4 Nuisance Animals to Watch Out For in Winter

You would think that animals would cozy up in their respective dens or burrows and wait for the winter season to pass. But no, they are still out there causing problems for property owners everywhere in Indiana. Although most animals do hibernate or migrate, there are some species of wildlife that you really need to watch out for in the winter. Continue reading to learn how to protect your home or building from these 4 common wintertime nuisance animals.

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Wintertime Nuisance Animals

🦇 Bats

Bats are notorious for taking up shelter in attics and crawl spaces. Seeing as though they can fit through an opening as small as 3/8ths of an inch, it is no surprise they can do access our properties so easily. Later on, unsuspecting property owners are faced with a massive renovation project to repair all the damages caused by the infestation. Bats roost in large numbers as well, so the more bats there are, the more damage will occur. For this reason, you want to get rid of bats as soon as possible. By protecting your home or building from bat intrusions, you can avoid costly renovations come spring.

🐺 Raccoons

Many people wrongly assume that raccoons hibernate, but we assure you, they do not. In fact, raccoons are busy little bodies in the winter season, and maintaining perfectly cozy shelters at property owner’s expense. Raccoons will make their winter homes in dens, hollow trees, brush piles, and inside tall grass, all of which is destructive to your landscaping. Especially determined raccoons will go a step further and access inner areas of a house or building, such as the attic, crawl space, underneath porches, garages, sheds, barns, and more. Here is where they do the most damage, not only structurally, but in terms of sanitation too.

🐹 Squirrels

Squirrels are another species of wildlife that are commonly mistaken for hibernators. But the truth is, squirrels are not a hibernating species. They are, however, very agile climbers and clever in a pinch. This makes the potentially threatening to the structural integrity and safety of your property. Squirrels are known to take shelter in attics, and in all other places that raccoons are known to nest, such as wall voids, chimneys, crawl spaces, and under porches.

🦨 Skunks

Skunks are quite destructive, aside from their odorous defense mechanism. They will also continue to dig up lawns and gardens in search of juicy grub worms and other things to eat, all winter long. They are also known to make themselves at home inside garages, sheds, barns, and even below porches. Not only are they destructive and capable of producing a long-lasting smell that can also cause blindness, they are known carriers of several infectious diseases, including the Rabies virus.

How to Protect Your Home This Winter From Nuisance Animals

The best method for protecting your property from nuisance wildlife intrusions and tampering is to seek the assistance of a skilled and reputable Indianapolis critter control company. They can give you advice that specifically targets the nuisance animal that is bothering your home, and protect your property from all other common wildlife threats in your area.

Indianapolis Animal Removal and Control You Can Trust

Call Modern Wildlife Control at 317-847-6409 for safe and humane animal trapping and removal in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our licensed wildlife control specialists offer a wide range of residential and commercial animal extraction and exclusion services at the most competitive prices around.  We only use safe, eco-friendly techniques and humane methods of wildlife abatement. We also offer 24 hour emergency service, free estimates, free advice, and more! Call 317-847-6409 to request a free estimate, today.

Modern Wildlife Control Indianapolis
Modern Wildlife Control Indianapolis

How Chipmunks Survive in the Winter

A chipmunk is just about one of the cutest little critters here in Tennessee. However, as a ground-dwelling, burrowing species, they are not so popular among property owners this time of year. Chipmunks are a part of the Sciuridae family, same as squirrels, but rather than climb trees and build nests high off the ground like their distance relatives, chipmunks burrow, creating their homes beneath our feet. Although small, they can certainly cause a significant amount of lawn and garden damage.

What does this mean for you? Continue reading to learn more about wintertime chipmunk activity. This information will give you the insight you need to protect your Nashville, Tennessee property from nuisance chipmunks this year.

Get Rid of Nuisance Chipmunks BEFORE They Make Your Home THEIR Home for the Winter.

Common Chipmunk Activity This Time of Year

As mentioned, chipmunks are part of the Sciuridae family, just like squirrels. This means they are rodents, and as rodents, they like to dig. Chipmunks spend all spring and summer burrowing a complex series of tunnels underground, and foraging for as much food as they can find to store for the winter. During these times, they hand out in the shallow parts of their tunnels during the day, and enter the lower chambers for sleeping at night. They are also known to take up shelter in ground cover, logs, trees, hollowed stumps, shrubs, hedges, fence lines, and rocks. But once the weather turns too cold, they enter the lowest part of their tunnel system and rely on the storage of food the collected over the spring and summer seasons.

Chipmunk Hibernation Patterns in Tennessee

Opposed to common belief, chipmunks are not a hibernating species. However, they do enter a relative state of hibernacula (state of rest and lowered heart rate) for parts of the winter season. For the majority of the season, chipmunks are actively searching for ways to stay warm. During the coldest parts of winter, they enter deep into the tunnel system they created over the spring and summer, and sleep most of the time. When there are warmer days in the winter, chipmunks will arise from their underground tunnels and forage for more food.

Damages That Can Be Caused By Chipmunks

Chipmunk behavior, like tunneling and foraging, will certainly cause a nominal amount of damage to a lawn. At first glance, these tunnels unsightly and greatly reduce curb appeal. However, they are also an obstruction and a tripping hazard, and can even jeopardize a property’s foundation. In the spring and summer, chipmunks can be highly destructive to gardens and potted plants. For these reasons, it is in your best interest to put a stop to nuisance chipmunk activity as soon as possible. Contact a licensed and insured Nashville wildlife control company for expert assistance at an affordable price.

Nashville, Tennessee Chipmunk Removal Services You Can Afford This Winter

Call Modern Wildlife Control in Nashville, Tennessee at 615-336-5503 to get rid of chipmunks this winter, and protect your property from damages come spring. We have the safe and workable solutions to stop nuisance chipmunks from disturbing your property and peace mind, and all of them are affordable. Start with a free estimate over the phone, or schedule an onsite evaluation for chipmunk removal and attic restoration. Our licensed and insured wildlife abatement experts will solve your critter control problems, fast!

Modern Wildlife Control Nashville Tennessee
Modern Wildlife Control in Nashville, Tennessee 615-336-5503

Can You Hunt Pigeons Without a License?

If you are dealing with nuisance pigeons on your property, you have likely thought about how to get rid of them. During your brainstorming, one factor you might have considered is whether or not it is legal to trap, hunt, and kill pigeons on your own property without a hunting license or permit. The answer to this question is wide-ranging, and differs from state to state. Overall, it depends on the local ordinances of your particular county. In most states, you can legally trap and kill pigeons on your property. There are, however, certain exceptions and details to these laws that you should be aware of before attempting to hunt feral pigeons, especially because you do not want to mistakenly harm a homing pigeon. 

Continue reading to learn more about safe pigeon removal and control, including information regarding hunting laws and regulations in Indiana.

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Indianapolis Pigeon Removal and Control 317-847-6409

Wild Pigeons

Also called city pigeons, city doves, street pigeons, and feral pigeons, wild pigeons are a breed of bird species that inhabit our towns and tall buildings in abundant numbers.  Their high flock counts can result in massive acres of bird dropping mess, relentless cooing, and breeding frenzies.  These birds are noted by their dull grey color, stout bodies, and short necks.  Common cities known for their copious pigeon populations include Indianapolis, New York, Chicago, London, and Venice.

Feral pigeons are intimidating to residents and building owners for the reasons mentioned above, as well as disease.  Illnesses such as the bird flu have been rumored to be carried by pigeons; but statistics proved this to be wrong, and pigeons do not carry the particular viral strain.  Mostly, these birds are simply loud and messy.  They can be hunted, captured, and taken anytime in the United States without a permit.

Do Not Hunt or Harm Homing Pigeons

Homing pigeons are a special breed of pigeon derived from a species called the Rock Pigeon. They are not allowed to be killed, hunted, or harmed in any way. Homing pigeons are selectively bred to find their way home from far away locations. They have been used for military purposes, sports and recreation, such as pigeon racing; and much more.   hey are a protected species of pigeon that cannot be trapped or hunted without penalty. Homing pigeons are also called carrier and messenger pigeons.

What You Need to Know About Pigeon Trapping

Be sure to use extreme caution and care when attempting to trap or hunt pigeons. Look up your local ordinances and laws pertaining to hunting regulations and rules surrounding firearm use. Air guns are a great substitution for anything more dangerous than a pellet gun. Poisons are not a good idea because they can be harmful to pets and other innocent wild animals.

A more humane solution to pigeon control is using bird traps to relocate pigeons far from your property. Although, those who have dealt with pigeon populations in the past know that the easiest and safest option is to hire a licensed Indianapolis wildlife control company to get rid of nuisance birds on your property.

Indianapolis Bird Removal and Control Services

Call Modern Wildlife Control at 317-847-6409 for professional animal trapping and removal services for birds in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. We work with all other species of Indiana wildlife too, including bats, skunks, opossum, yard moles, and squirrels. We also offer cleanup services and restoration and repair for animal damages, and can even provide insurance claim work. Start with a free estimate or advice, today!

Modern Wildlife Control Indianapolis
Modern Wildlife Control Indianapolis