Wildlife Prevention Tips

Wildlife on your Rome, Georgia property can be especially troublesome in the fall when temps drop and animals come in closer to the warmth of a home. Squirrels may chew their way into attics, raccoons strew trash around, skunks spray, and bats can spread rabies. Not to mention those rodents that get in and contaminate and chew on everything.

Squirrels: This tail-flicking, tree climbing acrobats are actually rodents. This means that they are really good at chewing since they have a set of incisors that never stop growing. If they chew their way into your home and make a nest in your wall voids or attic, they are going to be chewing everything in sight, like insulation, which means heat will escape, and electrical wires, which could spark a house fire. Not to mention the fact that they will leave their urine and feces everywhere they roam.

Raccoons: Raccoons are known to transmit rabies. The fact is, they top the list of rabies-transmitting pests. While these wildlife animals are not good to have on your property whether they have rabies or not, if they do, you should be very concerned. If you see a raccoon that is foaming at the mouth, falling on its side or looking like it has paralysis in one or more legs, it is imperative that you call a pest control company immediately. And even raccoons that are not infected with rabies are known to violently attack humans, especially if they feel threatened or cornered.

Skunks: Having skunks on your property stinks. Literally. And if they spray your dog or, worse, you, the situation will stink in more ways than one. Beyond this, skunks can also carry the rabies virus, tip over trash cans, and cause a general uneasiness of all who live in your home, just because of their presence. It is never a good idea to let skunks have free range on your property, especially if you have pets or children.

Bats: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the transmission of rabies from exposure to bats is documented in all of the continental states. They recommend no exposure between bats and humans. The CDC also says that bat guano (droppings) can contaminate soil which can lead to a lung disease called histoplasmosis.

Mice: Mice, like squirrels and other rodents, never stop chewing. If mice invade your home in fall, they will make nests and invade pantries, spreading disease-causing filth everywhere they roam. And while other animals may move back out come spring time, mice are likely to stay put. It is never a good idea to let a mouse infestation grow in population.

Prevention Tips

There are a number of steps you can take with your Rome home in order to keep wildlife at bay this fall.

  • Examine your foundation and walls and seal up any gaps or cracks found.
  • Make sure all of your screens and door sweeps are present and in good working order.
  • Don’t leave your garage door open.
  • Install screen or wire mesh over vents.
  • Keep your yard neatly trimmed and free of unnecessary clutter.
  • Trim bushes and trees back away from your foundation and walls.
  • Keep your outside trash in well-sealed containers.

If you are in need of assistance in keeping your home wildlife free this fall season, reach out to the professionals here at Active Pest Control. When wildlife is all gone from your home and property, life is all good.

Wildlife Invade Macon Homes

Sometimes it can feel like there is nothing we can do to safeguard against wildlife. But the truth is the number of pests inside your home is directly tied to how easy it is for them to get in. If you’re dealing with a skunk under your porch, it is because that skunk found a way to get under there. If there are mice in your walls, it is because there was a vulnerable area for them to chew their way in. If a squirrel is bumping around in your attic, it found a way up onto your roof. And that is why it is vital to get a professional to strengthen your defenses and make it harder for wildlife to gain entry, especially as we enter fall and those temperatures begin to drop.

3 Ways Professionals Exclude Animals

  1. Exclusion often begins with humane live trapping. This is because most folks don’t usually think about wildlife invasion until–well–those animals are invading. Our technicians are trained to use state-of-the-art baiting and trapping to secure all invading animals. They will also address issues of contamination so that you don’t end up with a secondary threat, such as lice, mites, ticks, fleas, or disease.
  2. There are many conditions that make a property more attractive to wildlife and give them access to the home. Our technicians are educated in modern Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, which detail natural exclusion methods that resist animal invasion. Your technician will advise you on areas where tree branches give wildlife access to your walls or roofline, where tall grass and weeds may be inviting animals in near your exterior walls, and what food sources may be present. You’ll be shown areas where water damage may be weakening wood and providing a soft point of entry. There are many factors that will invite animals in and make it easier for them to gain entrance to your home.
  3. The most important way our technicians will keep animals out is by directly addressing any possible entry points, such as gaps, holes, cracks, and weakened spots. They will apply lumber, steel flashing, hardware cloth, mortar, a chimney cap, and more, to make sure there is no vulnerable spot for wildlife to exploit.

There are many species of animal that can become a threat to your property and your home. And there are many ways to exclude them. Let the team here at Active Pest Control make sure that your property is secure. Wild animals don’t just spread your garbage all over your yard and make thumping noises inside your walls; they can spread disease and parasites to you, your kids, and your pets.

When you have Active Pest Control protect your Macon home from the accidental invasion of wildlife, you can know for sure that it’s all good. Our QualityPro certified, Angie’s List Super Service Award winning team is made up of some of the most experienced and educated pest experts in the country. Get your exclusion services before the fall invasion begins, and keep those invading animals out.

Skunk Removal in Georgia. Is this a good idea to do on your own?

Skunks are no fun to have around. Period! And there is no shortage of skunk horror stories. Just do an internet search, or ask just about anyone. Most people have a skunk story, or two, or three to share. There is one such story of a family who came home from church one day to find their entire house filled with the smell of skunk. The funny thing was that there was no skunk smell anywhere outside the house. The mother of the family walked through the entire house following her nose until it was finally determined that the smell was coming from the basement, but only from the dryer! It turned out that a skunk had taken up residence under their back porch where the dryer vent came out. It was a cozy, warm spot so it made sense to that skunk. Now, in this case, the skunk moved on after a few days without any major incidents. But skunk stories don’t usually end this well.

Here are some other important reasons to not have skunks on your property.

  • Skunks carry a number of diseases that can be transmitted to people, pets, or other animals. They are the #2 carrier of rabies, accounting for over 29% of all reported cases. And, a rabies infection in a human, if not caught and treated properly, can cause death.
  • Skunks can also carry leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that is transmitted by a person or animal coming in contact with the animal’s infected urine through water, soil, or food.
  • Skunks can transmit distemper to other animals, especially dogs.
  • Skunks may take up residence under porches or houses.
  • Skunks will get into garbage if it is not secured inside cans with tightly fitted lids.
  • Skunks, if they can gain access, have been known to kill poultry and eat eggs.
  • If a skunk is not removed from your property and it ends up spraying a person or animal, the result can be excruciating, especially if the fresh spray is brought inside the house. Fresh skunk spray smells like burning rubber or chemicals, and can be irritating to the nose, throat, and eyes. And the smell, no matter what measures are taken to remove it, will remain for days, weeks, and even months. Often when this happens, the person living in the smell gets used to it and thinks it’s gone, but those who come into contact with them know otherwise.

Skunk removal from your Georgia property:

Attempting to remove wildlife from your property is never a good idea, especially when you are dealing with skunks. With Active Pest Control Wildlife Management, you can say goodbye to your skunk problem and rest easy. Upon arrival at your property, our skilled technicians will first find and trap or remove your skunk from where it has taken up residence. Then, they will seal up all entry points and transport the animal far away from residential areas to release it back into the wild.

Don’t take chances with your home, family, and pets. Contact us for your FREE inspection, and get help today from Active Pest Control.