Nuisance Wildlife Control & Management

Bats

There are more than 980 species of bats worldwide with about 40 species found in the United States. The three most common species that enter structures are the little brown bat, the big brown bat and the Mexican free-tailed bat.

For centuries, bats have been the subject of folklore and myths, often associated with witchcraft, haunted houses and evil. These myths still exist today and cause unfounded fear in many people.

Flying Squirrels

Contrary to their common name, these small tree squirrels actually glide instead of fly. They stretch out their legs, spreading the fold of skin between the front and hind legs, to form a kind of parachute that lets them glide from branch to branch.

Groundhogs

The groundhog, also known as a woodchuck or whistle pig, is a member of the squirrel family. Although groundhogs are slow runners, they scurry quickly to their dens when they sense danger. The primary predators of groundhogs are hawks, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, dogs and humans. However, motorized vehicles kill many groundhogs each year.

On February 2, people around the United States celebrate Groundhogs Day, a tradition that centers on the idea of a groundhog emerging from its hibernation to “predict” the weather. If the groundhog sees its shadow and returns to its burrow, there will be six more weeks of winter. But, if the animal does not see its shadow, then spring is right around the corner.

Opossums

Opossums are the only marsupial found in North America. They live in many parts of the U.S., with the exception of the Rockies, western plains and parts of the northern U.S. Opossums usually live alone and are only active at night.

Prairie Dogs

Prairie dogs are stocky, burrowing rodents that live in colonies called towns. French explorers called them “little dogs” because of the barking noise they often make. Today, about 2 million acres of prairie dog colonies, comprised of five species, remain in North America. The most abundant and widely distributed of these is the black-tailed prairie dog, which is named for its black-tipped tail.

Raccoons

Raccoons can be found throughout the U.S., but are more common in the wooded eastern portions of the country than in the more arid western plains. Raccoons are rarely seen during the day because of their nocturnal habits.

Tree Squirrels

Tree squirrels get their common name from the fact that they are found only in areas where there are trees. There are three representative species of tree squirrels: fox squirrels, gray squirrels and pine squirrels.

Voles

Voles, also called meadow mice or field mice, are rodents with small eyes and partially hidden ears. Their underfur is generally dense and covered with thicker, longer guard hairs. There are 23 species of voles in the U.S., including the prairie vole, meadow vole, long-tailed vole, woodland vole, Oregon vole and California vole.