Earth Day Fun Facts

Earth Day Fun Facts and Virginia Wildlife

Earth Day is a good reminder that people, homes, neighborhoods, and wildlife all share the same environment. In Virginia, that means learning how to live near bats, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, opossums, birds, snakes, moles, beavers, and other wild animals while also protecting homes and property.

Wildlife is important to the environment, but wild animals can still become a problem when they move into attics, chimneys, crawl spaces, vents, sheds, garages, decks, porches, walls, or yards. Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, LLC., helps homeowners solve wildlife conflicts in a safe, practical, and professional way.

For more information about animals commonly found in Virginia, visit our wildlife of Virginia page.

What Is Earth Day?

Earth Day is observed each year on April 22. The first Earth Day was held in 1970 and helped bring more public attention to environmental protection, clean air, clean water, conservation, and responsible stewardship of natural resources.

For a brief history of Earth Day, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency page about EPA history and Earth Day.

Why Earth Day Matters for Virginia Wildlife

Virginia has forests, rivers, wetlands, farms, neighborhoods, cities, mountains, lakes, and coastal areas. These habitats support many kinds of wildlife. When natural habitats overlap with homes and businesses, wildlife conflicts can happen.

Common examples include squirrels entering attics, raccoons using chimneys, bats roosting in rooflines, skunks denning under sheds, birds nesting in vents, snakes around crawl spaces, beavers flooding low areas, and moles damaging lawns.

The goal is not to hate wildlife. The goal is to solve conflicts correctly, protect the structure, reduce future problems, and handle animals legally and professionally.

Earth Day Fun Facts

Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22.
The first Earth Day took place in 1970.
Earth Day helped increase awareness of pollution, conservation, wildlife protection, clean water, and clean air.
Healthy habitats support birds, bats, pollinators, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.
Bats help the environment by feeding on insects.
Snakes help control rodents and other small animals.
Opossums, skunks, raccoons, squirrels, and birds all play roles in the environment, even when they become a nuisance around homes.
Small changes around your property can help reduce wildlife conflicts.

Virginia Wildlife Is Valuable, But Not Inside Your Home

Wild animals belong outdoors. Problems begin when animals move into living spaces or structural areas. An attic, crawl space, chimney, wall void, vent, shed, garage, porch, or deck can provide warmth, shelter, and protection for nesting or denning animals.

When animals enter a structure, they may damage insulation, chew wiring, leave droppings, create odor, block vents, damage ductwork, tear siding, or create entry points for more animals. If you have animals inside your home, visit our residential wildlife removal service page.

Common Wildlife Problems Around Virginia Homes

Bats in attics, vents, chimneys, soffits, and rooflines
Squirrels in attics, walls, fascia gaps, and roof returns
Raccoons in chimneys, attics, crawl spaces, and rooflines
Skunks under sheds, decks, porches, and crawl spaces
Opossums around crawl spaces, sheds, garages, and decks
Birds in vents, soffits, signs, gutters, and exterior openings
Snakes around crawl spaces, garages, sheds, wood piles, and yards
Moles damaging lawns and creating raised tunnels

Earth Day Tips to Reduce Wildlife Conflicts

Good property maintenance can help protect wildlife and reduce conflicts around your home. These simple steps can make your property less attractive to nuisance animals:

Secure garbage cans with tight-fitting lids.
Do not leave pet food outside overnight.
Clean up fallen fruit, bird seed buildup, and food scraps.
Keep crawl space doors closed and secure.
Repair damaged vents, soffits, fascia boards, siding, and roofline gaps.
Install chimney caps where needed.
Trim tree branches away from the roofline.
Remove brush piles, debris, and unused materials near the home.
Store firewood away from the structure when possible.
Do not seal entry points until you are sure no animals are inside.

Be Careful During Baby Wildlife Season

Spring and early summer are common times for baby wildlife in Virginia. Squirrels, raccoons, skunks, opossums, birds, and bats may use homes and structures as nesting or denning sites.

Do not seal a hole, chimney, crawl space opening, attic vent, shed gap, or porch opening too early if young animals may be inside. Blocking the mother out and leaving babies behind can create odor, noise, damage, and animal welfare problems.

For more information, visit our wildlife babies in Virginia homes page.

Bats and Earth Day

Bats are one of the best examples of wildlife that is valuable outdoors but problematic indoors. Bats feed on insects and are an important part of the environment. However, bats in attics, vents, chimneys, wall spaces, and rooflines should be handled carefully through proper exclusion.

For more information, visit our Virginia bat facts page or our main bat removal in Virginia page.

Responsible Wildlife Removal in Virginia

Responsible wildlife removal is not just about removing an animal. It also means identifying the animal, finding how it entered, correcting the entry point, considering the time of year, and reducing the chance of the problem happening again.

Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, LLC., provides wildlife removal in Virginia, animal inspection, trapping when appropriate, exclusion recommendations, and prevention services for homes and businesses.

Local Wildlife Removal Service Areas

We provide wildlife removal services in many areas of Virginia, including Richmond, Henrico, Glen Allen, Mechanicsville, Chesterfield, Midlothian, Goochland, Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Louisa, Powhatan, Orange, Lake Monticello, Lake Anna, and surrounding communities.

For local service information, visit our wildlife removal in Richmond page, our wildlife removal in Charlottesville page, or our Virginia wildlife removal service areas page.

Earth Day and Wildlife Questions and Answers

Why is wildlife important on Earth Day?

Wildlife is part of a healthy environment. Animals help with insect control, seed movement, scavenging, soil activity, and the natural balance of local ecosystems.

Should wildlife be removed from my property?

Not every wild animal in the yard needs removal. Wildlife removal is usually needed when animals enter a structure, damage property, create safety concerns, den under a building, or cannot safely remain where they are.

How can I protect wildlife and my home?

Keep wildlife outdoors by removing food attractants, repairing entry points, securing trash, maintaining the yard, and not sealing openings until you are sure animals are not inside.

Are bats good for the environment?

Yes. Bats feed on insects and are beneficial outdoors. However, bats inside attics, vents, chimneys, or living spaces should be handled by a professional using proper exclusion methods.

What should I do if I find baby wildlife?

Do not assume the animal is abandoned. Keep people and pets away, observe from a distance, and contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitator or wildlife professional if the animal appears injured, truly orphaned, sick, or in immediate danger.

Need Help With Wildlife Around Your Home?

If you have animals in your attic, chimney, crawl space, wall, vent, shed, porch, deck, garage, yard, or roofline, call Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, LLC.

Call (800) 457-8630 for wildlife removal, animal control, inspection, trapping when appropriate, exclusion recommendations, and prevention services in Virginia.

We are consistently rated as a top wildlife removal company by our customers.

Our wildlife removal technicians are licensed and insured and have a Commercial Nuisance Wildlife Removal Permit issued by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. We are also associated with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), National Trappers Association (NTA), National Pest Management Association (NPMA), and other professional organizations.

National Trappers Association (NTA): www.nationaltrappers.com
National Pest Management Association (NPMA): www.npmapestworld.org