While the city of Boise owns 5,000 acres of open space reserves, protecting and restoring wildlife habitats is necessary. Boise has seen tremendous growth and, at one time, was labeled the fastest-growing city in the United States. Unfortunately, growth occurs because of residential and commercial developments that displace wildlife. Other factors causing changes in wildlife habitats are climate change, agriculture, aquaculture, energy production, mining, transportation, invasive species, and pollution. Each contributes to the increase in reported wildlife encounters in Boise. People claim raccoons, bats, rodents, skunks, snakes, rabbits, squirrels, birds, and many other animals are causing problems on their properties.
Seeing wildlife in your area can be fun initially, but it doesn’t last long. Nuisance wildlife can affect you and your family and the security you feel in your home. Idaho defines nuisance wildlife as those that damage or threaten to damage your property, pose a threat to humans, or cause such an annoyance that you cannot enjoy your living space.
Below are examples of common Boise nuisances and why reaching out to professionals, like the experts at Critter Control, is beneficial.
The Northern raccoon is classified as predatory wildlife in Idaho. In the wild, raccoons typically live for two to three years. In an urban environment without as many predators, raccoons can live longer.
Raccoons spend most of their time searching for food and eating. They gain as much fat as possible before the winter, during which they sleep for long periods but do not hibernate. Raccoons will eat just about anything, including plants, pet food, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. They enjoy dumpster diving for restaurant leftovers and raiding garbage cans in local neighborhoods.
Raccoons have dexterous hands, which help them become effective nuisances. They use their hands to dig, climb, break into, steal, shred, and scatter. They especially love creating a den in attics, destroying ducts, wires, insulation, drywall, and any sentimental items you may have stored nearby.
You will likely know a raccoon is in your attic by the noise they make, typically at night when they are most active. If you hear rustling or shuffling, the raccoons are likely physically moving around. If they are communicating, they may choose one of the hundreds of sounds, including a purr, mew, growl, hiss, chirp, snarl, whimper, or screech.
Raccoons in Boise are very observant when searching for entry into your home. They see a small hole as something they can make bigger. They see an uncapped chimney as a place to den. They see an unlocked pet door as an easy way in. Raccoons leave specific signs in areas where they are active. Their tracks and scat are unique and very recognizable. When their fur touches something, a black smudge is often left behind.
To get rid of a raccoon, call a wildlife expert who provides a thorough inspection, safe removal, repairs, and exclusions. Safety must be a priority since raccoons are known to carry roundworm and rabies.
Idaho is home to at least five native rat species. However, the non-native species, the Norway rat, is a common nuisance. Similarly, there are ten native mouse species, but the non-native species – the house mouse – is the most problematic.
The Norway rats have nicknames like “sewer rat” or “street rat.” They have brown and black hairs except on their bellies, which tend to be white or grey. Norway rats are filthy, leaving grease marks, feces, and urine everywhere they travel.
House mice have grey coats with cream-colored bellies. They are tiny and can fit through holes the size of a dime. Like rats, mice leave smudges, urine, and feces when traveling from a nest to a food source. Neither rodent has good eyesight, but their other senses compensate for it. Rats and mice spread salmonella, carry parasites, and transmit bacteria that may cause allergies. The more rodents you have, the higher your risk for health problems.
Rats and mice start breeding within a month of being born. A single house mouse can produce over thirty offspring in one year. In no time, you could be dealing with a huge infestation. The more trails, tracks, rub marks, gnaw marks, burrows, nests, and damaged items you find, the bigger the infestation.
Getting rid of rats and mice is not as easy as setting a trap repeatedly. You must use the correct bait or risk the rodents avoiding your traps and finding better hiding spots. An inspection by a wildlife specialist is one of the most critical steps to clearing your house. You must know what you are dealing with before you can begin removal.
Critter Control experts offer many other benefits, too. They locate and seal all entry points, apply sanitization to areas covered by feces and urine, and make minor repairs caused by rodents. They even work with you to implement exclusion methods to prevent rodent infestations in the future.
Urban and rural squirrels invading Boise homes are the American red squirrel, fox squirrel, and Northern flying squirrel. Not all squirrel species are the same; knowing the difference is essential if they become a nuisance. For example, fox squirrels are twice the size of red and flying squirrels. In Idaho, fox squirrels are classified as a non-native mammal, the red squirrel as a native upland game mammal, and the flying squirrel as a native protected non-game mammal.
Most squirrels eat similar foods, which often depends on what is available. They love birdseed, nuts, grains, flower buds, fungi, bird eggs, bulbs, insects, fruits, berries, vegetables, and bark.
It would be rare for you to see a flying squirrel. They are nocturnal, doing most of their damage after dark. Fox squirrels are the ones you may find building a nest in your attic and jumping from tree to tree to roof. Squirrels have a daily mission to gather and store edible treasures for winter months. They are master collectors, storing food and nesting materials in your ductwork and chimney, causing fire hazards. Alternatively, they may choose gutters, creating flood hazards. Many squirrels also prefer to dig shallow holes in your lawn close to their nest.
Signs you have a squirrel nuisance include chewing marks or holes created with their teeth. Squirrels have teeth that constantly grow. To keep them filed, squirrels must chew on hard materials. Their teeth are so strong that they can chew through thin metals, wood, plastic, vinyl, and more. They will chew through your siding and walls to enter your attic and through mesh wire or plastic caps on vents and chimneys. The size of the hole they create can help you identify the species. For example, red squirrels chew holes the size of golf balls, while others make smaller holes.
Trapping a squirrel takes someone with extensive knowledge of each species since capturing them takes different baits and traps. Also, the varying animal classifications mean you must follow the specific laws and regulations for each kind. If you don’t know how to keep squirrels from returning to your home, your removal efforts will be wasted. Experts can aid in animal exclusion by sealing entry points and removing food and water resources. They can also install netting and barriers on trees and roofs.
Two skunk species exist in Idaho: the spotted and striped skunks. Striped skunks are classified as predatory mammals. They have strong feet and long nails that help them dig for insects in the ground. If a skunk is on your property, it may be passing through. It may also be looking for a place to create a den to give birth. Skunks do not typically stay in one place too long. You may want to wait for them to leave if they aren’t offending.
If they are being a nuisance, contact a wildlife pro for help. Skunks carry parasites and diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Plus, they release the famously nasty sulfuric spray when they feel threatened by humans or pets. You do not want to risk being sprayed.
Another reason skunks may wander onto your property is to steal food like garden crops, nuts, birdseed, pet food, and even garbage. They are omnivores, like raccoons, and have many similar traits. If you encounter a skunk, it will likely stomp and growl to warn you not to move closer. It may also make various noises, including hisses, squeals, screeches, whimpers, and snarls.
Wildlife technicians can safely and humanely trap skunks when needed. They can also prevent future skunk visits by eliminating rodent infestations, properly storing food and trash, and fencing gardens.
Of the 12 snake species in Idaho, only two are venomous: the prairie and western rattlesnakes. The snakes slithering through your yard or into your basement are likely the garter and gopher snakes. Unfortunately, rattlesnakes may also be lurking nearby.
Gopher snakes, or bull snakes, are the largest in the state. Their food preferences include small mammals, eggs, and other reptiles. Garter snakes are great swimmers, and fish, frogs, and tadpoles are favored foods. Rattlesnakes mostly search for mice, birds, and lizards but will eat insects and other small animals.
Snakes have been given a bad reputation but rarely cause a nuisance, even rattlesnakes. If there are snakes on your property, they are not looking for humans. Instead, they are searching for food. So, if you see a snake, it has probably located a food source on your property. This is a great reason to contact wildlife experts for help. They will thoroughly inspect for rats, mice, and other snake attractants. Then they will exterminate the rodents and deter snakes from your home in the future.
What are some of the most common wildlife issues that homeowners face in your area? We frequently deal with squirrels, ground squirrels, skunks, bats, and rodents. We also commonly deal with problems arising from raccoons, birds, snakes, and opossums as well.
How do the seasons affect wildlife activity in your area? As it gets colder, animals begin to seek shelter in warmer places, like your home. They exploit any weak place they can find in your home to enter and if they can’t find that, animals like raccoons will simply rip apart vents, soffits and shingles to gain entrance.
Any prevention or exclusion tips for residents in your area? Don’t feed pets outdoors and if you do, bring the leftovers indoors to avoid attracting wildlife. Place bird feeders away from the home, as the spill attracts all sorts of rodents, Inspect your home’s exterior frequently for holes, rub marks and damage. Trim tree branches away from the home to prevent easy access to your roof.
When should homeowners call you? Please call us anytime you suspect animals have invaded your home or property and are causing damage.
