California couple returns home to find house filled with birds

REDDING, Calif. (KRCR) — Here's a story that wouldn't "fly" with most people.

A Redding, Calif., couple came back from a trip to Sacramento to find some unusual guests inside their home.

Hundreds of swallows had invaded Gary and Patti Reitemeyer's home, apparently getting in through the chimney.

The Reitemeyer's neighbor noticed the birds when he went by the house to feed their cat; he called and told them there were about 20 birds inside.

By the time Gary and Patti returned home, total chaos awaited them.

"As we pulled up, we were thinking you know, 20 birds or so—that's no big deal. We open the door and it's like an Alfred Hitchcock movie," said Gary Reitemeyer. "There were birds flying everywhere. I mean, it was crazy. We were ducking and dodging."

Gary said it took over three hours to get all the birds out of their house. "I was grabbing a handful of birds. I grabbed maybe three of them, or three or so at a time, and kind of ushered them out the door."

The Reitemeyer's ended up calling ServPro to help them clear out their house. The house, where Gary and Patti have lived for over 30 years, is currently uninhabitable and the couple plans to live with their daughter in Sacramento for the time being.

"You can't get all that bird stuff out of the furniture," Gary explained. "So all of the furniture is gone, all of the carpet is gone, the blinds are gone...everything. Everything is gone."

On top of that, the Reitemeyer's soon learned that their homeowner's insurance will not cover this bizarre incident. Their insurance provider, State Farm, told them they have an "exclusion" on their policy in regards to birds; they will not pay the claim.

The Reitemeyer's now face roughly $20,000 in damages.