Wildlife
Wildlife Control
Deer
Wolves and other predators that used to keep deer populations under control have primarily disappeared from suburban areas. These neighborhoods are now a browser's paradise. Vast acres of well-watered, fertilizer-fattened plants, shrubs, gardens, and orchards dotted with pocket-forests for cover, all crisscrossed with creeks and streams. They also devour plantings, saplings, and crops, causing nearly $1 billion in farm, garden, and timber damage annually.A single adult deer can consume a ton and a half of greenery a year.
With hunters banished to distant woods, the only continuous threats to rapidly growing deer populations are disease and automobiles. Deer are struck by cars, trucks, and motorcycles over a million times each year, killing more than 100 people annually
and resulting in more than $1 billion in damages. Statistically, this makes deer deadlier to humans than sharks, alligators, bears, and rattlesnakes combined.
Deer also carry several diseases, some of which can be passed on to pets and even humans, and others (like Lyme disease) that can decimate livestock herds. Parapoxvirus and Escherichia coli Infection (E. coli) can be transmitted from deer to both dogs and humans, while Echinococcus granulosus can be passed from deer to dogs, and then from dogs to humans, causing permanent organ damage.
Chronic wasting disease (a.k.a. "zombie-deer syndrome") is a disease in deer that causes brain encephalitis similar to mad cow disease in cattle. Mark Zabel, associate director of the Prion Research Center at Colorado State University states, "We have every reason to suspect that chronic wasting disease could pass to humans, as the disease may still be evolving, and it may be just a matter of time before a prion evolves in a deer or elk that is capable of infecting a human, much like bovine spongiform encephalopathy (Mad Cow Disease) in the 1980s and 1990's."
Because they are primarily nocturnal, extremely quiet, and can hop 6-foot fences with ease, deer are nearly impossible for a frustrated land-owner to eradicate from their favorite properties themselves.
A most frightening threat is what biologists and wildlife technicians refer to as 'Bambi Syndrome' or "the perception that deer are gentle little creatures only wanting love and affection."
A most frightening threat is what biologists and wildlife technicians refer to as 'Bambi Syndrome' or "the perception that deer are gentle little creatures only wanting love and affection."
The reality is that deer are wild, unpredictable animals that are capable of inflicting severe injury or death, especially to the very young or elderly. Deer fight one another with long, sharp antlers, propelled by massively muscular necks, and by striking or kicking using sharp hooves and powerful leg muscles. They can, and do, attack humans, often for no foreseeable reason, using these same weapons.
Deer are beautiful, graceful, wild creatures, and an essential part of our wilderness ecosystems, but they are not pets, they are not cartoon characters, and when they wander or are forced into close contact with people, nobody wins.
Groundhogs
Woodchucks (aka groundhogs or "whistle-pigs") may be the celebrities of the wildlife world for their shadow-based weather predictions (there's no "skunks" day, right?), but they are the bane of gardeners, farmers, and homeowners everywhere. Growing up to 12lbs and 2 feet long, the damage they inflict is equally impressive. They eat practically any garden plant, and they eat a lot. Members of the squirrel family, they must gnaw to control tooth growth and are just as happy munching on decks, siding, and outdoor furniture, and your apple trees.
Woodchucks (aka groundhogs or "whistle-pigs") may be the celebrities of the wildlife world for their shadow-based weather predictions (there's no "skunks" day, right?), but they are the bane of gardeners, farmers, and homeowners everywhere. Growing up to 12lbs and 2 feet long, the damage they inflict is equally impressive. They eat practically any garden plant, and they eat a lot. Members of the squirrel family, they must gnaw to control tooth growth and are just as happy munching on decks, siding, and outdoor furniture, and your apple trees.
Woodchucks rarely carry diseases and tend to be shy. They will defend their young, and attack when cornered. With razor-sharp fangs and heavy digging claws, your pet usually gets the worst of it. Burrows (up to 50' long & 5' deep), with multiple exit tunnels, cause serious injuries/damage to pets, livestock, farm equipment, of course, people. Though woodchucks are loners, by early spring, there may be 4 to 5 young in the burrow with mom, ready to start digging, eating, and gnawing!
Snakes
Of the 50+ species of snakes in North America, there are 20, including 16 species of rattlesnakes, that can pose a severe or lethal risk to people and pets. Many people are terrified or even traumatized by the sight of snakes, especially in their home or garden. Though most snakes won't enter the common areas of your house, they may slither into your garage, basement, or outbuildings in search of prey.
Snakes can take advantage of any openings to your crawl spaces or basement, greater than ¼ inch in diameter. Damaged door sweeps, window screens, and open vents and drains all create easy access.
If you do see a snake in your house or on your property that you can't identify with certainty, the wisest course of action is to keep pets and children away from it and call a trained professional for removal.
If you do see a snake in your house or on your property that you can't identify with certainty, the wisest course of action is to keep pets and children away from it and call a trained professional for removal.
Beavers
Beavers cause flood damage to homes, businesses, and property, by blocking structures, culverts, and natural water sources, and chewing down ornamental and stabilizing trees. Power and building damage results from falling trees (commercial forest and orchard owners report millions of dollars in damages annually to beavers.) Erosion of streambeds due to the destruction and consumption of stabilizing plants can also lead to flooding and structural damage.
Destroying dams and other blockages are, typically, short-term solutions, as beavers can rebuild at an astonishing rate, destroying more property in the process. Given the network of tunnels that beavers dig just below the surface, injuries to humans, pets, and livestock are common.
Bats are an indispensable asset to the ecosystem, but when they infringe on humans, they can cause a staggering amount of property damage. Often carriers of infectious diseases and dangerous vermin, bats chew on anything in their nesting area, and produce copious amounts of guano and urine leading to structural damage (wood rot), rust damage, and creating a breeding ground for diseases. They can only be moved, trapped, or in rare cases, killed by a licensed professional, and only if they pose an "identifiable threat." Due to the risk of disease, and legal protections, it's best to trust a professional for their removal.
Coyotes
Typically, you only find coyotes on your property when they're hunting, and even then, it's rare to see them in most areas. More likely, you'll only hear their distinctive howls and find the scattered remains of their last meal. Indiscriminate predators, coyotes will kill and feast on chickens, ducks, rabbits, newborn ponies, lambs, and calves, and even smaller cats and dogs. Predation of pets has become so common that companies are manufacturing "coyote-proof" vests for small breed dogs. When their common food supplies grow scarce, coyotes that have become desensitized to the presence of humans have even been known to attack and bite small children on their front porches.
Skunks
When most of us think of skunks, the first thing that comes to mind is the rank, burning spray that they use to protect themselves from threats. However, if that first line of defense proves ineffective, skunks won't hesitate to bring razor-sharp claws and fangs into play, especially when cornered. These easily identifiable, striped stinkers will destroy gardens, and do massive property damage while creating dens, or digging for food. Skunks are as much of a threat to pets, as they are to us. Dogs especially can be infected with distemper, canine hepatitis, and intestinal roundworms through bites, scratches, and even contact with feces. They can also carry rabies, which can be transmitted to other mammals, including us.
Pest birds create tens of millions of dollars' worth of damage to both residential and commercial property owners every year. Bird droppings are incredibly acidic, damaging roof substrates, leading to leaks and cutting life expectancy by half. Air conditioning equipment, industrial machinery, insulation, etc., are also destroyed. Many birds will build nests in rain gutters, drains, and drain corners leading to roof flooding, leaks, and even collapse. Droppings, either directly or through ventilation systems, can expose workers and homeowners alike to dangerous health-risks, as well. Dry nesting materials are also extremely flammable, and when built-in or near lights or other electrical components, pose a severe risk of fire.
Squirrels
On a walk in the park, squirrels are cute furry critters that are fun to watch. Inside your home, however, it's a very different story. Squirrels are responsible for untold millions of dollars in home and commercial property damage each year. Teeth that can tear through an acorn shell will have no trouble getting through the siding, mesh vent covers, and even your PVC pipes. By exposing cables and electrical wiring, squirrels create the perfect scenario for an electrical fire. Squirrels are notorious for gnawing through wood support joists in attics, leading to expensive repairs and even roof replacement to prevent collapse.Raccoons
Unlike the cute and cuddly "masked bandits" we see in movies and television, raccoons are anything but charming in real life. They carry a multitude of transmittable diseases, both to humans and pets, and are legendary for their destructive abilities. Raccoons are also vicious fighters when cornered, highly territorial, and, given their size, present a genuine danger to household pets and children. They won't hesitate to run pets away from their food dishes. Bird feeders, garbage cans, and even expensive composting units can be overturned or destroyed in a search for food.
Here in the U.S., rodents cost home and business owners roughly $20 billion in damages every year. In addition to being highly intrusive, and carrying a multitude of diseases, rodents also breed at a rapid pace, making their destructive behavior exponential. They'll chew on just about anything, including wiring. As much as 20% of the undetermined property fires in the U.S. are believed to be started by rodent damage. Irreplaceable family heirlooms, books, artwork, and photographs get shredded for bedding, and disease-laden feces is deposited everywhere.
Rodents can also lead larger pests into your home, like snakes, weasels, and feral cats, in search of an easy food source.