Wildlife Removal Services Winston-Salem, NC

 Squirrels

There are five squirrel species in North Carolina (gray, red, fox, southern and northern flying squirrels) with the most common being the gray squirrel. Squirrels typically try to take residence in attics as the insulation can provide a safe and warm nesting ground. Squirrels can enter homes through vents or gaps between shingles. They are also known to be able to create their own holes for entry. If the squirrel is not inside the home, there is no real need to act. However, if they do enter and nest in the home, they should be removed ASAP since squirrels can host Lyme disease - carrying ticks and their feces can contain Salmonella bacteria.

Birds

North Carolina’s diverse habitats, ranging from high mountain peaks to coastal marshes, provide a home to over 475 wild bird species. Birds look for nesting places that offer protection from weather and predators while also providing access to water and food. Common nesting places include vents, light fixtures, gutters, under eaves, under solar panels. Many wildlife enthusiasts enjoy bird watching in their backyards. Overall, birds are not dangerous creatures to have visiting in a yard, but their droppings can carry over 60 diseases so direct contact should be avoided.

Opossums

The Virginia Opossum is an adept climber, runner, and swimmer (although all are done at a slow and deliberate pace). The opossum is a nocturnal mammal that normally avoids human interaction. Many accuse opossums of getting into garbage cans or gardens, but they were cleaning up the aftermath left by other critters and opossums can help a garden by eating snails, slugs, insects, and the occasional small rodent. When threatened, an opossum will open their mouth and hiss or growl, but this is merely an attempt to look vicious. In reality, opossums are not aggressive. If the hissing does not work, they will then move to “play dead”. To avoid having opossums denning under a deck or patio, access needs to blocked. Avoiding opossum visitations is as easy as having a good garbage can lid, not leaving any pet food outside overnight, and picking up any fallen fruit in the yard.

Raccoons

Raccoons are resourceful, charismatic, and intelligent mammals that can live in many environments. They are a common character in many folk stories. Although harmless if left to themselves, they can pose dangers if they find a way into a home. Raccoons may take shelter in attics but can also nest in walls, chimneys, and basements as well as crawlspaces. The main danger with raccoons is exposure to rabies and raccoon feces which can contain raccoon roundworm. Raccoon roundworm can cause nausea, blindness, and loss of muscle control among other symptoms. Lion Defense highly recommends contacting a professional wildlife control agent to help assess the situation before a homeowner attempts to remove the raccoons on their own.

Snakes

North Carolina is home to 38 snake species, of which, only six (Copperhead, Timber Rattlesnake, Pigmy Rattlesnake, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Cottonmouth, and Eastern Coral Snake) are venomous. Out of the six venomous snakes, only the Copperhead is commonly found resting near homes. Snakes are an important part of our environment, keeping populations of pests such as rodents, slugs, and insects in check. Plus, snakes are a food resource to other animals such as foxes, raccoons, bears, eagles, hawks, and owls. Snakes can easily get into crawlspaces and basements, especially if there are signs of potential rodents nearby. Overall, snakes are shy creatures that pose little to no threat to humans when left alone. However, if snakes are disturbed or put in a situation without an escape route, they will bite or lunge outward to defend themselves. Therefore, it is best to alter habitats to minimize negative interactions with snakes.

Bats

Of the 17 species that exist in North Carolina only one is classified as threatened (Northern Long-eared Bat) and three are federally endangered (Virginia Big-eared, Gray, and Indiana Bat). Bats in North Carolina mate in the spring or fall and usually have one pup per year. Bats are critical contributors to ecosystems worldwide. North American bats, in particular, play a major role in controlling populations of insects considered as agricultural pests. A nursing female bat may consume almost her entire body weight in insects in one night.

When inside buildings (usually in attics or chimneys), a wildlife control agent may be able to evict bats without use of any trapping. Since young bats cannot fly for several weeks after birth, they are at risk to being trapped inside during an eviction, usually to starve. Therefore, North Carolina has a moratorium on bat evictions during the pup-rearing season from May 1 through July 31. If a bat is found in a bedroom, it must be isolated and captured for rabies testing. Although bat rabies is uncommon, most human rabies cases in the United States are due to unrecognized exposures to bats.

Foxes

There are two fox species that reside in North Carolina (red and gray). Red foxes were brought here from Europe in the early 1700s while gray foxes are the state’s only native fox species. Both species have adults weighing 7 to 15 pounds. The foxes are economically important and considered a valuable natural resource by biologists and sportsmen alike. Most conflicts that occur between humans and foxes involve depredation on domestic poultry and concerns about diseases, such as rabies. To avoid conflicts, care should be taken to keep the yards and neighborhoods clean of unnatural food sources.

Groundhogs

The largest member of the squirrel family is the groundhog. Groundhogs prefer seeking cover in their underground burrows, but they are good swimmers and can also climb trees if needed to escape danger. Groundhogs are herbivorous and they hibernate during the winter from November until February. Being herbivores and having a preference for a variety of wild and cultivated plants, they are commonly associated with feeding on human planted crops. The best method to prevent groundhog conflicts is to have a fence around your yard or garden. Since groundhogs are great climbers and diggers, fencing should be at least 3 feet high with another foot of fencing buried underground.