European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and various 

blackbird species sometimes roost in areas where they 

can cause agricultural, health, and esthetic problems. 

Concerns associated with these roosts include increased 

noise levels, fecal accumulation, and disease threats. 

These birds can also compete with other avian species 

for resources. For example, introduced starlings 

compete with native birds for nest sites. Brown-headed 

cowbirds (a type of blackbird) are known to parasitize 

songbird nests and may be a major factor in the decline 

of neotropical migratory birds, such as the endangered 

Kirtland’s warbler.

Employees of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 

(USDA) Wildlife Services (WS) program are often asked 

by State agencies, municipalities, business owners, and 

landowners for assistance with dispersing or removing 

starling and blackbird roosts.

This tech note describes the use of sodium 

lauryl sulfate (SLS) as a wetting agent in managing 

European starling; red-winged, yellow-headed, and 

Brewer’s blackbird; cowbird; grackle; American crow; 

common raven; and magpie roosts. SLS is a surfactant 

commonly used in soap products. When applied to 

birds, SLS allows water to penetrate and saturate the 

feathers so that with low temperatures (<41 °F) and 

sufficient water, birds die of hypothermia.

This product is for use on upland roosts located 

away from bodies of water. In some situations, this 

tool may be an appropriate alternative to the registered 

avicide DRC–1339.

A copy of this tech note and the material safety 

data sheet (MSDS) must be in the possession of any WS 

employee or official cooperator applying SLS.

Use Requirements From the Environmental 

Protection Agency

In 1996, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA) exempted 31 minimum-risk pesticides from 

requirements of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, 

and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) if the pesticides satisfy 

certain conditions. In general, conditions for claiming 

that a pesticide should be exempt from 

registration under FIFRA Section 25 (b) 

are that claims cannot be made regarding 

control of public-health pests, and the 

product cannot be used on food or feed 

crops. SLS (Chemical Abstract Service 

No. 151-21-3) was included on the list of 

31 exempt compounds. Individual States 

retain the right to accept EPA’s regulatory 

exemption or to require State registration. 

Efficacy Data

During 2004–07, WS’ National Wildlife Research Center 

and Missouri State office conducted outdoor cage, 

flight-pen, and small-scale field tests to investigate 

the effectiveness of SLS in removing urban blackbird 

roosts. Results document that SLS causes mortality 

in European starlings, red-winged blackbirds, common 

grackles, and brown-headed cowbirds and may be useful 

as part of integrated wildlife damage-management 

programs designed to reduce local blackbird 

populations. Birds died as soon as 30 minutes after 

exposure to SLS. 

Ingredients

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate 28%

Water 72%

Protecting People

Protecting Agriculture

Protecting Wildlife

Wildlife Services Tech Note

April 2012

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: European

Starling and Blackbird Wetting Agent

Figure 1

Positioning the SLS 

sprayer may require 

three or more 

people.
Obtaining SLS

The SLS product used for this application is Stepanol® 

WA–Extra PCK. Product information, including 

an MSDS can be obtained from Stepan Company 

(Northfield, IL; <www.stepan.com>; 847–446–7500).

Application Description

Prior to using SLS, please review the Applicator’s 

Checklist and system schematic included in this tech 

note.

Equipment

The following is an example of equipment used to 

develop one ground-based spray system.

Pump—

	 •	 Pacer® 5.5-hp Briggs and Stratton pump 	 	

 (gas)

	 •	 A 2-inch T-coupler (for connecting SLS line to 		

 water supply line)

	 •	 Quick-fit couplers for hose and pump

	 •	 A water-pressure gauge

	 •	 A 2-inch-diameter supply hose from the water 		

 source to the pump

	 •	 A 1-inch-diameter supply hose from the SLS 	 	

 to the pump

	 •	 A 1.5-inch-diameter rolled hose from pump to 		

 spray system

	 •	 Two 2-inch ball valves for SLS and water 	 	

 supply lines

Sprayer—

	 •	 Wobbler® Standard Angle nozzle, 24 degree 	 	

 angle and 0.55 cm (7/32 inch) (Senninger 

 Irrigation Inc., www.senninger.com)

	 •	 Bell adaptor, 3/4 inch to 1 inch in diameter, 	 	

 to attach sprinkler head to pipe

	 •	 Three 10-ft sections of 1-inch-diameter steel 	 	

 or aluminum pipe with threaded ends (stand 

 pipe)

	 •	 One four-legged sprinkler tower base

	 •	 Three 24-inch rebar anchors for base and guy 		

 wires

	 •	 Guy wire

	 •	 Three guy-wire plates

Other—

	 •	 5 gal of Stepanol WA–Extra PCK (SLS)

	 •	 SLS transport cooler

	 •	 One 10-ft Y-tipped pole (to help raise 	 	 	

 sprinkler tower)

	 •	 Wrenches for couplers

	 •	 Silicon tape for stand-pipe joints

	 •	 Water source of 6 gal/minute and a total of

 500 gal/sprinkler head

	 •	 Portable temperature and wind gauges

	 •	 Data sheet

	 •	 Trash bags

• Rakes and shovels for bird pickup

•	 Personal Protective Equipment for each worker 

handling SLS (impervious gloves and goggles or a face 

shield) and birds (impervious gloves)

Pumping System Requirements

The pump must be able to deliver 500 gal of water at 

a rate of 6 gal/minute per sprinkler head. Operating

below 6 gal/minute is not recommended. A pressure 

gauge should be installed on the outlet pipe near the 

pump in order to monitor the flow rate. The pressure 

needed to operate the system effectively can be 

calculated with the following formula: 

psi = H/2.3 ft/psi + 15 psi + 10 psi 

H = height of tower in feet 

15 psi = minimum operating pressure for sprinkler head

10 psi = friction loss in system

For example, a 30-ft tower would require 30/2.3 

+ 15 + 10 = 38 psi to achieve the necessary flow 

rate. The psi will not change if more towers of the 

Figure 2

SLS pump.
same height are included; however, the pump must be 

capable of delivering the necessary water at 38 psi. 

Multiple sprinkler heads should not be run in series.

Flow rates should be adjusted before application 

and checked during application using the pressure 

gauge. Run the pump at the desired pressure during 

the entire application. If the flow rate is too high or low, 

throttle the pump to the desired level until the correct 

pressure is achieved.

Testing has been done with up to four sprinkler-head 

spray systems running off one pump. Placement of 

more than four systems in a roost will require increasing 

the size of the pump or adding more pumps and 

increasing the water source.

Applying SLS to Roosting Birds

The following steps describe the application of SLS 

and water through a ground-based sprinkler-head spray 

system. Other application techniques (e.g., aerial,

water cannon, or hand-held wand) have not been 

tested. These steps are in compliance with FIFRA 25(b) 

exemption requirements.

1. The top of the stand pipe should be higher than the 

top of the roosting vegetation to be sprayed. The system 

has been tested up to a height of 30 ft.

2. The system(s) should be erected in areas of the roost 

where they will be most effective in bird coverage and 

require minimum supply hose. The spray area for one 

nozzle is approximately 2,000 ft2 (a 50-foot-diameter 

circle).

3. To erect a single system, a sprinkler head is attached 

to the end of a 10-ft section of 1-inch-diameter 

aluminum or steel pipe.

4. As the three sections of pipe are connected together 

with couplers, a guy-wire plate with three attachment

points evenly spaced around the plate is placed above 

each coupler.

5. The base is a four-legged “tepee” style frame that 

supports the standpipe. The base has a 90° elbow 

section of pipe welded in the center so that the upright 

standpipe can be coupled to the supply line (fig. 3). 

6. Once the sections have been assembled on the

ground and guy wires attached to the plate, two people 

can raise the tower by pulling on the guy wires while a 

third person supports the tower by hand (figure 1). A 

10-ft pole with a “Y” on the end can be helpful to raise

the towers.

7. Guy wires are secured at a 30° angle from the stand

pipe and are attached to rebar anchors driven into the 

ground about 18 inches.

8. Once a system has been erected, all equipment and

personnel should move at least 200 ft away to avoid 

being sprayed by the SLS solution or disturbing the 

birds.

9. The pump is attached to the system using 1.5-inch 

rolled hose. If more than two systems are used, the 

supply line should be attached to a central system and 

branch out to all sprinkler systems. Do not run the 

supply line in series as this will reduce pressure to each 

successive sprinkler.

10. A supply of water (at least 500 gal of water per 

sprinkler head) should then be attached to the pump 

with a 2-inch-diameter flexible hose. Water trailers 

containing 1,000 gal or more work well and can be 

transported to the site. A distance of 400 ft between 

the pump and sprinkler head is advised.

11. A 1-inch-diameter supply line for the SLS should 

be connected to the pump. The two supply lines can be 

fitted to the pump with a “T” fitting with on/off valves 

on each side (fig. 2). All connections should be “quickconnect fittings” for ease of assembly and disassembly.

12. The sprinkler system should be tested prior to birds 

arriving at the roost to ensure that the system is working 

properly.

13. The system should then be closed or slowed down 

so water is barely running out of the top to avoid letting 

any air siphon back into the lines. Any noise during 

the spray procedure, such as air leaving the sprinkler 

Figure 3

SLS base.
head(s) or guy wires hitting the pipe, will cause birds to 

flush.

14. The temperature at the time of application and 

following the spray must be below 41 °F. Do not spray 

when the wind exceeds 20 mi/hr; doing so will cause 

significant drift and incomplete coverage of the target 

area. 

15. The spray operation can commence about 30 

minutes after birds have settled into the roost.

16. The system should be brought up to operating 

pressure slowly to reduce the amount of noise generated 

by air escaping the system.

17. Once the birds have become accustomed to the

water, SLS can slowly be introduced into the system 

through the supply line. It is important to note that 

SLS must remain heated above 70 °F before use. 

(Suggestions on how to do this follow in the section on 

storing SLS.)

18. To inject SLS into the system, slowly open the SLS 

supply line so water can back-fill the line and expel any 

air.

19. Once the SLS supply line has been purged of air,

the water supply line can be closed slowly as the SLS 

supply line is completely opened. During this portion 

of the operation, if at any time the birds flush or are 

observed leaving the roost, the SLS supply line should 

be closed and the water supply line opened. The SLS 

can then be reintroduced once the birds have settled 

back down.

20. About 5 gal of SLS should be sprayed per system.

21. After injecting the SLS into the system, close the 

SLS supply line while opening the water supply line.

22. Continue spraying until two-thirds of the birds are 

dead or dying or until the water runs out.

23. Do not disturb the birds during the spray operation. 

Observe the roost through binoculars from at least 200

ft to ensure that the birds are not flushed from the roost.

Storing SLS

All containers of SLS must bear a product label, and 

storage facilities must have an MSDS on record. Follow 

storage instructions indicated on the product label. 

The SLS 28-percent solution solidifies at temperatures 

below 55 °F. It is important to note that SLS must 

remain heated above 70 °F before and during use to 

ensure proper flow during application. This can be 

accomplished by leaving SLS in a heated vehicle until 

injecting it into the system. 

Evaluating Roost Mortality

A roost mortality estimate must be determined in order 

to fulfill requirements of the depredation order, State 

depredation permit or the WS Management Information 

System and to evaluate overall success of the spray 

operation. Data gathered should include the number 

and type of each species, total weight of birds collected, 

and the average weight per bird.

Additional Information

For more information, please contact:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Wildlife Services

National Wildlife Research Center

4101 LaPorte Avenue

Fort Collins, CO 80521

(970) 266–6000
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nor warrants the standard of any product mentioned. Product names are mentioned solely to report factually on available data and to provide specific information.

This publication reports research involving pesticides. All uses of pesticides must be registered by appropriate State and/or Federal agencies before they can be recommended

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United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

o Ensure that take of birds is consistent with 

 depredation orders, State and Federal permitting 

 requirements, and/or other authorities. 

o Contact the appropriate State regulatory agency to

 assure that SLS can be used in the State under a 

 FIFRA Section 25(b) exemption. Not all States accept

 the EPA minimum-risk designation. A wetting-agent

 product label and possibly efficacy data would have to

 be submitted to each State that does not accept the

 EPA minimum-risk designation for SLS.

o Consult with appropriate Federal and State

 wildlife authorities to ensure that the use of SLS

 presents no hazard to threatened or endangered 

 species.

o Discuss the proper use of personal protective equipment 

 with workers prior to the removal of bird carcasses following

 application. Develop a plan for the disposal of bird carcasses.

 Large roosts can result in several tons worth of carcasses (10,000

 birds weigh approximately one ton). 

o Carry printed copies of this tech note and the MSDS. 

 These items must be in the possession of any individual

 applying SLS.

o Use SLS as described in this tech note in order to meet 

 FIFRA Section 25(b) exemption requirements.

o Limit applications to upland areas where direct

 runoff will not enter permanent bodies of water. SLS is

 considered moderately toxic to aquatic organisms. It

 can also impact aquatic organisms, such as mosquitoes

 and water spiders, by lowering the surface tension of

 the water. There is some evidence that SLS is harmful

 to plants. Care should be used when applying it around

 ornamental plantings.

o Monitor the spray area prior to application to determine

 if nontarget species are present. Nontarget birds, such

 as American robins and cardinals, may be affected if

 they roost in the spray area.

Applicator’s Checklist

Guy wire Guy wire

plate

Wobbler

nozzle®

SLS

Water Pacer®

Pump

 Rebar anchor

1 inch hose

1.5 inch hose

4 leg base

2 inch hose