Solving Animal Control Problems

Your home is under siege by foreign invaders ? the furry kind, that is. When wildlife shows up in your backyard, your first reaction might be warm and fuzzy, or you might panic about things like disease. As development expands further and further into areas that were once wilderness, visits from four-legged critters become more common than ever. Wildlife control experts can help you to remove the critters, here's an overview of the species you might run across, and the problems they can cause:

• Mice and Squirrels: Small rodents are widespread across the United States. In the fall and winter, they seek out warm, protected places to nest and raise their young. If they find a way into your walls or attic, your home might be just that warm place. In their search for nesting materials, they sometimes chew through electrical wires, which can pose a fire risk. They can also cause small structural damage, such as roof leaks, to your home.
• Raccoons: These masked critters may be cute, but they can be a real nuisance. They are often found rifling through garbage cans in their search for food and have also been known to nest in chimneys. One major concern, besides the hassle, is that raccoons can carry rabies. If you see raccoons out during the day, or acting strangely, call a wildlife control expert immediately.
• Burrowing Rodents: Muskrats, groundhogs, woodchucks, and moles are examples of rodents that can damage your property by digging beneath your lawn and through your garden. They do not commonly carry rabies, but can spread other types of disease to pets.
• Bats: Though one of the more frightening pests, bats are actually quite common in North America, and homeowners often find them roosting in attics or crawlspaces. They rarely bite humans, their bites won't make you a vampire, but they can carry dangerous diseases such as rabies and histoplasmosis, making bat bites a real concern.
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• Skunks: That unmistakable scent makes skunks one of the most recognizable pests around. If they spray you or your pets, you will have real problems because the scent is difficult to get out. Animal control experts can remove skunks safely, and with a minimum of spraying on you or your home.
• Beavers: These busy fellas are one of the most destructive pests around. They can take down the trees in your yard at an incredible rate, and their damming activities can turn your backyard creek into a backyard pond, flooding your basement and even damaging your home's foundation. Animal control experts who specialize in beavers know how to trap and relocate them, as well as installing infrastructure to drain and level beaver ponds.
• Snakes: They may have tempted Adam and Eve, but a common reaction to snakes is outright revulsion. The many species of snakes in North America ? a few of them poisonous ? have been known to get into basements and crawl spaces beneath homes.
• Large Animals: Coyotes, deer, and bears will show up in residential areas from time to time. Their presence is disturbing, and can be dangerous to pets. A good animal control program for these large creatures includes trapping and relocation, as well as the repair of any damage they may have caused to fences, sheds, and other property.