Bird Poo Can Cause Long Term Damage To Your Car’s Paint Job

Birds swallow their food since they do not have teeth for chewing. Digestion occurs through the stomach, gizzard, pancreas and a similar gland and organ that perform the same process as the appendix and bladder. Food not completely digested is excreted from their body in the form of either greenish-brown fecal matter or white liquid. This liquid resembles a white splash mark and consists of uric acid crystals which is similar to ammonia.

Warm temperatures cause vehicle paint to soften. Bird excrement dropped on it dries quickly and causes the paint to harden around and with the poop. If not removed right away, the surface texture becomes uneven. Staining, pitting or a dull finish results if the debris is not removed as soon as possible.

Even cars that have been waxed and polished offer little to no protection to this dilemma. However, doing so does make it less difficult to remove the fecal matter. Removing the poo also removes a microscopic layer of paint leaving a dull spot.

The best method of removal is using a moistened paper towel to wet and remove the substance before becoming too hard. A coat of wax could be applied to brighten the spot or it may need polished out and repainted.

It is important to wash hands thoroughly after contact since bird poo can cause a number of health concerns. Fungal diseases histoplasmosis and cryptococcis cause fatigue, fever, chest pain, headache and blurred vision. Less common but still possible is psittacosis which results in fever, diarrhea, pink eye and pneumonia symptoms. Toxoplasmosis stems from parasites in the fecal matter causing flu-like symptoms. Other conditions include skin rashes as well as encephalitis or inflammation of the brain which also consists of fever, headache, fatigue and even seizures.

Bird poo can cause long term damage to your car’s beautiful paint. Parking the vehicle in a garage or covering with a protective tarp at night will prevent this from happening. However, open parking lots and driving on roads increases this risk. Carrying a bottle of water and paper towels in the trunk is a good way to be prepared to handle unwanted bird bombs.