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Bird Removal in Hattiesburg

Last reviewed September 8, 2026 against MDWFP published rules and federal statute. How we research this site.

Almost every native bird is protected by federal law, active nests included, so what is legal depends on the species.

Hattiesburg specifically

Chimneys and vents are the residential problem, and the legal position is the same as everywhere: pigeons, European starlings and house sparrows are the only ones outside federal protection. An active nest of anything else has to wait, which is why the time to screen a vent is before nesting season rather than during it.

Birds in Forrest County: who does what

Hattiesburg’s animal control is a unit of the police department, and the ordinance it enforces is written around owned animals: running at large, restraint, and the responsibilities of an owner. An animal in your attic has no owner and falls outside that framework entirely. Mississippi handles nuisance wildlife through the state’s permitted operator system instead, which is a private, paid arrangement.

For identifying an animal or damage before anyone is paid to look, the MSU Extension, Forrest County office is at 952 Sullivan Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39401, 601-545-6083 (office page).

What Mississippi law says about birds

Mississippi needs no state or federal permit to control crows caught committing, or about to commit, depredations as defined in federal rule 50 CFR 21.43. Other native birds remain protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. All Mississippi rules →

Sources: 40 Miss. Code R. §2-4.2 (Cornell LII); City of Hattiesburg, Chapter 118, Animal Incidents and Control. Checked October 2026.

A sparrow at a dryer vent hood with nesting material protruding
Illustrative A blocked dryer vent is a fire risk, and an active native nest is protected.

Signs, and why they matter

  • Chirping from a bathroom fan, dryer vent or kitchen exhaust
  • Nesting material poking from a vent hood or dormer gap
  • A dryer that has stopped venting properly: a real fire risk
  • Blocked dryer vents are a documented cause of house fires
  • Droppings carry histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis

How removal works

Identify the species first, because that determines what is legal. Where removal is permitted, the nest is cleared, the duct or vent cleaned, and a purpose-made vent guard fitted so it cannot be renested. Where the species is protected and the nest is active, the lawful answer is to wait, then exclude.

Cut-away of a one-way exclusion door fitted over an entry hole A wall in cross-section with the attic on the left and outside on the right. A hinged flap is fitted over the entry hole on the outer face. An animal pushes the flap open from inside and leaves; the flap falls shut behind it, and a stop below prevents it opening inwards, so the animal cannot get back in. INSIDE: ATTIC OR CRAWLSPACE OUTSIDE WALL STOP: IT ONLY SWINGS OUT HINGED AT THE TOP OUT: ONE WAY AND NEVER BACK IN
A one-way door lets the animal leave and not return, which is why sealing the hole is the last step, not the first.

Bird questions

How much does bird removal cost in Hattiesburg?

$200 – $600 depending on access, depending on access and whether young are present. After a long stay in an attic the cleanup is often the bigger bill (attic restoration).

Is there a wrong time of year to deal with birds?

Spring and early summer nesting is the peak, and also the period when an active nest is most likely to be legally protected.

Request a quote

We read every request and pass it to a licensed wildlife operator covering Hattiesburg where one is available. We are still building our list of operators here, so we cannot promise one is available or say how quickly they will respond.

We are an information and referral service, not a licensed wildlife control operator, and we may be paid for the introduction. You are never charged.

Request a quote from a licensed Mississippi operator

Tell us what is in your house. We read every request and pass it to a licensed wildlife operator covering Hattiesburg where one is available. We are still building our list of operators here, so we cannot promise one is available or say how quickly they will respond.

Request a Quote