Critter Control of Foley

Squirrels are one of the most common mammals in the U.S. Alabama has three species of squirrels: the gray squirrel, fox squirrel, and southern flying squirrel.

The gray squirrel is the most common and spends much of its time in the trees. Fox squirrels are less agile and prefer to stay on the ground. Flying squirrels cannot really fly. A membrane attached to its wrist and ankle allows it to jump, then glide from one point to another, making it seem like it’s flying.

Fox and gray squirrels are the ones most likely to jump from the branches of close trees to a house or commercial building.

Like rats and mice, squirrels are rodents. While flying squirrels are nocturnal like most rodents, gray and fox squirrels are diurnal, most active in the morning and again at dusk.

As rodents, squirrels do the same type of damage. Their teeth grow continually throughout their lives, so gnawing is their way of maintaining the length of their teeth. They will gnaw on beams, electrical wires, and sheetrock. Squirrels will tear insulation to build their nest. And, unlike rats and mice, they will bring acorns and other nuts and seeds into the attic, making a mess. They also carry diseases and parasites, making it imperative to call professionals to remove squirrels.

Everyone squirms at the thought of having a rodent infestation. The most common telltale sign of a rodent problem is the feces they leave in pantries, drawers, and on countertops as they search for food. Because they are nocturnal, you may never actually see one unless you have a significant rodent problem.

The most common rodents in the Foley-Fairhope area are house mice, roof rats, and brown rats. There are two rare species in the region: the Perdido Key beach mouse and the Alabama beach mouse. Both are on the endangered list because of habitat destruction.

They can squeeze into a home or business through tiny holes and gaps as small as a dime. Access to food and water are their main reasons for coming into homes — or if flooding from a storm is occurring. Rats and mice, although small, can create significant and costly damage to your home or business. They dig and gnaw out extensive tunnel systems, will chew through electrical wires, causing a fire hazard, and will soil and contaminate insulation and food.

Rodents are prolific breeders. One pair of rats can give birth to about 800 offspring in a year, so a rodent problem is something you’ll want to address quickly. DIY attempts at getting rid of rodents will not ensure they are all gone. A Critter Control inspection will reveal the extent of your rat or mouse infestation, at which point a custom plan for removal can be put into effect.

Bats are predominantly beneficial animals as they consume hundreds of thousands of unwanted insects annually and pollinate many types of plants. They are also the only mammal capable of true flight. Alabama has 16 species of bats, some of which are full-time residents and others that migrate through. The gray myotis and the Indiana myotis are two Alabama bats on the U.S. Department of Interior’s endangered species list. Four other bats are listed as species of special concern by the Alabama Department of Conservation. All Alabama bats are insectivores.

In their natural habitat, bats live in trees or caves. As nocturnal creatures, they feed at night and roost during the day. In populous areas, they can sometimes be seen feeding near streetlights. And, as the area’s population grows, attics, eaves, shutters, and chimneys are places bats are attracted to for roosting.

Signs of a bat infestation include seeing bat guano, hearing squeaking noises in the walls, and rub marks — a combination of dirt, body oils, and urine — along the edges of where they enter and exit. Bats are not capable of causing structural damage. Their only downfall is that their feces and urine will soil and ruin insulation, and their feces grow a fungus as it dries, which is capable of causing histoplasmosis, a serious lung disease. They are also capable of carrying rabies, but that is rare.

Because bats are protected, they cannot be harmed and must be removed during a specific time of year. Bat pups are born in spring and are fairly helpless. It is during this period that they cannot be separated from their mother as they cannot yet fly or hunt on their own. In the fall, when they become old enough to leave the roost, Critter Control can come in and install a bat valve or one-way door that lets the bats fly out but does not let them fly back in.

Birds can be some of the most annoying and destructive nuisance pests. Common problems include birds building nests in bathrooms, dryers, or kitchen vents, pigeons roosting on buildings, and geese congregating on lawns. The migratory bird coordinator for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources cites the increase in goose populations in the state, the diseases they carry, and their ability to drop about one pound of droppings per day.

Geese are not the only nuisance bird in the Foley-Fairhope region. Gulls, doves, crows, starlings, and sparrows can also become pests. In large numbers, these flocks create noise pollution, make a mess with their feces, and can spread disease and parasites. Their feces contain a high amount of uric acid, which is corrosive to roofs and siding. In addition to leaving a mess, their feces become a slip hazard.

It is ineffective to remove birds as they can come right back. The most effective solution is with exclusion tactics such as having Critter Control place screens around vents, and other openings, cap chimneys, and add netting and spikes to roofs to keep them from landing and roosting.