Common Wildlife Nuisances in Central New York

Most of the time, humans and animals co-exist without conflict. But occasionally, an unwanted wildlife intruder poses threats to either human safety or property. Dealing with a nuisance wildlife situation requires skill and experience.

Captor Wildlife is contacted to deal with bats, squirrels, skunks, woodchucks, raccoons and moles. Some of these animals pose problems by actually entering someone’s home. Other times, wildlife nuisances are created when animals become destructive or aggressive outside the home.

Residential Intrusion

Because our homes are warm, dry and full of food, animals are naturally attracted to them as safe places to nest. Some of the animals that are most likely to make their way into human homes are bats, squirrels and raccoons. These animals, once inside the home, can cause damage to the property or pose threats to the home’s occupants.

Squirrels, for example, like all rodents, must chew in order to file their teeth. Once they’ve made their home in your house, they will chew structural elements or even wires. When squirrels chew through wires, they can create a serious fire hazard.

Homeowners generally become aware of a wildlife intrusion by hearing strange noises, usually from the attic. If these noises occur during the day, the animals involved are likely squirrels. If the noise is heard at night, raccoons are likely to blame. Homeowners sometimes also notice damage at the points of entry – under the eaves, for example, or along the roofline.

Outdoor Nuisances

Skunks, woodchucks, raccoons and moles are examples of nuisance wildlife situations that can occur outside the house. Skunks become problems for homeowners when they spray pets, dig under houses or in yards, get into garbage cans or eat fruits and vegetables from gardens. A strong odor is usually a homeowner’s first clue that a skunk is living in close proximity to the home.

Woodchucks also tend to dig in yards and enjoy foods from the garden. Like skunks, raccoons tend to knock over and break into garbage cans. They can also be aggressive with pets, and sometimes come into homes through pet doors looking for food. These animals may be seen hanging around a homeowner’s back yard or may even be caught in the act of theft or digging.

Moles are problematic because they can do serious damage to a lawn. Moles themselves are rarely seen by homeowners, but evidence of their presence is easy to spot. An individual mole may tunnel up to 15 feet a day, and the tunnels push surface soil up into ridges.

Getting Help

Ridding your property of nuisance wildlife isn’t a task you should attempt on your own. Many common wildlife intruders carry diseases and parasites, and some can become aggressive when threatened. Contacting a company that specializes in wildlife control, like Captor Wildlife, is the best way to protect your home from these unwelcome guests.