With over
4,500 documented animal species in Alabama, there are just as many examples of how nuisance wildlife cause problems. Fortunately, Alabama recognizes the dangers and
provides guidelines on how to control nuisance wildlife. Their first recommendation is to contact a local wildlife control company for help to ensure safety for you and the animal.
Warm days and mild nights make Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama an ideal vacation spot year-round. The two ecoregions in the area (the Gulf Coast Flatwoods and Southern Pine Plains) have plenty of rain-fall and many freshwater rivers. There is plenty of water in these habitats for wildlife. Thirty-six mammals and eight-six bird species
are found in the habitats.
The gulf coast of Alabama is populous, especially near the coast, with low-density suburban development extending into this region from more heavily-developed coastal areas. As people continue to vacation and move to the area, the chances for human-wildlife conflict continues.
Raccoons typically go out at night to scavenge for food, and they can travel up to six miles in search of the right treat. That’s like going from Mobile to Prichard or Chickasaw to satisfy their hunger.
Raccoons are masked bandits for a reason. They can be mischievous. They turn over garbage cans, scatter trash along the road, and dig holes in your yard searching for insects. They will not let much get in their way because they eat anything, including junk food, pet feed, bugs, and small animals. When resting, they prefer a warm, cozy spot, like your attic.
Raccoons will enter your home through open holes. They will also break vents, boards, and screens pushing their way inside. Once inside, they create a spot specifically for feces and urine. Then they begin to destroy ducts, insulation, drywall, and stored items. They must be dealt with professionally.
The gray, fox, and Southern flying squirrel are the main types of squirrels in Gulf Shores. What you think are cute behaviors may also be damaging behaviors to your property. Squirrels eating from a bird feeder deters birds from eating there. They collect mounds of nuts, twigs, and other materials and may store them in your attic, vents, or chimney. Squirrels chew through siding, soffits, shingles, and pipes can lead to water leaks. They also carry parasites into your home. They will also leave feces and urine in your home that can grow bacteria. Squirrels have been known to blow transformers. The last thing you want is to experience a power outage in your home or office.
Removal of squirrels is not that simple and may require depredation permits depending on the season. To hunt and trap squirrels, the proper license and permits are needed. If you find a squirrel living in your attic, it may be taking care of or preparing for baby squirrels.
The rapid scurrying from the ground to a tree limb to the roof and then inside your home is not so cute anymore. We can help.
Rat and Mice Pest Control
Rodents like the house mouse, pine vole, and cotton rat survive in Longleaf Pine habitat near Gulf Shores. Roof rats, brown rats, and house mice are the rodents most likely to enter your Gulf Shores home. One reason may be proximity to one of the largest wetland ecosystems in America. Another reason is that rodents can have three or more litters every year, bringing five or more rodents into the world. The population of rats and mice is growing faster than most home rodent control methods can be applied. Infestations are found in residences, restaurants, hotels, warehouses, cargo ships, and many other places in the Gulf Shores area.
Rats and mice are not the wildlife you or your tenants want to encounter while in your house. The damage they cause can be troublesome. They gnaw through telephone, television, air conditioning, and electrical wires, leaving you without the basics. They raid pantries and contaminate foods, wasting the money you spent on groceries. They leave trails of feces and urine on floors and countertops, both of which can harbor mold spores that trigger asthma and other respiratory problems.
If you see signs of a rat or mouse, call for an inspection immediately. There are many more nearby.
Bats commonly roosting in Gulf Shore attics, offices, or other man-made structures include the little and big brown bats, the Brazilian free-tailed bats, and the tri-colored bats. In Gulf Shores, you may find bats roosting alone or in colonies. The big brown bat is the most commonly seen in our area.
Bat guano is the biggest problem when they roost in an attic, barn, or other structure. Bats leave massive amounts of guano, which contains an acid that can erode wood and metal. Guano can also grow mold spores that, if inhaled by humans, can cause respiratory issues. Examining your property for food sources can give you a good idea of whether you may have bats nearby. For example, if you have outdoor lighting that turns on at night, it will attract insects. Other insect attractants include compost piles, manure, open animal feed bags, and stagnant water.
Bats are necessary for our environment. They eat thousands of insects a night. There are strict federal and state laws about the
removal of bats from your structure.
Opossums are slow-moving creatures. With 50 teeth, they can do a lot of damage to your home, yard, and smaller animals. They like to nest in burrows made by other animals, trees, brush piles, attics, and crawl spaces. Like skunks, they can release a liquid that smells like a weaker version of skunk spray. If your pet, or your tenant’s pet, gets near an opossum, expect it to be sprayed if it feels threatened and if all its other tricks did not work, like playing dead or growling.
Opossum damage is like raccoon and skunk damage. They uproot garden crops, dig holes in the yard, destroy insulation, travel through ducts, dumpster dive, and raid bird feeders. They do this to find food, like a raccoon or skunk. They will eat almost anything, from plants, fruits, vegetables, and seeds to junk food and table scraps. Many opossums will move to another location after being on your property for a few weeks. However, the damage they do in that short period is extensive.
The nine-banded armadillo can be found in Alabama yards, woodlands, and dense brush.
Able to catch the scent of insects below the soil,armadillos often ruin lawns and gardens while digging for insects. People don't usually notice these nocturnal pests until they dig up yards or gardens. An armadillo usually digs multiple burrows that may weaken sidewalks, driveways, or patios.
Armadillo control can protect expensive landscaping and the integrity of surrounding property such as driveways and decks. One way to keep armadillos away is to build a fence that feeds a few feet into the ground.
Out of the
445 species of birds spotted in Alabama, 420 have been spotted on the Gulf Coast. You can see them roosting on office buildings, wires, billboards, and roof ledges of your home. They are everywhere, which is excellent if you are a bird lover. It’s not so great if they are causing a disturbance. Bird droppings contain an acid that can cause building materials to deteriorate. If a
bird builds a nest in your vents, gutters, chimney, or pipes, you are at risk for flooding, leaks, and fires. If a lot of bird droppings amass in one area, the weight can cause it to collapse.
If there are a lot of bird droppings in the soil near your home, you are exposed to respiratory diseases like histoplasmosis as the droppings land in the soil, grow mold spores, and together produce dust that can be inhaled. Besides health and safety reasons, bird droppings on your vehicle, house, sidewalk, windows, and yard are unsightly. While birds can help control insects and bugs, they also present many other problems.