Raccoons

Raccoons, sometimes referred to as “masked bandits”, are often admired for their intelligence and their ingenuity.

Squirrels

As rodents, squirrels are constantly looking for food and produce many offspring – two litters per year (spring and late summer), with an average of 5-6 per litter.

Bats

Although bats provide a very important role in our environment (a single bat can eat up to 3,000 insects, including mosquitoes, in one night), they can also be dangerous if they roost in buildings or come into contact with people.

Birds

Sparrows, starlings and pigeons are the most common bird species that come into conflict with people.

Skunks

Skunks are renowned for the horrible smell they emit when injured, frightened or mating. The odour can remain on pets and in ventilation systems for weeks or months.

Friday, January 27, 2017

4 Diseases Transmitted by Mice




Every homeowner would love to never see a mouse in their dwelling but it is basically inevitable. Mice live in the wild and commonly seek refuge inside homes. When you see a mouse, it is important to have the creature removed in a humane way. Mice can carry disease that can affect humans, causing sickness, some symptoms being very serious. Below are four examples of diseases from mice and how they can affect you in the home.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
Known as HPS, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome can be spread via deer mouse, rice rat, cotton rat and white-footed mouse. The virus spreads from urine, droppings and saliva of the mouse. This type of disease from mouse droppings can lead to sickness when humans breathe in dust that is contaminated with urine or droppings, touch something contaminated or via a bite wound. Symptoms of this disease include fever, headaches, stomach problems, muscle aches and more.

Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome
This disease is spread via a striped field mouse, bank vole and yellow-necked field mouse. Direct contact or breathing in contaminated particles of urine or droppings can see this disease transmitted from mouse to human. A bite can also result in the sickness. You can spread this disease person to person with direct contact, though this is rare. Symptoms of this disease include intense headaches, back pain, fever, chills, blurred vision and nausea.

Lymphocytic Chorio-meningitis (LCM)
Transmitted by a house mouse, this virus can be caught in the same way as the others, exposure to contaminated items or breathing in air that includes particles of droppings and urine. Symptoms of the disease include fever, nausea and vomiting.

Salmonellosis
This disease is spread via mice and rats and can be caught by humans when drinking or eating food that has been contaminated by feces. Symptoms include pain in the abdomen and muscles, chills, dehydration, fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, headache, diarrhea or bloody stool.

These are just a few examples of the diseases mice carry and how they can affect humans. It is never fun to be sick and being able to prevent such sickness are essential when you find mice in the home. The mice need to be removed as well as prevented from coming back again. The best way to ensure that all mice are taken from the home in a humane manner and a plan put in place to keep mice from coming back, contact expert removal specialists.

Experts in wildlife removal will be able to determine how the mice are entering your home, where they are living and what areas of your home are affected by urine and droppings. The mice will need to be removed with affected areas being cleaned to avoid any issue with disease that the mice may have been carrying. Entry points are secured to ensure other mice do not find their way into your home in the future.

Contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control to find out more about mice diseases and how the removal process takes place. Schedule an appointment if you have a mouse problem in your home.

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Mice Removal From Sticky Trap with Vegetable Oil Does Not Work!



When mice enter the home it can be aggravating as well as stressful. Mice can leave behind droppings that are messy as well as get into packaged food, leaving you with even more mess in the home. For many home owners, the only methods they know of to remove mice are sticky traps. Mouse glue traps are a form of mice removal but is considered to be a cruel option. There are more humane ways to remove mice from your home without hurting the creature. Mice are simply looking for food and a warm place to stay when they enter your home. Consider other methods such as wildlife removal services to have the mice removed in a humane manner.

If you have used mouse glue traps, once you catch the mouse, you will find that the creature will try to get away. The mouse will be frantic and will end up tearing off its skin to try and get away. It can take days for a mouse to die after becoming stuck to a sticky trap. Mice can also suffocate if they become stuck to the trap with their nose or mouth.

You can try removing the mouse from the glue trap but this can be difficult. Many websites recommend using vegetable oil to help remove the mouse from the trap but this is not a good idea. The usage of such oil can actually interfere with the natural waterproofing of the creature. Use too much oil and you may free the mouse but you lower the survival rate of the creature once it has been released. This is why it is recommended that you do not use such traps to try and catch mice in the home.

Once you realize that mice are living in your home, contact wildlife experts. Have a technician in the field of wildlife removal to review your home. The expert will be able to determine how the mice are entering the home and where they are living. Humane traps can be used to catch the mice and then the creatures will be relocated. By taking this method, the mice are safe and you are able to reclaim your home.

After the mice have been removed, you will need to have the area in which the mice were living cleaned. Feces and urine can affect the home in a negative manner. In an attic space, insulation may need to be replaced as well as portions of the wood that may have been affected. The technician will have a full report for you so that you can know which areas of your home were affected and a plan of action can be created to get your home back to normal in no time.

Have the experts at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control review your home to see if mice may be a problem. Have the mice removed and relocated in a humane manner, feeling good about your choice for removal as the creatures can move on to have a life in a new area, far from your home!

Friday, January 20, 2017

Rat Bite Fever: Symptoms, Treatment, & Prevention


Rat bite fever is an infectious disease that can be created by two strains of bacteria. The two bacteria involved are streptobacillary RBF and Spirillum Minus. The disease is commonly transmitted to humans by an infected rodent or by eating or drinking contaminated items. If the disease is not treated, then RBF can lead to serious health conditions as well as eventual death.

Transmission of the Disease
There are several ways that people can contract RBF. The most common form of transmission comes in three ways. One is if the individual is bitten or scratched from an infected rodent. Secondly, an individual can contract the disease if they handle a rat that is infected even if not bitten or scratched. Food or drink that is consumed after being contaminated with RBF can also cause the disease in humans.

Signs and Symptoms of RBF
There are several rat bite symptoms that an infected individual will see that will indicate the disease is present. Each type of RBF has its own symptoms. With Streptobacillary RBF, you will have a fever, vomiting, headache, muscle pain, joint pain and rash. Three to ten days after being exposed, an individual will begin to see symptoms. However, symptoms can be delayed as long as three weeks.

With Spirillary RBF, symptoms will include fever, an ulcer around the bite wound (if applicable), swelling near the wound, lymph node swelling and rash. The symptoms of this disease are associated with Haverhill fever.

Are You At Risk?
You may be wondering if you are at risk of developing RBF by being exposed to rats with the disease. If you live in a building that is infested with rats, have a pet rat at home or work in an area that has rats such as a pet store or laboratory, you may be at risk. If you find that rats have moved into your home, they need to be removed to lower your risk of acquiring RBF.

Rats can be removed by contacting wildlife Removal Company. Such companies will provide you with humane removal of the rats and suggest cleanup alternatives to ensure your home is not susceptible to disease or other issues.

Treatment
If you feel that you have been affected by rat bite fever and show symptoms, contact a health professional immediately. Antibiotics will be prescribed and can be effective in curing the disease. Penicillin is the most common form of antibiotic used to treat the disease. If you do not receive treatment you can have an infection set in that will affect the heart, brain, lungs or other internal organs. Such infections can include meningitis, pneumonia, myocarditis, pericarditis and more.

To have your home rid of rats, contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control. The wildlife removal company has the know-how and experience to take care of your rat infestation needs including humane removal. Reclaim your home from the rats as the creatures are removed and your daily life once again becomes normal. Contact Skedaddle to learn more about the process of removal or to schedule an appointment.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Which season is the most common for mice removal?



During the winter months, it is not uncommon for home owners to spend more time indoors. The winter weather is colder and outdoor time is cut to a minimum. It is during the winter season that many home owners find that others have found solace and warm in their home. Mice tend to head indoors looking for food and comfort when the temperatures outside begin to drop.

The winter has proven to be the season when it is most common for mice infestations. Rodent control is essential to keeping these pesky creatures from entering your home and claiming it as their own. Mice can enter your home even through the smallest of spaces. Mice have the ability to squeeze through tiny spaces, actually holes that are as small as a pencil eraser. Mice will use the crevices in the foundation of your home or crawl space to find a way to call your home their own.

Do You Have Mice in the Home?
There are many signs that can alert you of mice in the home. In general, you will find that droppings are the most common sign that you have mice. You may also see evidence of nesting in attic or basement areas. Gnaw marks or damage to packaged foods are a clear sign that you have a problem with mice. When you see any of these signs, it is best to have a professional inspect your home to see if you have an infestation.

Rodents tend to be more active at night and can be seen in most cases after dark. Listen for squeaking noises, movement or unexplained sounds in the walls or attic space. These are additional signs that you may have a mouse problem.

How to Get Rid of Mice
Once you know that you have a problem, you want to get rid of the creatures! The best way to get rid of mice is to work with the professionals. A wildlife control group will be able to help you remove any creatures from your home and ensure that mice have a harder time gaining access to your home in the future.

To begin, the wildlife expert will evaluate your home. How the mice are coming and going will need to be discovered in order to provide a long term solution. The expert will then create a plan to remove the mice from your home. This can include installing one-way doors over top of the entry areas so that the mice inside will be locked out when they go outside for food. Closing off areas of other potential points of entry will also be required, as will making sure any food sources are secured.

To learn more about mice removal or to schedule an appointment for service, contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control. The experts in wildlife removal are ready to assist you with your mice problem as well as with other creatures you may find living in your home.