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Dealing with Nuisance Wild Animals in Virginia Homes During Winter
Common Nuisance Wild Animals in Virginia Homes
Winter in Virginia brings a variety of nuisance wild animals seeking shelter and warmth. Some of the most common winter guests include:
Signs of a Nuisance Wild Animal Infestation
To properly manage and prevent nuisance wild animal infestations in your Virginia home, it’s essential to recognize the signs. Look out for:
- Noises in the walls, attic, or crawl spaces
- Gnaw marks on wires, insulation, or wood
- Animal droppings or urine stains
- Unpleasant odors
- Damage to your home’s exterior or interior
Safe & Effective Nuisance Wild Animal Removal
If you suspect a nuisance wild animal infestation in your Virginia home, consider the following removal methods:
- DIY Trapping: Use live traps, such as cage or box traps, to capture the animal and relocate it.
- Professional Help: Contact a licensed wildlife removal company in Virginia to handle the problem safely and humanely.
- Prevention Measures: Seal off entry points, trim tree branches near your home, and remove potential food sources to deter animals from seeking shelter.
Legal Considerations for Nuisance Wild Animal Removal in Virginia
Before taking any action, it’s important to understand Virginia’s regulations surrounding wildlife removal:
- Most wild animals are protected by law, so ensure you’re using legal and humane methods.
- Some species, like bats, have specific guidelines for removal and exclusion.
- If in doubt, consult with a wildlife removal professional.
Preventing Future Nuisance Wild Animal Infestations
To keep nuisance wild animals from returning to your Virginia home, implement the following prevention measures:
- Regularly inspect your home’s exterior for potential entry points, such as gaps or holes, and seal them promptly.
- Keep trash cans secure with tight-fitting lids, and clean up any spilled food or debris.
- Eliminate water sources, such as leaky pipes or standing water, that might attract animals.
- Trim tree branches and overgrown vegetation that could provide access to your home.
- Consider installing wildlife deterrents, like motion-activated lights or noise-makers, to discourage animals from approaching.
Wild Animal Winter Guests
Wild animal Winter guests will be arriving soon and you may need to hire a Virginia animal removal company to resolve your problem. When winter weather arrives, some pests go into hibernation while others enter homes seeking warmth and food sources. The National Pest Management Association encourages homeowners to take several precautions against common winter pests like mice, rats, raccoons, and squirrels. If you have wild animals nesting in your home or if you get them this winter, do not hesitate to contact Wildlife Removal In Virginia. Our local animal removal experts will rid your home of the pest and take measures to prevent further infestations.
Follow this guide of quick tips to PREVENT an infestation over the next few months.
Norway Rats
Norway rats often nest in basements, piles of debris and other undisturbed materials. They are known to gnaw through almost anything – including plastic or lead pipes – to obtain food or water. Norway rats are also a vector of many diseases like jaundice, rat-bite fever and cowpox virus. Contact us about our local rat removal services.
Quick tips:
- Norway rats can fit through an opening as small as ½ inch (or the size of a quarter). Inspect the outside of the home for any gaps or crack and fill them with silicone caulk.
- Eliminate sources of moisture in crawl spaces and basements.
- Regularly inspect inside the home for signs of an infestation, including greasy rub marks caused by the rat’s oily fur.
House Mice
The house mouse is the most commonly encountered rodent in the United States. House mice usually nest in dark, secluded areas like attics and basements. This rodent can cause serious property damage by chewing through drywall and also wires that can then spark an electrical fire. House mice are also known to contaminate food and spread diseases, including Salmonella and tapeworms. Contact us for information on our effective mouse control programs.
Quick tips:
- Mice can fit through an opening as small as a dime. Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home with caulk, spray insulation and/or steel wool.
- Keep areas clear and store boxes off of the floor because mice like to hide in clutter.
- Regularly inspect the home for signs of mice, such as droppings, gnaw marks and damaged food.
Raccoons
Raccoons are commonly found in the wooded eastern portions of the country. This type of wild animal occasionally enters homes through attics or chimneys in search of a denning site. Raccoons are a major host of rabies in the United States. Our local animal removal experts know how to get rid of raccoons in the attic and those that might be living in your homes chimney or fireplace.
Quick tips:
- Store trashcans and recycling bins in sealed areas such as a locked shed or outhouse. If trashcans are kept outdoors, use animal-proof lids.
- Inspect the outside of your home for access points, such as broken vent covers. Repair any loose siding or shingles.
- Install a mesh cover or cap over chimneys and other exposed openings to prevent entry. Also, keep tree branches trimmed back from the house.
Squirrels
Tree squirrels don’t hibernate but remain active all winter long. This presents a physiological challenge because not only is the outside temperature much colder – requiring extra energy expenditure to maintain a high mammalian body temperature – food is also scarce. Although tree squirrels do remain active, active is a relative term. One of the strategies tree squirrels use to cope with cold temperatures is to do what we all wish we could do in the winter – stay in bed. Tree squirrels aren’t really very well adapted to live in cold conditions. Their fur gets thicker but not greatly so, they put on more fat, but not huge amounts, and their resting metabolic rate remains high. Are squirrels living in your attic? Squirrels chewing electric wires? Squirrels damaging insulation? Our local animal removal professionals can help get rid of these critters quickly and effectively.
Quick Tips
- Make sure any food sources in the basement, attic or crawlspace (example: pet food) are safely sealed in plastic containers
- Trim tree branches that may overhang the roof line.
- Remove firewood stacked against the building.
- If there are cracks in the foundational wall, repair them.
- Seal all entry points
Conclusion:
Nuisance wild animals can cause damage to your home and pose health risks if not properly managed. By staying vigilant and taking preventative measures, you can protect your Virginia home from unwanted winter guests. If you’re dealing with a wildlife infestation, consult with a licensed professional for safe and humane removal.
Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services uses humane, time-tested techniques for wild animal removal, control and to prevent future infestations. We begin with an inspection to identify where, why and how they enter your home or office building. Our local animal removal pros throughout Virginia are very skilled and methodical in the removal, exclusion, and prevention of wintertime wildlife entries into your home. We service Central Virginia including the cities and counties of Richmond, Henrico, Glen Allen, Mechanicsville, Short Pump, Chesterfield, Woodlake, Brandermill, Midlothian, Charlottesville, Lake Monticello, Lake Anna, Powhatan, Amelia, Goochland, Louisa, Fluvanna, Albemarle, Orange, and Bon Air.
If you have nuisance wild animal Winter guests living in the attic or other places in your home give us a call our visit us on the web at www.virginia-wildlife-removal.com