Pest Control for Wildlife Animals Critters

RACCOON: Raccoons are a common nuisance wildlife species. They frequently enter attics and other parts of homes. They are strong and capable of causing quite a bit of destruction to homes and attics. Female raccoons often enter houses in order to have their young in the springtime. Raccoons are responsible for a number of nuisance problems, from stealing pet food, to tipping over garbage cans, to raiding ornamental ponds, chicken coops, etc. They are very crafty and capable animals. They typically weigh 10-25 pounds as adults, and are usually larger in northern latitudes. They eat almost anything, and are primarily active at night.

EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL: While many types of squirrels can cause nuisance problems, from red squirrels to flying squirrels, the Eastern Grays are the most common. They love to live in the attics of buildings, usually in the winter and later summer, when females give birth to their bi-annual litter of young. They are expert chewers, and will chew their way in, as well as chew on wires once inside. They primarily eat nuts and grains, and will store these in the attic or walls, along with nesting debris. They are most active in morning and evening times. These squirrels typically only live a few years in the wild.

STRIPED SKUNK: Skunks are well known for their strong odor. They frequently choose to live under homes and decks, sheds, or porches. They cause a problem with their odor, particularly during the mating season. They also often fall down window wells and get stuck. There are several skunk species in North America, but their behavior is relatively similar. They are nocturnal and ominvorous.

OPOSSUM: Opossums are a common nuisance species because they are opportunistic, and will take advantage of human homes, sheds, decks, etc in order to live and steal food. They are marsupials, and the young grow in a pouch in spring. I commonly find them in the attics of homes, and they are also a common dead animal extraction target. They are interesting: they have the most teeth of any mammal (50), a prehensile tail, opposable thumbs, the male has a bifurcated penis, they can eat almost anything, and they have incredible immune systems, all of which make them great survivors, despite their tiny brain.

GROUNDHOG (WOODCHUCK): A common nuisance species in the more northern states, groundhogs dig large burrows which are often complex, with several entry holes. Groundhogs are rodents, and adults average 8-10 pounds. They give birth in spring to 3-6 young. They are primarily herbivorous, eating a variety of plants, including your garden. They grow fat during the summer, and in winter, they hibernate. They are usually considered a pest due to their burrowing behavior. They are active during the day.

NINE BANDED ARMADILLO: These are common nuisance species in the southern states, where they cause problems with their tendency to burrow large holes into the ground. They also dig up yards and landscaping as they search for worms and grubs. They are a unique animal - they can carry leprosy, they always give birth to four identical quadruplets, and they of course have a hard, bony shell. They tend to grow to adult size of about 12 pounds in the first year, then live for a long time. They are usually nocturnal, though sometimes active during the day.

MOLES: There are several mole species in North America, and the Eastern Mole is one of the most common pest moles. All moles live under ground and dig a network of tunnels and chambers. They create surface tunnels and deep tunnels dirt mounds under the living chambers. Moles are small, weighing only about 3-5 oz. and about 6-8 inches long, but they are great diggers with voracious appetites. They primarily eat earthworms, and also other underground insects. They live for about 3 years. They breed in the winter, but aside from mating, most moles are territorial. They are considered a pest due to their digging.

RATS: The two common rats species in North America are the Roof Rat and the Norway Rat. Roof Rats are smaller, with adults usually weighing 6-10 oz. with a body of 8 inches and a tail of 8 inches. Roof Rats tend to live in warmer areas and inhabit areas above ground, such as in trees. The Norway Rats weigh from 10-16 oz, with a 9 inch body and a shorter tail. Norways live in cooler climates and live at ground level. Neither specie lives very long, rarely more than a year in the wild. They can breed year-round, and produce litters of up to ten young up to five times per year. Both will eat a wide variety of foods, and are considered pests for many reasons, such as their tendency to spread disease.

SNAKES: North America is home to many snake species, about 130. Most are harmless. There's 20 venomous species of snake, most of them rattlesnakes. The exceptions are the aquatic snakes, such as the Copperhead and the Cottonmouth, and the Coral Snakes (the red-yellow-black ones). If you are unsure of the specie of snake, just leave it alone! In fact, leave all snakes alone. They get a bad rap. If one gets in your house or pool or something, a wildlife specialist can come and remove it, but otherwise, it's probably not bad to have around, so leave it be. Snakes vary greatly in mating behavior, life span, etc, so I won't list any stats here.

BATS: The three most common nuisance (colonizing) species in the US are the Little Brown Bat, the Big Brown Bat, and the Mexican Free-Tail Bat. The former two are common in the more northern states, and the free-tail in the southern states. These bats usually cause a problem when they establish large maternity colonies inside buildings. There, they leave behind their droppings, often in great bulk. Bats are special animals - they are of course mammals, and they give birth to one young each year. They live for a long time in the wild, up to 18 years. They eat millions of insects and are usually docile. A good wildlife expert can remove them without harming them.

PIGEON: Feral pigeons are very common in urban areas, and a common and well-known city pest. Though some people like to feed them they create a mess with their nesting material and feathers, but most of all, with their droppings, which are unsanitary and which may pose a health hazard. Pigeons weigh about a pound and tend to live for 3-5 years in the wild. They nest at any time of the year, and mate for life. The young hatch only 19 days after the eggs are laid. Pigeons eat a variety of foods. They are usually removed from roosting areas such as beams, store signs, inside buildings, etc.