Nuisance Wildlife in Chattanooga, TN
Located on the Tennessee River in the southeastern section of the state, the city of Chattanooga is home to more than 180,000 residents and plenty of wild animals that can easily become pests if they get too close to homes and businesses.
Chattanooga has been named by the New York Times as one of the “Top 45 Places to Go” in the world! And with good reason. The Appalachian Mountains of Southeast Tennessee and the Tennessee River provide residents and tourists easy access to natural beauty, outdoor activities, and urban amenities such as hotels, restaurants, retail stores, galleries, and more.
Chattanooga underwent a remarkable transformation in recent years, spearheaded by a program to get artists and retailers to move into town. Highly successful, Chattanooga is increasing at an annual rate of 0.73% as of 2022. While this growth has been quite positive for Chattanooga, it begins to encroach on the habitats of the wildlife around it, forcing some to adapt to living close to people and industry. When this happens, wildlife sometimes becomes a nuisance that needs to be removed from homes and businesses.
The Tennessee Wildlife Federation has labeled the state “the most biologically diverse inland state.” The state is home to a variety of fish, mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, and bird species. And much of this wildlife is close to Hamilton, Catoosa, Dade, and Walker Counties, which comprise the Chattanooga metro area.
In addition, Chattanooga’s cool winters and hot, humid summers, along with the population growth of the area, create a need for wildlife to look outside of their usual habitats for food, water, and shelter.