Raccoon birthing season always proves challenging. Normally, we can quickly catch the mother on her way out of the house to forage. The kits can be more difficult to capture. The younger kits tend to stay near the den which can be tucked away in the attic or down the walls. It can be impossible for us to reach them. Safely removing the kits usually requires cutting in the soffits or ceilings.

Raccoon Kits

It took over six hours to remove these four kits from the subfloor. Every time we cut they would relocate! In the end, we were able to reunite the mother with her babies for relocation.

baby raccoon kits relocated with mother

Knoxville, Tennessee, is between the Cumberland Plateau and the Great Smoky Mountains. This valley was carved out of the mountains by the running waters of the French Broad River and the Holston River, which converge to form the Tennessee River. Knoxville also has 92 parks within city limits. This combination of water, forested mountains, and parks is a perfect environment for wild animals, including those who pose a nuisance to residents, business owners, and tourists.

Nuisance Wildlife-Human Conflicts in Knoxville, TN

In addition to its landscape, Knoxville has a rich cultural life with museums, restaurants, and clubs. More than 12 million visitors descend on the area annually to enjoy the 500,000 acres of Great Smoky Mountain National Park, the most visited national park in the country. As people encroach upon the habits of the region’s wild animals, these critters travel to seek shelter, food, and water from Knoxville’s residential and commercial neighborhoods.

Key Wildlife Behaviors Influenced by Eastern Tennessee Climate

Knoxville, Tennessee, is located in a region with a humid subtropical climate, characterized by four distinct seasons. This climate significantly impacts wildlife behavior in the area.

Homeowners may experience nuisance wildlife issues during seasonal transitions, especially as animals seek shelter or food.

Spring

Temperatures are mild ranging from 40°F to 70°F. Animals like birds, squirrels, and raccoons become more active as food sources such as insects, fruits, and nuts increase. This is also a key breeding season for many species. Increased activity can lead to encounters with humans, including nesting in homes or buildings.

Summer

Temperatures can get hot typically ranging from 70°F to 90°F, with high humidity. Raccoons and squirrels will leave attics because of the heat. Bats however thrive in the hot temperatures in an attic. Maternity colonies will roost in attic, walls, and under the roof. Increased insect activity (mosquitoes, wasps, etc.), and the heat may drive animals to seek shelter indoors for cooler environments.

Fall

Temperatures are cooling and many animals prepare for winter. Very few nuisance wildlife will hibernate so mammals like squirrels storing food and migratory birds passing through. Rats and mice are active year-round. They’re always looking for food sources and safe places for shelter. This need intensifies with the cold winters in the Appalachians.

Winter

Rodents, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, and skunks do not hibernate. Some critters might slow down during the winter, but they still can be a problem. Groundhogs and (some) bats are the only true hibernators that cause homeowners problems.

Wildlife Damage in Knoxville

Nuisance Wildlife in Knoxville

Mouse in Basement

How Do Animals Get Inside Gulf Coast, FL Homes?

Raccoons in Gulf Coast, FL

Gulf Coast Animals in Attic Damage

Armadillo Trapping

Louisiana has the perfect weather for wildlife, with high humidity and more hot days than cold. Swamps, the Mississippi River, lakes, ponds, and creeks keep our wildlife thriving. The problem is that the more we develop New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and other cities, the fewer “wild” places animals have to live. So, they started searching for shelter in our neighborhoods. Louisiana considers wildlife a nuisance when they persistently annoy or threaten property owners or if they cause property damage.

Here are some photos I took from the field.

Raccoons Inside the Home

Raccoons on the Roof

Raccoons in Yard

Squirrels in New Orleans and Baton Rouge

Juvenile Wildlife Removal

Opposums and Armadillos

trapped armadillo
Opposum trapping and removal

Stinging Insect Control & Beehive Removal

Critter Control in Louisiana Staff Photos

All photos were provided by Brett Vreeland, district manager in Louisiana.