Pigeons are well known to carry and spread diseases through their droppings. Pigeons can transmit a number of diseases such as Histoplasmosis, Pigeon Ornithosis, Salmonella, Cryptococcosis, Toxoplasmosis, and Encephalitis. Pigeons can host numerous ectoparasites as well; such as ticks, flies, fleas, mites and biting lice which also carry disease. Some insects that inhabit the nests of pigeons are also fabric pests and/or pantry pests. To make matter worse, pigeon droppings can also make structural surfaces slick and hazardous. Health claims and lawsuits resulting from diseases or injuries attributed to pigeons can easily exceed 100K.
Collections of droppings may also provide a medium for bacterial and fungal growth that could pose a potential public health problem. Human diseases that are known to be associated with pigeon droppings: Histoplasmosis, Cryptococcosis, Psittacosis, and Toxoplasmosis.