal enclosure can be substituted for the individual speakers to protect an area approximately 600 x 600 feet (182 x 182 meters).
Ahhh, spring. Trees are budding, wildflowers blooming, butterflies emerging and the grass is greening up.
And the snakes are crawling.
Calls about reptiles in backyards — and front yards, houses and attics — are popping up about as fast as oak catkins are falling. Ed Lessard, president of the South Texas Herpetology Association, stays busy answering the phone this time of year.
“I had five calls yesterday,” Lessard said on a recent warm day. The calls concerned other reptiles, too — frogs, lizards and tortoises — but snakes present the most concern to gardeners just venturing outdoors to trim and plant after a winter that left landscapes in need of work.
Spring is when snakes emerge from burmation, a reptilian equivalent of hibernation, said Tom Regnerof Town Lake Construction in Austin. “They wake up and establish new homes,” he said, adding he receives calls about snakes from March through August.
One small rattlesnake might have been hunting for a home or food when Kerrville resident Carolyn Roup spotted it under a trailing rosemary bush she was trimming. “I had had laryngitis for 12 days, but I managed to attract my husband’s attention,” Roup said. John Roup caught the snake with special tongs and put it in a plastic tub.
Lessard’s advice to people who see snakes: Do not panic.
“Snakes are very beneficial, so we tell people to leave them alone. Some people will. Some will prefer that we just come get it. If the snake is in the grass in their backyard, and they have small kids and are not sure what kind of snake it is, we will probably go.”
In addition to finding snakes in flower beds and around rocks, gardeners might be surprised to find the reptiles cozying up to the compost pile. If the pile is heating properly, snakes will crawl on top to get warm, especially on cool mornings, Regner said.
Deter them by surrounding the pile with silt fencing, a black fabric used for erosion control. It’s available in 2-foot heights at home improvement stores.
Snakes do not dig, so they won’t go under it, Regner said.
You also can put an electric wire around the pile. Snakes will recoil when they touch it.
Another option is to bury a 10-gallon, smooth-sided bucket in the ground near the compost heap. If a snake falls in, it won’t be able to get out. Use a stick to raise the handle and carry the bucket away.
Most of Lessard’s calls are about diamondback rattlesnakes and rat snakes, which resemble the rattler. The rat snake is grayish when young and turns black as it ages. Older rat snakes also sport a red hue between their scales.
“But if you see that, you are too close for most people’s benefit,” Lessard said.
The rat snake is one of few Texas snakes that climbs trees. It goes searching for birds, which make up about half its diet.
Lessard says if the snake is in a tree, some 20 feet high, it is harmless to people.
The “harmless” label is not a no-bite guarantee. Although a venomous snake has never bitten him, not so for rat snakes.
“I have gone out of a second-story window to catch one on a limb. I try to grab them by the head, but the Texas rat snake will get you quicker than you can get them.”
Lessard has not been bitten by a venomous snake in his 30 years of handling them. Snake catchers use special tongs or hooks, never bare hands. They put the snakes into large buckets with ventilated tops.
“It’s a matter of having respect for them,” he said.
Barbara Elmore is a gardener and writer in Fredericksburg. Her garden and home newsletter is available at www.digandletdig.com.
IF YOU SEE A SNAKE
Stop moving if you hear a snake, then back away from it slowly. An added warning: Rattlesnakes are learning not to rattle. “The ones that don’t get caught are learning to be quiet,” said Tom Regner, who removes snakes from residences in Austin.
Recognize venomous snakes. Texas has four types: rattlesnakes, copperheads, coral snakes and cottonmouth water moccasins. Residents in and around San Antonio are most likely to see the coral snake and the rattlesnake.
Clean up: Get rid of weeds, boards, and junk, which attract rats, lizards and frogs. “Snakes will go where there is warmth, shelter, and to look for animals to eat,” Regner said.
Removal: If you need help removing a snake, call the City of San Antonio information line at 311 or 210-207-6000. Or visit the South Texas Herpetology Association Web site, www.kingsnake.com/stha. STHA volunteers do not charge for snake removal. They do accept donations to cover transportation costs. In Austin, Regner can be reached through his Web site, www.batspecialist.com, to give estimates for snake removal.
By Barbara Elmore – Special to the Express-News
Web Posted: 04/10/2010 12:00 CDT
You may reach at this address and telephone
Town Lake Construction, LLC
1712 East Riverside Drive #293
Austin, TX 78741
(512) 444-5955 Office
(512) 444-8780 Fax
You can also reach us by email with the following form:
Town Lake Construction, LLC offers wildlife control services on a contractual basis to corporate clients. Contract services allow you to budget for a service that assures you that any wildlife situations that pose potential liability issues with tenants, students, customers and/or employees, will be addressed consistently, immediately and professionally.
With contract services, you receive a tailored analysis geared to address your specific issues and concerns with wildlife invasion on your property. We submit a bid for retrofitting correctable issues. Many of our clients are so pleased with our modifications to control unwanted wildlife; they feel confident in retaining our continued services for resolving any future wildlife issues.
Under contract, Town Lake Construction offers greatly expanded services, which include:
- 24/7 immediate response, on-call Wildlife Removal
- Odor removal
- Raccoon removal
- Feral cat removal
- Water-proofing
- Drivet repair
- General construction
Be proactive to your wildlife control issues, as opposed to reactive: contact us for a wildlife control program tailored to suit your specific needs.
Once bats or birds have established themselves in or on your building, it is more difficult to prevent them from re-entering. Having your blueprints reviewed and certified as “Wildlife Resistant” saves time, money and is a service for your clients that makes you stand out from the competition.
We’ve seen thousands of buildings where materials could have been changed in the blueprint stage that would have eliminated or greatly reduced many common problems of infestation. One example is using square metal stock in open areas, rather than “I-beams,’ in order to eliminate ledges that appeal to nesting birds. Another common feature we find that allows bats to move freely into buildings is parapet roof flashings left un-caulked on pre-cast buildings. These are just a few examples of how certifying your blueprints as “Wildlife Resistant” can help you take measures before breaking ground that save significantly in the life, beauty and maintenance of your buildings.
My twenty-five years of experience in project management, and as a professional estimator, assures you that our blueprint analysis gives detailed, accredited recommendations that ensure a minimum amount of pest bird and bat invasions in your building, complex or campus.
Every project is unique. Please contact us to discuss your next design.
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We are based in Austin, Texas, which boasts the largest urban bat population in the world. It’s here that we gained our experience, developing methods to ensure the complete removal of all roosting bats from your buildings. All of our work is guaranteed. Our methods are as follows:
Initial Inspection
During our first visit, we visually inspect your building to determine the scope of infestation, identify obvious entry points, and get an idea of how we’ll need to customize exclusion devices to suit your building’s configurations.
Exclusion Device Installation and Peripheral Entry Seals
We install customized exclusion devices at all major entry/exit points, and seal all the secondary or peripheral entry/exit points.
Sealing of Major Entry/Exit Points
Five to seven days after the exclusion devices are installed, all of the roosting bats will have left your building in search of food or water. Extremely loyal to roosting sites, the bats return again and again but are unable to re-enter, so they seek alternative roosting sites. At this point, we come back, remove the exclusion devices and permanently seal points of entry.
Bat Facts & Tips
(Information courtesy of Bat Conservation International)
Bats are not rodents. They will not gnaw at insulation, wiring or anything else when roosting. The most damage they cause results from their urine and droppings, or “guano.”
The latest research indicates that only 0.5% (half of one percent) of the bat population ever contracts rabies. This is less than most other animal species. Over the past 46 years, only 18 people have died from bat-contracted rabies. Rabid bats die very quickly and unlike other mammals rarely become aggressive from the disease. Most bites from rabid bats occur when someone picks up a sick, grounded bat without proper protection.
Never handle a grounded bat without wearing leather work-gloves. A grounded bat can be sick, injured, tired or even in a slowed metabolic state. Like most wild animals, bats will bite to protect themselves; however, bats are not “gnawing rodents” and cannot bite through heavy leather gloves.
Guano represents more of a health threat to humans than pigeon droppings, although both of these cause unpleasant odors and can become a nuisance or a health hazard in significant amounts. Costly damage can occur to a residence or building if bat colonies are left unchecked for an extended period of time. Usually, a few bats will do no more damage than a few birds.
A bat trapped inside of a building wants nothing more than to find a way out. Bats do not attack humans; unlike they do in some movies. Erratic flight patterns of diving and swooping are simply how a bat maintains its flight. If a bat is trapped inside your building, don’t stand in the middle of the room, as this is where most of the “swooping” will take place. Instead, close all the doors leading to other rooms, if possible, and open a window or door to the outside. Stand out of the way, against a wall. The bat will eventually sense the movement of fresh air and head towards the source.
Odor Removal and Treatment
If bats have been roosting for any lengthy amount of time in your building, it’s often necessary to remove bat guano accumulations. We use custom made vacuums and attachments to access awkward and hard-to-reach areas. This keeps building or wall demolition (to access areas of guano accumulation) to a minimum. After the guano is removed, we treat the affected areas with organic biocides to remove odor and neutralize any harmful bacteria. Our construction backgrounds also allow us to deliver professional quality repair to damaged areas.
Rates
Within the greater Austin area, bids are free of charge.
For out-of-town locations (we will travel anywhere), please
email us: click here, or call us at (512) 444-5955.
Town Lake Construction, LLC began in 1993. Our “Pest Management Professionals” have a combined experience of over 30 years in general contracting and pest control. We have extensive experience in commercial bat and bird removal designs and technologies, bird control systems, odor abatement techniques and products, plus wildlife removal and exclusion services. Access to high-rise structures is our specialty.
All Town Lake Construction technicians are required to attend Continuing Education courses to stay on the cutting edge of this industry, and have been thoroughly trained and certified in:
- Repelling Techniques
- Boom-lift operations
- OSHA regulations
- Pest management
- Fall safety
We pride ourselves on adhering to strict building preservation and construction methods in order to give you the most effective, non-chemical bat and bird barrier systems available, while being sensitive to the aesthetics of your architecture.
Tom Regner – Owner
A native of Texas, Tom moved to Austin with a BA in Industrial Technology from the University of Houston. He worked as a project manager until he started Town Lake Construction, LLC in 1993. He has 25 years of experience in construction project management and over 18 years experience in wildlife control, specializing in bat and bird exclusion.
Tom has long been involved in local environmental groups, such as Clear Clean Colorado and Town Lake Clean. He is a co-founder of The River Watch Network, the first local citizen’s group to raise public awareness about water quality issues and to organize annual river clean-up efforts in and around Austin.
A seasoned public speaker, Tom has lectured on Texas wildlife control issues and methods to such groups as the Lions Club, BBB of Bastrop, the Del Valley School District and AAFAME.
Memberships
- Austin Association of Facility and Maintenance Engineers (AAFAME)
- Texas Pest Control Association
- National Pest Control Association
- Bat Conservation International (BCI)
Experienced
30 years of commercial construction experience providing the basis of 19 years in commercial pest control and wildlife control is the reason Town Lake Construction offers a lifetime guarantee that can’t be matched.
Guaranteed
Unlike typical pest control companies that have to learn their way through the intricacies of building design, hi – rise rappelling, space management, structural integrity and roof mechanics, the specialists at Town Lake Construction are seasoned in analyzing your office, your complex or your campus from an engineering and pest management vantage point.
Peace of Mind
Fully licensed, insured and bonded, Town Lake Construction brings building and property managers, Facilities Departments and other property management professionals peace of mind in knowing that they are only ever called out once for any wildlife control issue including:
- Bat Exclusion
- Bird Abatement – roosting and migratory
- Snake Removal
- Rodent Control - Raccoons, Rats, Opossums, etc
- Odor Elimination
Humane Methods
Town Lake Construction partners with multiple agencies and non-profit organizations involved with the humane treatment of wildlife to ensure that we remain updated in the most humane techniques when providing our services.
Broad Reach
Although based in Austin, TX, the ability to service and rappel High Rise buildings has made our talent in demand in most of the other large cities in Texas such as Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Our crews are able to be on scene with the right equipment to tackle any building or campus design and specification.
Bat Exclusion
Having worked on everything from high-rises to football stadiums, we bring decades of construction experience and pest control expertise to your project.
Licensed and insured, we use methods approved by Bat Conservation International for removing roosting bat colonies safely and legally, without harm to your building or risk to your tenants.
Initial Inspection
Customize exclusion devices to suit your building’s configurations.
Exclusion Device Installation and Peripheral Entry Seals
Customized exclusion devices at all major entry/exit points, and seal all the secondary or peripheral entry/exit points.
Sealing of Major Entry/Exit Points
Devices are installed, all of the roosting bats will have left your building in search of food or water.
Bird Abatement
We stay on the cutting edge of bird abatement technologies, products and methods in order to consistently provide the most effective solutions for the humane removal of pest birds, while maintaining the integrity and beauty of your buildings.
We custom design and install nearly invisible systems.
Netting
This is a great method for enclosed or semi-enclosed areas.
Electrical Ledge Deterrents
These are flexible track systems that are very effective on ledges, beams, signs, roof, and parapets.
Migratory Bird Control
Managing and manipulating bird populations is an important facet of urban wildlife management. Problems associated with concentrations of migratory birds, such as the contamination of food and materials, health hazards, costly destruction to buildings, plus other liabilities, can usually be reduced through various techniques of dispersal or relocation.
Since birds are more apt to leave a newly-established roosting site, prompt action greatly reduces the time and effort required to successfully relocate unwelcome birds.
Snake Removal
When snake infestations are discovered, few professionals are willing to put themselves at risk, including most pest control companies, animal control personnel, and even the police. Town Lake Construction, LLC is unique in offering trained wildlife removal services to entities such as commercial businesses, city municipalities (i.e. nursing homes, hospitals, etc.), state buildings, corporate complexes and educational institutions.
In addition to removing snakes from your property, we can design and install electric snake fences and reusable snake traps that will prevent future infestations.
Rodent Control
Rats, mice and other rodents can become a nuisance when they come in close proximity to humans. In addition to spreading disease to both humans and household pets, rodents can also cause property damage and contaminate food sources. We specializes in rodent control and removal to help you get rid of rodents in your business. We use a variety of techniques, including exclusion, habitat modification, and trapping that may effectively control these pests.
We correct the structural problems that have allowed these pests into your business. Norway Rats (sewer rats), Roof Rats and the common house mouse can be eliminated. Perhaps you have killed a few rats or mice with traps but these animals keep coming back. Or there is a smell/odor of something dead because poison bait was placed improperly. Don’t worry, no rodent infestation is beyond hope of control.
Deer control has been an on-going problem in many cities in Texas. Every year there is much discussion on how to get rid of the thousands of deer in areas such as Lake way, Rolling wood, etc.
Now, BirdGard has come up with a great solution for those cute but destructive deer. Deer Shield Pro uses digital recordings of aggressive, hostile and territorial deer sounds, broad-casted through high fidelity weather-resistant speakers to trigger a primal fear and flee response and it is very effective in controlling deer populations. It has a built-in motion sensor, so it only turns on when the deer are present. The motion sensor can detect deer up to 75 feet away. The detachable high fidelity weather-resistant speakers can cover up the 1.5 areas. Sounds and timers are fully adjustable. The digital chip has 8 different sounds. It runs off A/c or D/C voltage and comes with optional solar panels and marine batteries.
The Deer Shield Pro is ideal for: residential yards, commercial landscaping, grape and blueberry orchards, small farms and airfields. We like this product and plan to install them for our customers from Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Waco and Fort Worth. This product can also be purchased from us if you would like to install yourself.
Town Lake Construction, LLC the leading commercial pest control company serving all of Texas including Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Galveston, Corpus Christy and all smaller municipalities has recently included a full service division for the control of birds and other wildlife in the grape & wine industry. We have been attending regional field days in Texas and showing the attendees all their bird abatement options, such as: sound systems, visual deterrents, bird control netting and fogging supplies. We offer in house design, install all of our products and offer warranties.
Along with getting our feet wet in the wine and grape growing industry, we have been busy this year designing, building and installing bat houses for insect control. Due to the drought we have been having in Texas, this year has been especially busy in the snake department. Among the snake calls we have taken this year, other than catching and relocating single snakes, we have found ourselves incorporating snake control with the use of traps and electric snake fences. Visit our website for more information at www.batspecialist.com
Town Lake Construction, LLC stays on the cutting-edge of bird abatement technologies and products. Because of this, we can provide the most effective solutions, while maintaining the integrity of your building.
Methods
Every project is unique, and there are hundreds of products available for bird abatement. Through years of experience, we’ve found that some of these products are continuously effective. The following is a short list of the bird abatement products we prefer to use, although we customize many of them to suit each individual project:
Netting
This is a great method for enclosed or semi-enclosed areas, such as courtyards, overhangs, awnings and some rooftops. It is made of a thin, almost invisible polyethylene twine and utilizes stainless steel installation hardware. It is effective against all bird species.
Electrical Ledge Deterrents
These are flexible track systems that are very effective on ledges, beams, signs, roof, and parapets. Their flexible design allows them to conform to any architectural design. They are highly discreet systems that deliver a low voltage shock to the feet of unwanted visitors.
Bird Slide
This product is used on ledges, eaves, angle irons, I-Beams and most “L” shaped ledges where total exclusion is the goal. Bird slide is effective against all bird species and when color matched to the building, it is virtually undetectable.
Health Hazards from Pest Birds
Pest birds can cause as many health hazards as rats. Birds harbor over forty types of parasites and can internally host over sixty types of infectious diseases, which can easily be passed on to humans. Direct contamination from feces is one way that nesting birds spread disease. Airborne spores from feces can enter air ducts and vents to settle on food or water and transfer disease. Many cases of salmonella every year are attributed to that route of transmission. Airborne particles from bird feces can also contain dormant fungi and/or bacteria. If inhaled, this can result in mild to deadly internal fungal infections. The parasites carried by pest birds are capable of transmitting literally hundreds of bacterial and viral agents, including encephalitis, pox, meningitis, and plague to human hosts.
Property Damage from Pest Birds
In America alone, damage from nesting pest birds is estimated in the tens of millions per year. Droppings, nesting materials and carcasses pose a host of problems, some of which have the potential to become severe enough to necessitate a shutdown of a facility – and that happens more often than you might think.
Bird droppings are highly acidic and actually eat away some of the most durable substances. The life expectancy of a warehouse rooftop can be cut in half by even a light contamination from droppings.
Nests built in gutters can cause extensive damage due to improper drainage and can even collapse a roof. Nesting material is also very flammable and poses a serious fire hazard. Both nesting materials and acidic droppings can also cause damage to air conditioners, industrial machinery, siding materials and insulation.
Accumulated droppings pose physical dangers, increasing financial liabilities from possible injuries. In addition, grounds and buildings contaminated with droppings create a negative image for companies and building owners. Town Lake Construction, LLC offers many effective solutions for your pest bird issues.
Odor Removal and Treatment
T.L.C. customizes an approach to remove the feces, and treats the affected areas with environmentally safe, non-toxic products to leave your buildings odor free, and greatly reduce any health threats from contamination caused by bird infestation.
When snake infestations are discovered, few professionals are willing to put themselves at risk, including most pest control companies, animal control personnel, and even the police. Town Lake Construction, LLC is unique in offering trained wildlife removal services to entities such as commercial businesses, city municipalities (i.e. nursing homes, hospitals, etc.), state buildings, corporate complexes and educational institutions.
In addition to removing snakes from your property, we can design and install electric snake fences and reusable snake traps that will prevent future infestations.
Methods
Town Lake Construction, LLC uses humane methods for capturing snakes, whenever possible. We use a variety of trapping methods specifically customized for each situation, and release the snakes in an area where they won’t pose a risk to humans. More aggressive measures are never used in our snake removal, unless there is a risk to humans irresolvable by any other method.
Town Lake Construction, LLC performs rodent exclusions for many commercial businesses, city municipalities, state buildings, corporate complexes and educational institutions. Through our experience we have found that bait stations and traps, although good when used with an integrated pest management plan, do not suffice on their own for long term rodent exclusions. In order for any rodent control program to be effective on a long term basis, all four steps must be implemented and some steps must be continued on an annual basis. Our staff is certified in confined space entry, so sealing under-level utilities such as pipes and chases from rodent entry is included in our services. Many buildings that we inspect have exposed foundations, either from erosion, sprinkler systems or plumbing repairs. These conditions allow rodents easy access to the sub-grade of a building. Our staff has the training to install concrete foundation footings, which will block out the rodents entries, while maintaining the aesthetic of your building. Town Lake Construction, LLC uses the following four-point plan when controlling rodent populations:
There are four basic steps to implement when confronting a mouse & rat infestation:
- Inspection
- Sanitation
- Exclusion
- Population Reduction (traps, bait & repellents)
Methods
Inspection:
There are ten signs that we look for during our inspections: droppings, tracks, gnaw marks, burrowing, runways, grease marks, urine stains, live and/or dead rodents, rodent sounds and rodent odors. During our inspection, we get a better idea of the population size and the most likely routes taken by rodents to access the building, ensuring proper placement of traps and baits. During our inspection and throughout the project we take photo documents that display current conditions, repairs being made and competed work. These photographs are added to our close-out documents and supplied to the client for future reference.
Sanitation:
In order for a large population of rodents to flourish, there has to be an abundance of food and water, as well as easy access to a cozy nesting site. By removing or reducing the factors that make any pest population abundant, you immediately reduce the pest population. Sanitation is the backbone of Integrated Pest Management.
Exclusion:
Controlling mice & rats by making it impossible for them to enter the building is the next necessary step. Town Lake Construction does this by eliminating all openings larger than ½” for rats and ¼” for mice above and below grade.
Population Reduction:
To quickly reduce the population of rats and mice, traps and bait stations must be used. Town lake Construction utilizes the most humane traps on the market. These traps are continuously checked and re-baited as necessary.
Bat Conservation International
www.batcon.org
(512) 327-9721
Wildlife Rescue
www.austinwildliferescue.org
(512) 472-9453
5401 E. MLK Blvd.
Austin, TX 78721
Town Lake Animal Center
www.ci.austin.tx.us/tlac
(512) 972-6060
1156 W. Cesar Chavez St.
Austin, TX 78703
Texas Department of State Health Services
www.dshs.state.tx.us
(512) 458-7676
Texas Department of Agriculture
Structural Pest Control Service
www.tda.state.tx.us/spcs/
(512) 305-8250
Most people’s initial reaction to foul odor is irritation, but the more important problem can be the damage odor contaminants may do to our respiratory system. Breathing air contaminants causes many respiratory diseases. At Town Lake Construction, we found that offering odor removal was an important and necessary part of helping clients manage wildlife and the damage they sometimes incur.
Removing guano is a necessary step in some bat/bird exclusion cases. The best way to get rid of any odor is to remove the odor causing substance, clean all the salvageable, affected areas, and to replace materials that have been too ruined to salvage.
When removing guano or other odor causing substances, we use custom-made vacuums and attachments that allow us to access awkward and hard-to-reach areas, minimizing damage to walls, floors or ceilings.
After the odor causing substance has been located and removed, we treat affected areas with organic biocides that remove odor, and more importantly, neutralize harmful bacteria.
As the final step, our construction backgrounds allow us to leave you with professional-quality repairs that preserve the integrity or your building.
If you need odor removal services, or have questions, please contact us, and we’ll be happy to discuss your case.
“I have had the pleasure of working with the specialists at TLC. Our building was home to a growing raccoon population, of which we had captured and released only one within 10 days. When I contacted TLC for assistance, they explored the building and found several locations where the animals were entering. Once these areas were identified and plugged, it was then a matter of capturing those raccoons still in the building above the ceiling tiles.
The TLC specialist placed safe traps in areas likely to be most visited or where employees had heard movement. Within just a few days, TLC had captured 3. Within 2 weeks, the building was completely free of raccoons!
I would recommend TLC to anyone experiencing pests within their buildings. The specialists understand animal behavior and know effective methods of bating, capturing and releasing animals back into their natural habitats. The specialists at TLC have a humane approach to animal handling, work hard to bring customer satisfaction and all at a reasonable cost.”
Clark Cook
Safety Technician
www.mypmp.net March 2010 PEST management professional BG11
Town Lake Construction in Austin, TX, is a preferred contractor that has installed bird control products on many of the buildings on a local university campus. The extensive campus is comprised of many buildings requiring ongoing maintenance. “We won several bids for work in the 1990s. The university was impressed with our work and we have been a preferred contractor for more than 10 years now,” explains owner Tom Regner. One of the industrial buildings on campus houses a chilling station. Large, open passages allowed pigeons and grackles to roost and breed inside the building. The amount of debris left by the birds had become so overwhelming that employees refused to enter the building. Bird Barrier’s Stealth-Net was an obvious solution, as it can completely exclude birds from a structure. Installing zippers in the netting maintained access to the interior for university workers. “The biggest challenge with this project was the cleanup,” Regner explains “Using Dissolve-it, two Town Lake employees spent two days cleaning the area prior to installing the Stealth-Net. The installation process took two additional days.” Of course, anyone who has ever visited Austin is familiar with the large bat population. Regner and his team chose to use 3/4-in. black Stealth-Net to ensure that neither birds nor bats could gain access to the building through those passageways. Taking Netting to new heights several months later, Town Lake was called in again to address another bird problem. This time, the affected building was an academic center. Concrete decorative latticework on the exterior of the building’s windows had become a favorite roosting spot for pigeons. The dilemma extended beyond the aesthetic. A bird mite infestation was the more serious issue. An entire floor of the building had to be closed off to deal with the situation. Once the area had been sterilized and the windows removed and cleaned, the installation of Stealth-Net on the building’s exterior began. Operating on a campus with 55,000 students was difficult. The latticework was 54 ft. off the ground. Working at that height required a lift for access. “Moving the lift around the building among the heavy foot traffic was the most complicated part of this job,” describes Regner. Ultimately, the installation took three men five days to complete. However, because of the quality of both Town Lake Construction’s work and Bird Barrier products, they will likely remain a preferred contractor for this college in perpetuity.
800-NO-BIRDS • BirdBarrier.com
Stealth-Net Teaches Pest Birds to Keep Off Campus
ADVERTORIAL StealthNet Benefits
Stealth-Net denies pest birds access to literally any architectural configuration, including courtyards, rooftops, overhands, parking garages, etc. Here’s why:
- It’s nearly invisible: Stealth-Net is available in stock colors of black, stone (beige) and white. The netting is composed of very thin, ultra-strong strands of polyethylene twine.
- It’s a long-lasting, 100% solution: Stealth-Net is manufactured using the most advanced technology in the world, and has been developed to withstand a wide range of environmental conditions. Polyethylene is the most ultraviolet (UV)-resistant netting material available, and Stealth-Net has extra UV stabilizers added in its raw materials — thus creating a net that will last for 10 years or more.
- It’s humane: Stealth-Net provides a harmless and impenetrable barrier against all pest birds. Stealth-Net can completely exclude birds from structures by sealing off openings like archways and other unenclosed areas. Using stand-off brackets and weighted cable, Stealth-Net can even protect individual HVAC units.
- It’s versatile: Zippers can be inserted into Stealth-Net to create access points for maintenance, such as changing light bulbs. And by using support poles, it can be configured to protect just about any structure.
We perform quite a bit of research before our company, Town Lake Construction LLC endorses a new odor control product or procedure. New methods to combat odor problems come on to the market daily. We try quite a few of them, most of which do not live up to their claims; one of these products being deodorizers. Town Lake Construction flatly refuses to use any kind of deodorant as a means to remove odor from a commercial building, because most deodorants morph the smell of bat guano or bird dropping into something that, in most cases, are intolerable to building occupants. Getting rid of smells, not simply masking them, is our goal at this company. Whether the smell comes from a dead raccoon enclosed in a wall or roosting pigeons on a privacy balcony, we have the equipment and the odor abatement knowledge to tackle the source of any odor problem. Quite frankly, we have learned what we know through trial and error. When I first entered the pest control business, in Austin, TX, some 20 years ago, there was little in verifiable methods for the lasting control of odor. Twenty years and 4000 smell good products later, we have finally determined the good from the bad in treating unwanted smells. Our clients are typically from large Universities, corporations and municipalities. These institutions usually try to treat odor problems “in house” so by the time they give us a call, asking for assistance, the existing conditions have escalated out of control. Imagine 10 years worth of bird carcasses stacked up in a hot electrical vault, or 50 years of accumulated bat guano in a county court house attic. Dealing with this type of odor abatement project is all in a days work for us. Our staff has the verifiable training, certifications and the experience to do what it takes to make your odor problem disappear.
Tom Regner
Town Lake Construction LLC
06/08/10
Dear Dan,
In response to your email regarding the closing of your clean room. Let me get this straight, you run the maintenance division of a large corporation in Austin, TX and you have found out that your clean room is overrun with rats and mice. At first, it started with reports of rat droppings. You called your “under contract pest control company” and told them you might have a rodent issue. They came out three days later to perform a brief inspection, check their outside bait stations and set a few traps. Everyone was happy, including your now increasing population of commensal friends, the rodents, but every day, new reports of rodent sightings come into your office. The pest control company in which you selected was supposed to get rid of these rodent situation. You have seen them advertise on television and you thought they were reputable because their company name starts with ABC and they are a local Texas company. Well you ask, “what did I do wrong?” Don’t feel too bad, this is typical for the industry. The difference between Town Lake Construction, LLC’s approach to your rodent problem and current pest control company you have under contract is the difference between happy clients and unhappy ones. First, you hired them for their low bid approach to general pest issues, not for a more dynamic, problem oriented companies, comprehensive approach. Unfortunately, getting what you paid for does nothing to solve an over population of rats and mice living in your building. For example, we never utilize bait station on the outside of a building until all foundation openings are closed. I cannot tell you how many sites I have been to like yours with obvious rodent entry/exit points directly adjacent to the bait stations. Secondly, T.L.C. does not have our crew on pest control routes, unlike your first in the phone book “critter ridder”; we stay with your building until we are satisfied that every possible opening has been sealed and the problem has been solved. This approach takes time. We do not have to spray for roaches at noon, kill ants at 2 PM and then try to squeeze you in to deal with hundreds of rodents crawling between the floors of your building. You should never let a route oriented pest control company near a problem like you have described. Hiring a company that won’t cut corners and has building engineering experience like Town Lake Construction, LLC is the right approach. Our staff has the verifiable training, certifications and the experience to do what it takes to make your rodent problem disappear. More on this later ………
Tom Regner
Town Lake Construction LLC
When the average person goes onto the internet to find a pest control company to solve their bird or bat problems, what they will find is that every pest control company with a website is the best, the largest, the most experienced and all of the rest of the industry is hugging their coat-tails trying to catch up. Bologna! After all, there can only be one pest control company that is the best, the largest and the most experienced, and that company just so happens to be my company, Town Lake Construction. O.K., you see what I am driving at?
We specialize in high-rise pest control, via bird and bat proofing of buildings, so we gain a tremendous amount of experience in these specific fields. We do not kill ants, trap rats or spray lawns. Day-in and day-out we service high-rise building, municipal buildings and commercial facilities. The same men that the other companies send to your job may have been trapping possums at 10 A.M., spraying for bugs at 2 P.M. and be ready to tackle your bird problem at 4 P.M. I shudder to think about it. Even with the constant exposure to our specific line of pest control, we go through many learning curves daily. When you hire a pest control company to set up a bird-control system 300 feet in the air, the last thing a business owner needs are technicians on their building, that have little, or no experience, which is very common in this industry. We don’t spray to kill bugs, etc. even though we are licensed to do these things. If we are called to do it, we refer them to a pest control company that we like, which may I tell you is few and far between. You may ask why we don’t take on this extra work, after all, everyone else that is the biggest, the largest and the best does it. The answer is, if we don’t have the experience, the “know how”, and the capacity to be the best at it, or pretty close to the best, we don’t want any part of it at all.
–Tom Regner
The hardest part of anything for me is at the beginning. Ideas come easy. Making something solid and useful from my ideas is something entirely different. You know, creating something from what’s between your ears. It sounded like a good idea; “yeah, let’s have a Blog on the new website”. Now sitting in front of my computer, I am at one of those moments…In the beginning, forming this Blog out of thin air and transforming it into what you see before you. Bear with me for a few more sentences while I try to transform some idea to write about. O.K., I’ve got one, let’s try to second guess what goes on in the mind of a, domesticated from the wild, bird. Not ready for it, me neither. Some other time perhaps, when I have had my next encounter with Albert Einstein disguised as a Grackle. Maybe I could talk about when I first starting excluding bats from buildings. I could theoretically do this but and in reality, the events which led up to my first “bat encounter” are much too entertaining and in depth for me to go into at this hour. Now I am at the moment of truth, what do I say now? “I like this industry!” Where can you go repelling off buildings and get paid for it? Some of the places I have had access to, range from the infamous book depository building in Dealey Plaza, The George Bush Governors Mansions, Darrel Royal Stadiums to movie sets and chance encounters with movie stars. I can’t remember how many times I have been interviewed for T.V. and the newspapers. You get the idea; we work in pretty cool places and meet a lot of interesting people. I never thought of the prestige we would gain when I first came up with this concept, way back in”93”. Another thing I really like about my business is the “specialist” aspect of our company. Most of my customers, have tried many ordinary pest control companies, to help them with their (insert animal) problem before I get the first call to do my “thing”. Desperation leads to some pretty accommodating circumstances for my Company, Town Lake Construction, which is now an LLC, formed to protect me from loosing my house. But I digress… so, the desperate conditions we come in to make us look like saviors on chariots, chariots in the form of pick up trucks with ladder racks. The scenario usually plays out like this: Bats are trapped in a building and are now swooping down on the accounting department, which incidentally really likes me now and will pay me in record time for our heroics, after we are finished, of course. After all, they are accountants. I like being “that guy’ who is a true specialist. Re-inventing the wheel and building a better mouse trap is an everyday occurrence for us. At least once an hour, I come up with some sort of contraption or new idea that will revolutionize the industry.
These are the topics which I can write about. So let me tell you about them one at a time…
– Tom Regner
“We initially hired Town Lake Construction a number of years ago for humane bat removal and have since had no additional problems with bat intrusion. Since then, we have hired them to perform waterproofing, painting, roof repairs and a multitude of other construction projects. We have found that they are always dedicated to finding the problem source, then resolving the problem and they always stand behind their work. We know we can always rely on Town Lake Construction to perform quality work at our properties.”
Lynette H. Dahmer
Senior Property Manager
“I’d like to thank Town Lake Construction for their quick response to our bird problem. Their knowledge and experience helped us to remove several birds from our clean-room in a very timely manner.”
Daniel Carl
Senior Facilities Engineer
Something about the way the sunlight did not reach all the way to the rocky ground but rather reflected off a shape — a shape that, however still, was obviously alive — gave my step pause in the bright spring day. I was hiking a trail that runs alongside the spring-fed Pedernales River after some bounding over the sluices and rocky outcroppings of the falls at Pedernales Falls State Park.
“Look at that,” I exclaimed to the friend that followed behind me, myself only just processing what I was seeing.
Two large western diamondback rattlesnakes, stretched each to full length next to a ledge of rock. Silent, unmoving and yet connected, intent … suddenly I realized they were mating. The two rattlesnakes were mating. I stood there breathless for several moments, astounded by the beauty in nature’s inert ferocity. It was as if I was watching an ancient ritual, a union so primeval that a prehistoric mind would instantly have created a myth around the event.
So of course I had to make a joke.
“Crikey!” I said, channeling the accent of that famous vexer of wildlife. “That one’s a jumbo!”
Yet I remained transfixed, with a clear view of the eyes of the nearer of the pair. She looked at me, her triangular head coldly appraising my slightest quiver. My friend moved around them in a wide circle, unsuccessfully seeking a good angle for a photograph. I could see her mate watching the motion.
Chit-chit-chit-chi-chiiit.
Nothing but the tip of a black and white striped tail moved, and when it stopped, there was no evidence that the snakes had altered their position in the slightest. Both of us were well away from the snakes and what I felt was not fear, but a thrilling exuberance. While, for some of you Texans, the sound of a venomous pit viper bestowing its eponymous warning may be commonplace, even routine — to a gal from a state lacking poisonous anything (no venomous snakes, no fire ants, no brown recluses or deadly jellies), it was a rite of passage. For the snakes, it marked a countdown to six or so months from now, when a dozen or more rattlesnake young, equipped with venom from birth, will spill into the Pedernales River habitat.
Of course, snakes can be found on trails and many other locations in Texas, and spring being prime time for snake activity, I decided to ask an expert about how to be safe with snakes. Tom Regner, owner of Town Lake Construction LLC, has specialized in the humane removal of bats, birds, snakes, and many other animals from Austin property since 1993. He was kind enough to speak with me about what home and business owners (and yes, hikers and bikers) can do to prevent encounters with snakes, and what one should do upon encountering a snake.
“Snakes nest in large colonies,” Tom informed me, “and they will get displaced by construction and move to where they weren’t last year. The first thing you’ll want to do is check woodpiles, under decks, and garbage cans to get those areas cleared.”
And if you do find snakes?
“Well, most pest companies don’t do snakes. But you can call the police, and they will help, at least to watch the snake or call a wildlife control company like ourselves. You can’t assume a snake is venomous — there are only four types of venomous snake in Texas.”
That’s plenty for me. What are some good rules for keeping a place snake-free?
“One, prevent a snake problem by removing shelter areas. Two, seal up gaps and cracks in your home or deck. Three, eliminate feeding areas. And four, we’re on call 24/7 to handle any problems.”
What does someone do until you get there?
“Most everyone who gets bit — close to 90 percent — was messing with the snake.”
I take his answer to mean, don’t mess with the snake. What do you do with the snakes you catch?
Tom deadpanned, “We put them in your neighbor’s yard.”
I laugh nervously.
He continues, “We do keep them pretty close. Rattlesnakes, for example, are a territorial species, so we don’t want to put one in another snake’s territory. So we don’t go a long distance and I do have a couple of local drop-offs. The problem is, a lot of the snakes people find get killed. They’re all good snakes, we don’t get into: this one is good, that one is bad. They’re all good, and if you kill them, you’ll have problems with other pests.”
What was the strangest removal you’ve performed?
“A python in a movie theater, a megaplex. The theater had just opened, and the owner had a disgruntled employee leave a 10-foot reticulated python in the theater. We found it within about 10 minutes of getting there. We just got lucky. Although when I was told it was a python, I thought it would be, you know, a smaller one, not like something you would find in the jungle!”
What happened with that snake?
“That one we sold to a pet store. Sometimes with snakes and raccoons and other animals, we’ll contact Austin Wildlife Rescue. It’s a volunteer-based organization, and they’re really great — more people should know about them.”
Town Lake Construction can safely and humanely remove bats, birds, snakes and other animals as well as advise new builders and architects on how to minimize or remove habitats. Tom Regner and his staff can be reached at 444-5955.
Austin Wildlife Rescue can help if you find an injured or orphaned wild animal and maintains a 24-hour hotline for help with wild animals at 472-WILD.
By Alexandria Dobkowski
of Austin360.com
Austin Association of Facility & Maintenance Engineers (AAFAME)
Our March 12th Luncheon at the Crowne Plaza will feature Tom Regner of Town Lake Construction LLC who will discuss “Bat & Bird Abatement”. In this presentation Tom Regner, owner of Town Lake Construction, LLC, will discuss the types of architectural details that are common roosting areas for bats and pest birds, available products and proven methods used in the bat and bird abatement industry . He will also discuss the health risks and liabilities often associated with leaving a bat or bird problem unchecked and how to protect yourself as a home/business owner, property manager or architect/engineer.
A native of Texas, Tom moved to Austin with a BA in Industrial Technology from the University of Houston. He worked as a project manager until he started Town Lake Construction, LLC in 1993. He has 25 years of experience in construction project management and over 18 years experience in wildlife control, specializing in bat and bird exclusion. A seasoned public speaker, Tom has lectured on Texas wildlife control issues and methods to such groups as the Lions Club, BBB of Bastrop, the Del Valley School District and now AAFAME.
Member $22 if paid online or at the door and $25 if invoice requested.
Non-Member $28.00 paid online or at the door.
Please be advised that reservations are due by Monday 3-10-08
“On two separate occasions our campus discovered Raccoons residing in our attic space with babies nesting inside some wall spaces.
The first incident happened last year in Bldg 2, shared by Advanced Micro Devices and Spansion. It did not go well at first, as we had our in-house maintenance crew set a trap and improperly release the Raccoon. Unfortunately, the trapped Raccoon was a nursing mother thus leaving babies behind that could be heard crying. We quickly realized we needed to bring in professional animal control services. Town Lake Construction immediately tracked down the babies and several other internal Raccoons and released them to Wildlife Rescue for proper evaluation and care. They even followed up and traced their egress routes through the building, allowing us to properly seal the building from future problems.
The second incident occurred this year in Bldg 1. Again, a mother and her baby Raccoons were in that attic space with the babies nesting inside a wall. This time we contacted TLC immediately and they set about isolating the nest and pulling the two babies out by hand. The very next day, the mother was captured and reunited with her babies at Wildlife Rescue Center.
Town Lake Construction is now our primary source for animal control issues on campus as they consistently impress our customers and management with their timely and methodical approach to animal problems. I highly recommend their services.”
Paul Jameson
Facilities – Contract Services
Q: Behind our house is a multi-unit complex. A small bat colony has been there for years. Last month a man closed up the opening so the bats cannot get out. It’s probably too late, but I saw foam on the ground so maybe they are trying to get out. Can someone look into this or tell me whom to notify? -Nancy Lackey
A: Notify the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services environmental and consumer health unit (972-6124). “We handle bats and respond to live bat calls,” says spokeswoman Cecilia Fedorov. Dial 311 to report animal cruelty to animals.
Your question turned up some interesting bat facts. Some bats winter here and, if residing in a building, probably have more than one entrance and exit. Bats are non-game animals. Because the complex owner seeks to remove them from a home occupied by people, no laws are being violated.
Professional bat excluders such as Tom Regner, 444-5955, can be hired.
A list is available from Bat Conservation International, 327-9721 or batcon.org
By Jane Greig
Austin American-Statesman
The most common species of bats in Central Texas is the Mexican free-tailed bat. The migratory mammal is an important animal, as each night it consumes almost its body weight of agricultural pests such as moths, flying ants, weevils, stinkbugs and ground beetles.
Bats can become a nuisance when they roost in large numbers in residences and buildings. Costly damage can occur if bat colonies are left unchecked for an extended period of time. Most damage results from bat urine and droppings, commonly known as “guano.”
Town Lake Construction specializes in the removal of bats from commercial and residential buildings. The specialists were in Lampasas last week to remove bats from a building owned by Todd and Nona Jane Briggs and his sister, Kay Briggs, at the corner of Western and Fourth streets, which houses Busy Bee Laundromat.
Tom Regner, owner of Town Lake Construction, said the company follows a procedure to ensure complete removal of all roosting bats from buildings, including initial inspection to determine the scope of infestation and identification of obvious entry points. On larger projects, crew members will survey a building at dusk when bats emerge, to determine exit and entry points, Regner added.
“Bats love to roost in these old limestone buildings,” he said. “We remove the bats in a humane manner.”
Secondary exit and entry points are sealed with caulking guns, Regner said.
“Then we install customized exclusion devices at all major entry and exit points,” Regner said. The device resembles a window screen with netting that enables bats to leave but not get back inside.
“The bats are not captured, killed or physically removed, but the bats that once occupied the building must find another location to roost.”
Several days after exclusion devices are installed, roosting bats will have left a building in search of food and water, Regner added.
“At this point, we come back, remove the exclusion devices and permanently seal the points of entry,” the bat specialist said. “If necessary, custom-made vacuums will be used to extract existing bat guano accumulations, and after that is removed all affected areas will be treated with an organic biocide to remove odor and neutralize any harmful bacteria.”
Bat guano fetches high prices. In Austin, a small bag or one pint can sell for more than $8.
Many people have a misunderstanding about bats, Regner said.
“Bats have been killed, but that is not necessary,” he said. “Bats being migratory are a federally protected species. Persons may be fined up to $10,000 for poisoning or killing bats.” There reportedly are exclusions for people who exterminate bats on their own property, however.
On rare occasions, persons have been bitten by a rabid bat. The latest research indicates that only ½ of 1 percent of the bat population ever contracts rabies. Over the last 50 years only 18 people have died from bat-contracted rabies. Most bites from rabid bats occur when someone picks up a sick, “downed” bat without proper hand protection.
Regner said children or adults should never handle a downed bat.
“If it is essential that you handle a bat, wear heavy leather work gloves,” the bat specialist said. “Like most wild animals, bats will bite to protect themselves. However, bats are not ‘gnawing rodents’ and cannot bite you through heavy work gloves.”
Town Lake Construction has more than 22 years of experience. Some recent bat removal projects include the Texas State Library Archives, Foley’s Department Store and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
“The Lampasas bat removal is a typical medium-size job,” Regner said.
“It may be a medium job to Town Lake Construction, but if you have bats in your building, it is a very big problem,” said Nona Jane Briggs.
The bat-removal company can be reached at (512) 444-5955 or online at www.batspecialist.com. The company also specializes in removal of snakes and nuisance birds such as pigeons.
By Mat Taylor
Staff Writer
Lampasas Dispatch Record
Tom Regner’s reputation as a bat conservationist has earned him the nickname “Batman.” Witty remarks such as “Hey, Batman where’s Robin?” don’t phase him. It comes with his line of work.
Regner’s company, Town Lake Construction, specializes in removing bats from buildings and preventing their return as well as doing maintenance and construction in high-rise structures. About 25 percent of his business is devoted to bats and he employs three bat specialists.
A conservationist at heart, Regner’s interest in bats began when a development company he worked for in the early ‘80s bought an apartment building that was home to a bat colony. He worked to safely evict the unwanted flying tenants in that building and his dedication to bats took flight.
After encountering several bat colonies on construction projects, he sought out Bat Conservation International (BCI), an Austin-based organization dedicated to conserving bat habitats and providing bat-related education and research.
Regner says Barbara French, science officer for BCI, was an important influence. She taught him how to remove bats from a major construction project. “Barbara was very helpful in providing me with information on how to safely handle the bat situation.”
Working with French and BCI, Regner began using a method called exclusion. It employs a special caulk that does not trap bats inside buildings or use poisons. It allows the bats to safely exit the building and prevents them from returning. This is a permanent and cost-effective way to remove bats from buildings, Regner says.
When they’re removing bats, Regner and his team might spend the day strapped in harnesses similar to the ones used by window washers. “It is essential to be fearless of heights, bats, and working in extreme weather,” adds Regner. “It is not all that pretty, but indeed rewarding to care for the animals.”
When Regner has successfully removed bats from a building without harming them or the building’s structure, he feels his job has been well done. “Many times, pest control companies end up killing the bats, or damage the building itself,” he says. “We attempt to not harm either one.”
Regner’s most memorable project has been working on a 12-floor building downtown. “Every horizontal column on every floor had bats,” he says. “It took a month to finish.”
Regner’s latest foray into the world of bats involves much smaller buildings. He’s creating a line of bat houses. The typical house is 2-feet wide, 3-feet tall and about 41/2 inches deep. The rectangular houses have layers inside arranged like a sandwich. These bat houses can hold about 200 bats.
If the houses take off, they are set to be included in BCI’s catalog. Regner may prove once again that bats can be good for business.
By Evelyn Valdez
Special Sections Writer
Austin American-Statesman
Two black swans trying to nest near the Town Lake shoreline are experiencing their ups and downs as the waters rise and fall.
The female is due to lay her eggs any day now. To prepare, they are frantically arranging branches, weeds and flotsam on a small island about 40 feet from shore. But the effort likely will prove futile. As the lake rises, their nest is destined to become submerged.
At the shoreline, an octagon-shaped nest made of wood and plastic foam floats on the water, tied to concrete pilings. It is the creation of Tom Regner, who resides in an East Austin apartment complex at 1818 Lakeshore Blvd. South, which fronts the area of the lake the swans call home.
Regner hopes the swans will take to his floating nest, which will rise and fall with the lake level, before the waters destroy their island nest and another attempt by the swans to produce offspring.
“We’re going to have to do it gradually,” said Regner, who has an educational background in behavioral science. “Animals won’t take to drastic changes most of the time.”
The design of the floating nest was based on one created for swans at the San Antonio Zoo, he said.
The two swans are part of the original population of 16 swans – eight black, eight white – that were donated in 1988 by a local photographer. The swans’ wings were clipped to keep them from flying away.
Their inaugural launch on Town Lake was such a big deal that then-Mayor Frank Cooksey issued a proclamation declaring the lake “Swan Lake” for the day.
Last year, floods had so ravaged the Colorado River that the swans never had a chance to build a nest on Town Lake, Regner said. Two years ago, their shoreline nest was destroyed by vandals.
After the eggs were destroyed, the female black swan sat on a sterile duck egg for more than 21/2 months, as if it were her own, said Brooke Monfort, Regner’s girlfriend.
“They get sad,” said Monfort, who often feeds the swans from the shoreline pier. “You can tell. They console each other.”
Regner and Monfort said they know of only two other black swans on the lake nesting near Zilker Park.
When Regner floated his nest for the first time Saturday, the swans approached but didn’t climb on it. The octagon box is filled with materials that Regner removed from the island nest.
The female swan is expected to lay her eggs this month. The incubation period is two months.
By Stuart Eskenazi
American-Statesman Staff
Austin’s building boom apparently has been a boom to the few critter-control companies that catch snakes for panicked homeowners.
Although there is no tally to prove the snake population in Central Texas is actually up this spring, there is an anecdotal evidence of a sharp increase in human-snake encounters.
Those close encounters of the serpentine kind are occurring far more often than just a few years ago, likely because of a number of factors, including the construction binge that is displacing rather than killing the reptiles outright, according to biologists and animal control experts.
“I’ve seen a 40 percent increase in the number of calls from residences and business over the past few years,” said Tom Regner, whose Austin business specializes in relocating nuisance bats, birds and snakes. “I now get a couple hundred calls a year, and I don’t even promote the snake part of the business.”
In most neighborhoods, the one thing clearly more common than snakes is the fear of them – a reflexive terror that many acknowledge to be irrational. Of the 115 species of snakes in Texas, only four poisonous species inhabit the Austin area.
That doesn’t mean people should be cavalier when they stumble across a slithering reptile.
Earlier this week, a gardener working in the Vineyard Bay area off RM 620 was bitten on the hand by a diamondback rattlesnake, said Thomas Deba of Greater Austin Pest Control, who was called to apprehend the perpetrator. The gardener was hospitalized overnight for observation, Deba said.
And late Thursday, a 16-year-old Austin boy was bitten twice on his toes by an unidentified snake while walking to his truck to get dry clothes after swimming with friends in the Adamsville area, a Brackenridge Hospital official said.
“There were puncture wounds, and his foot hurt up to the ankle, so there probably was some venom injected, but not much,” hospital spokesman Stephanie Elsea said. “He’s going to be fine, and he says he’s going to remember to wear shoes when outside.”
It is common for snakes – especially large, older snakes – to not inject much or any venom when striking at humans because the attack is done in fear rather than in an effort to kill prey, experts say. Also, snake fangs are fragile and often will not penetrate even canvas tennis shoes.
Austin hospitals treat five to 10 victims of venomous snake bites a year, and that number does not seem to be rising, said Dr. John Blewett, director of the emergency room at St. David’s Hospital.
Deaths from snakebites are very rare in the United States, with about 15 per year, experts say. Outdoor Life magazine recently noted that, by comparison, dog bites cause about 20 deaths annually and bee stings about 100.
Experts agree that construction generally forces snakes to find new places to live. A mild winter and early spring might also be responsible for a higher survival rate of young snakes, which are finding a plethora of food because frogs and insects also fared well over the winter.
Regner, the relocation specialist who runs Town Lake Construction, said he was surprised that during a recent three-hour canoe trip on the Colorado River below the Montopolis Bridge he saw 13 snakes, three of them cottonmouths.
The only problem snake is an angry cottonmouth, he said, “I’ve had them chase me across a river and go out of their way to attack me.”
Regner learned about snakes as a youth in Houston when Hurricane Carla struck, leaving dozens of dead snakes, including cottonmouths and copperheads, washed up on his parent’s property.
“I collected them in a bag and left them in the garage,” he recalled. “The problem was that about half were just stunned, and when the warmth revived them, it took about a week to find all of them in our house.”
The depth of some people’s snake phobias still amazes him.
“When I realized the regular pest-control guys were scared, I said, “This is good for my business,’ and they refer their snake problems to me,” Regner said. “You can’t believe the calls I get from folks with a small snake in their yards, and they want it removed.”
By Kevin Carmody
American-Statesman Staff
