| |
Skunks
Squirrels
Raccoons
Bats
Mice
Rats
Voles
Rabbits
Snakes
Wood Peckers
Prairie Dogs
Honeybees
Wasps
Pigeons
Foxes
Pocket Gophers
|
| Skunks |
| Information: |
- They will feed on almost anything
- They are nocturnal animals
- One litter a year consisting of 2-10 babies
- Birthing months are typically in the spring
- They can spray their noxious odor up to 23 ft, accurately to 10 ft
|
| Nuisance Concern: |
- They typically dwell beneath houses, buildings, decks and sheds
- They like warm, dark, dry defensible places
- They are common carriers of rabies and fleas
|
| Removal: |
- Skunks can not be relocated under state law
- We recommend trapping (most effective) or strobe lights if possible
- After they are trapped we euthanize and dispose of them
|
| Prevention: |
- APCS can provide preventative repairs.
|
| Squirrels |
| Information: |
- They feed on a variety of foods. Such as nuts, seeds, fungi and fruit
- From nose to tail they average the length of 16-18 inches
- They weigh approximately a pound
- Two litters a year consisting of 1-5 babies
- Birthing months are typically in the spring and fall
- Activity is typically during the day
- Live in families of 3 to 5
|
| Nuisance Concern: |
- They nest in trees, attics, or other warm places in a building
- They like warm, safe places
- Can enter attic through loose boards, vents, loose or broken tiles or eaves
- They chew on wood and wiring in the attic
|
| Removal: |
- Trapping and removal is our only recommendation
- APCS will inspect for all possible entries
- APCS then sets 2-3 traps, set outside at the entry point
- Once caught APCS can repair damage |
| Prevention: |
- APCS also has prevention repairs available |
| Raccoons |
| Information: |
- They average 2-3 feet long
- Their average weight is 8-22 pounds
- One litter a year consisting of 3-6 babies
- Birthing months are typically during the spring
- They are nocturnal animals
- They feed on anything they can get their paws on
|
| Nuisance Concern: |
- They look for tall structures were they can enter from the top to dwell in
- They usually occupy attics, chimneys and decks
- They will search for food in garbage cans, dumpsters and pet dishes
- They carry a number of parasites and diseases
- They are the number one carrier of rabies
|
| Removal: |
- Our recommendation is trapping (most effective) or strobe lights
- Remove from chimney w/ strobe light and then a cap should be installed
- Damage can be repaired after the raccoon is caught
|
| Bats |
| Information: |
- They are nocturnal animals
- A single bat can eat up to 1,200 tiny insects in an hour
- They use echolocation to navigate around
- One litter a year consisting of 1-2 babies
- Birthing months are typically in the late spring |
| Nuisance Concern: |
- Only needs a half inch or less of space to enter a house or building
- Guano (droppings) is a fertile ground for a fungal disease called Histoplasmosis, can be transferred to humans who breathe in the fungal spores
- Bat bugs (commonly confused with bed bugs) are usually found along with a colony
- They are known carriers of rabies and other diseases
|
| Removal: |
- Only bates creating a nuisance in dwellings can be legally killed
- APCS installs one way bat doors so that they can get out but not back in
- A week later APCS will pull traps and seal the entry ways (more seal up work may be needed)
- Cleanup services are offered for the guano
|
| Mice |
| Information: |
- 5- 10 litters a year, each litter consisting of 5-6 babies
- They are nocturnal animals
- Travel only 10-30 feet away from nest for food
- Homeowners usually notice their presence by droppings, damage to food, or sounds of them running
|
| Nuisance Concern: |
- Squeeze through crevices as small as ¼ inch wide
- Enter home through open doors or windows, ventilators, floor drains, cracks and breaks in foundation and holes around electric conduits and pipes
- They nest in dresser drawers, closets, garages, kitchens, pantries, bathrooms, furniture, cabinets and walls
- They gnaw on anything, including electrical wires, books and furniture
- They carry many diseases such as salmonellosis |
| Removal: |
- Set bait stations, using anything from blocks, pellets or seeds
- Droppings should not be vacuumed or swept because this could put viruses into the air
- Cleanup is offered if wanted |
| Rats |
| Information: |
- They are nocturnal animals
- 4-6 litters a year, each consisting of 6-12 babies
- Their bodies will be between 6-10 inches long
- Usually nests in attics
- They will eat just about anything, like to eat out of dumpsters and garbage cans |
| Nuisance Concern: |
- They enter into the attics any way that they can
- Urine and feces compiled in attics and around the house can pose serious heath risks
- Extreme damage can be done by their gnawing on furniture, wiring and appliances
|
| Removal: |
- Rat control involves trapping, sealing, baiting and sanitation |
| Voles |
| Information: |
- 1-5 litters a year, each consisting of 3-6 babies
- They are active anytime, day or night
- Their bodies measure 5-8 inches long, including their tail
- They dig many short, shallow burrows and make underground nests of grass, steams and leaves
|
| Nuisance Concern: |
- They feed on roots of garden plants, vegetables, grass and juniper bushes
- Damage that occurs under snow cover often escapes notice till it is too late
- Vole damage can be indicated by gnaw marks, droppings, runaways and burrows
|
| Removal: |
- APCS recommend the use of baits as being the quickest and most efficient means of control, which does not produce any secondary poisoning to pets or other wildlife |
| Rabbits |
| Information: |
- 2-3 litters a year, each typically consisting of 5-6 babies
- All hours of activity, but mainly activity is during the night
- Their bodies measure from about 15 to 18 inches long
- They weigh between two and three pounds
|
| Nuisance Concern: |
- They feed on vegetation, usually any plant they can reach
- Damage to lawn, gardens and shrubbery is the most common
|
| Removal: |
- There are chemical taste and odor repellents, but these only have limited amount of protection
- Motion active spraying devices will work but are restricted to a certain time a year due to water restrictions
- APCS recommends traps for population control
|
| Snakes |
| Information: |
- Numerous species of snakes, only the rattle snake is poisonous snake native to Colorado
- They live in a variety of habitats
- All snakes are carnivores
|
| Nuisance Concern: |
- DO NOT provoke or attempt to handle any snake!!!!
- If you are bitten by a venomous snake you should immediately seek medical attention at a hospital
|
| Removal: |
- The ONE AND ONLY way to take care of your problem is with physical removal of the snake
|
| Prevention: |
- Temporary deterrents |
| Wood Peckers |
| Information: |
- One litter per year, consisting of a 6 egg average
- Lay eggs early summer
- They feed on wood dwelling insects, berries, and tree sap
- They are active during the day
|
| Nuisance Concern: |
- They will drill holes usually on the side of a house
- They typically live in the siding
- They are a giant noise disturbance
|
| Removal: |
- Scare tactics are used to scare the woodpecker away from the house
- APCS can trap them once a deprecation permit is regulated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife
- APCS assists in permitting process
|
Prairie dogs
|
| Information: |
- One litter a year, consisting of 3-8 babies
- Birthing months are typically early spring
- They eat roots and grass
- They are active during the day
|
| Nuisance Concern: |
- They typically dwell out in empty fields
- Occasionally they can get into a person’s yard
- They are carriers of many disease and fleas
- Their burrows soften the soil which can be dangerous to livestock
|
| Removal: |
- APCS can poison the holes and then cover them up (depending on size and scope of job)
- Another way to remove prairie dogs is to extract and catch them live
|
| Honeybees |
| Information: |
- Queen produces eggs from spring to fall
- They feed on nectar and pollen
- They are active during the day
- They are active all year round
|
| Nuisance Concern: |
- If bothered they can sting
- If bees are exterminated the honey and hive will melt and seep anywhere it can go if not removed
|
| Removal: |
- APCS recommends not poisoning the bees because hive and honey will melt
- Hive removal is always recommended
- APCS does a live removal where they vacuum up the bees and remove the hive and a few days later seal the entry OR APCS can go in and treat and remove the bees and a few days later remove the hive
|
| Wasps |
| Information: |
- Queen produces eggs from spring to fall
- They feed on insects
- They are active during the day
- They will die off; however the queen and a few drones will come back and make a new hive
|
| Nuisance Concern: |
- They are aggressive and will sting unprovoked |
| Removal: |
- APCS will treat at the source |
| Pigeons |
| Information: |
- They breed year round, each time consisting of 1-2 eggs
- They are active during the day
- They feed on seeds, grains, fruit, green feed and insects
- They are multiple broods
|
| Nuisance Concern: |
- Once they establish a residence they will never leave
- They are a great noise disturbance
- They leave unwanted droppings everywhere
- They nest mainly on roof tops
|
| Removal: |
- APCS can trap and remove the pigeons
- APCS can use several bird deterrent products
- Cleanup and repairs are available
|
| Foxes |
| Information: |
- One litter a year, consisting of 3-9 babies
- Birthing months are typically in the spring
- Solitary except during rearing, pups leave in the fall
- They will feed on any meat and native fruits
- They are active during day and night, mainly during dawn and dusk
|
| Nuisance Concern: |
- They leave the carcass they feed on lying around
- They burrow under decks and porches
- They may carry diseases and fleas
|
| Removal: |
- Foxes can not be relocated under state law
- Exclusions of porches, decks, etc.
- APCS can trap and euthanize if wanted
|
Pocket Gophers
|
| Information: |
- One litter a year, consisting of 3-6 babies
- Birthing months are typically in the spring
- They feed on roots and vegetation
- They are active during the day and night
- Will build 1-3 mounds per day
|
| Nuisance Concern: |
- Damage to the grass and garden in your yard is most common
- Destroy vegetation from the roots
- Their burrows soften the soil which can be dangerous to livestock
|
| Removal: |
- APCS uses a burrow treatment to eliminate the problem of pocket gophers |
Dead Animal Removal
|
|
Dead animal removal can be difficult. Animal and Pest Control Specialists technicians are experienced in crawling in hot attics and under dirty homes, often in hazardous conditions, to sniff out the animal, remove, decontaminate if necessary, and later dispose of the carcass in a proper manner. All technicians are equipped with the proper tools and respirators if needed for safety.
Here are the most common situations:
|
- Dead rat, squirrel or raccoon in the attic.
- Dead skunk or raccoon under the porch, patio or shed.
- Dead rat, mouse, squirrel in the wall.
- Dead bird in vent or Chimney.
- Dead raccoons or squirrels in Chimney.
- Or, simply, a dead animal in the yard |
It's not a pleasant job. Nevertheless, dead animal removal is a necessary service. |
|
|
