Illustration for Pigeons Under Solar Panels

Why pigeons pick your array

The gap between the panels and the roof is a covered, sheltered ledge. Once birds nest there, droppings and nest debris can pile up under the glass, out of sight and out of reach.

In September 2025, a homeowner on a solar forum wrote that pigeons had moved in under one panel. The nest was too high to reach from a ladder. That’s typical. By the time you notice, the mess is in a spot you can’t safely get to.

Who pays

If you own the system, it’s your call and your bill. If you lease, read the contract before you call anyone. In a second thread that month, a homeowner with a prepaid lease asked whether the lease company would cover nest removal. One reply said it likely wouldn’t. It added that the contract may make the homeowner responsible for keeping animals from damaging the system. Another simply said to check your contract.

Who can do the work:

  • Your solar installer or lease company. They know the system, but their price may be higher.
  • A pest or wildlife crew to clear the birds and nest.
  • A roofer or another solar company to fit the mesh.

One reply in the first thread suggested splitting the job that way. A pest crew handles the nest, then a roofer or solar company fits the guard.

Is the nest protected?

The US Fish and Wildlife Service says most bird nests are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Pigeons are an exception. The agency’s list of non-native birds excluded from the act names the rock pigeon. The agency adds that the exclusion doesn’t change protections the birds may have under other laws.

If the birds under your array aren’t pigeons, the rules change. Our guide to bird droppings and the nest you can’t remove covers protected nests. None of this is legal advice. Your state wildlife agency has the final word.

What health agencies say about droppings

We don’t give health advice. Here’s what public health agencies publish about cleanup:

  • The Illinois Department of Public Health says pigeon droppings appear to be the most important environmental source of the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. It adds that old, dry droppings can still be a source of infection.
  • It says a small amount from a few birds can be cleaned up with soap and water. For large quantities, it suggests calling an environmental engineering consultant.
  • Its precautions include three steps. Moisten droppings with a light mist of water and keep them wet. Bag them in sealed plastic bags. Have healthy people do the work.
  • CDC workplace guidance says to avoid sweeping or shoveling dry, dusty material. Spray it instead.
  • The Illinois agency says to change the structure so birds can’t re-establish the roost. CDC says the best prevention is stopping droppings from building up in the first place. On a roof, that points to the guard.

If you’re worried about your health, talk to a healthcare provider. Ask any crew you hire how they’ll wet, bag and dispose of the debris.

Cleaning the panel glass

Droppings on the glass shade the cells. One panel maker’s manual says bird droppings, leaves and dust usually need cleaning to avoid shading. Rain may not help much in a dry place. NOAA’s normal for Denver International Airport is about 14.5 inches of precipitation a year.

Before anyone reaches for a pressure washer, read our guide on whether you should pressure wash solar panels. The makers’ manuals set strict limits on pressure, tools and cleaners.

What critter guard costs

Critter guard is mesh clipped around the array’s edge to close the gap. Prices below come from installers’ own pages and one homeowner’s quote.

Source Price What’s included
Pigeon Control Phoenix (Arizona) $1,200–$2,000 for 15–30 panels; $8–$15 per linear foot Mesh, clips and install; nest removal $200–$500; sanitizing about $400
Helios Energy Global (Southern California) $800–$2,000 for most homes; clip-on mesh $8–$12 per linear foot 20-panel array is about 120–150 ft of edge; nest removal and cleaning $400–$1,000+ extra
Phoenix Solar Panel Systems (Arizona) About $20 per panel Materials, labor, cleanup, 25-year guarantee
Solar company quote (r/solar, Sept. 2025) About $600 labor plus $50 per panel, 33 panels: about $2,250 Guard; nest removal needed first

The spread is wide. At $20 a panel, the same 33 panels would come to about $660. So get at least two quotes. Ask each one:

  1. How many linear feet are you pricing, and what mesh and clips?
  2. Is nest removal, cleanup and panel washing included or extra?
  3. Will anything be drilled into the panel frames?

That last question matters. Two panel makers’ manuals say extra holes in the module frame void the warranty. One also says the frame’s drain holes must never be blocked. One Phoenix crew’s page describes its clips as non-penetrating. Still, have the installer confirm the method follows your panel’s manual.

For general hiring checks like insurance, see our questions to ask a house washing company. Roof work carries real fall risk. Our guide to working at height and per-foot pricing explains why pros price it in. How we check every number: our methodology.

Sources

Based on 12 sources · How we price