Spring is here, and that means residents around Albany and the Hudson Valley will be spending more time outside, hiking, picnicking, exploring, and even working in the yard. As much as we humans enjoy the arrival of warmer weather, we aren’t always happy about the other spring arrivals–like wildlife. Some wild animals hibernate during the winter and may wake up hungry or defensive. Others don’t hibernate, but like humans, they are more active when the weather changes. Most are harmless, but in some circumstances, they pose a risk.

Which animals should I watch out for?

Squirrels

In the Capital and Hudson Valley region, squirrels are everywhere. Squirrels are rarely aggressive toward humans, but children should not chase them. And as tempting as it may be, it’s better not to feed them. Squirrels can find their own food; feeding them is a bad idea and may attract other nuisances.

Another concern about squirrels is that they might decide to make your house their home. Like mice and rats, they are flexible enough to enter your home through small openings and adept at creating comfortable nests from whatever they find in your attic or between walls. Squirrels may chew through wires and even damage your home.

Skunks

Skunks don’t hibernate, but they are more active in the warmer months, increasing the chances of an encounter with you or your pets. Dogs are notorious for chasing skunks and suffering the consequences. Skunks usually won’t attack humans unless they are protecting their new babies. Keep in mind that they are a common rabies carrier, so never confront one or try to scare it away. The best prevention for skunks near your home applies to every potential visitor–don’t feed them deliberately or accidentally by leaving pet food outside or incorrectly securing trash cans.

Woodchucks

Woodchucks, often called groundhogs (like Puxtahawny Phil), hibernate for the winter. When spring arrives, they wake up and burrow under your garden, grass, and foundation. Woodchucks are known for digging up properties and being difficult to eradicate. They may even cause power outages by chewing on underground electrical wires. Aside from electrical and telephone wires, they chew through fences and might crawl into an engine compartment and find some tasty engine hoses and wires to destroy. 

Raccoons

Raccoons are scary-looking, and they deserve their poor reputation. They carry rabies and can infect humans or pets. The risk of contracting serious diseases from exposure to raccoon droppings is even higher since children or adults may not know its presence. Even disposing of raccoon fecal matter is a hazard and is best performed by a professional like Thomas Pest Services.

Because raccoons are nocturnal, you don’t often see them. If they are out and about in daylight, they may be foraging for food to provide for their offspring, or they may be sick, which makes them even more defensive. Raccoons often fight with cats for food and will defend themselves against dogs.

Like other wildlife, Raccoons will take an opportunity to find a warm sanctuary in your home, especially if you tempt them with pet food left outside. Often, they will steal from bird feeders or fruit trees if they can’t gain access to pet food or trash cans. 

Keeping Wildlife Away

• Be sure to store garbage in tightly sealed trash cans. Using a secure storage system that raccoons and others can’t open is a good idea.
• Don’t leave pet food, bird seed, or other food sources outside.
• Block off entry to areas underneath your deck, porch, patio, and garage using wire mesh or chicken wire. This barrier will help keep animals from nesting underneath or finding a way into your house.
• Raccoons, in particular, are bold and sneaky and may come in through an open window, especially if tree branches are close. 
• In addition to branches, these animals may access your roof and attic through pipes, wires, and ladders. 

Removing these animals is not a safe DIY project.

It is not safe to try to remove these intruders using do-it-yourself methods. Wild animals can become violent if threatened or cornered, especially if they are protecting young. Thomas Pest Services offers expert, humane wildlife removal and will also help keep them from finding entry to your home. Schedule a free inspection, or call us with questions.