Food Sources: Although some species of bats rely on a majority of fruits to survive, bats typically survive by feasting on a number of insects. They fill themselves with a variety of bugs including, but not limited to: moths, mosquitos, beetles, crickets, ladybugs, spiders, and daddy long-legs. Bats will consume water, but minimal amounts are needed due to their small size.
Bed Bugs
Dangers: Chewing is a dangerous tactic flying squirrels are equipped with. Not only will chewing allow them entry in to the structure, but their preference to chew on electric and utility wires poses quite the fire hazard. Flying squirrels also chew through drywall, wood, and all other types of materials. Though rabies is not commonly reported in flying squirrels, they carry ectoparasites (fleas, ticks, bed bugs, lice) that are easily transferred to other surfaces, pets, and humans. They also can carry typhus, which is extremely rarely passed to humans.
Fleas
Dangers: The largest danger with these creatures is that some can be venomous; a venomous snake bite can end a life. Snakes have teeth that are replaced throughout its life - snakes could also bite or attack if they feel threatened. Snake bodies can also become homes for a large number of parasites (tapeworms, round worms, mice, ticks, fleas etc.) and these organisms are easily transferred to humans or other animals.
Bees
Ticks
Dangers: The largest danger with squirrels is their chewing abilities. Not only will chewing allow them entry in to the home, but squirrels prefer to chew on electric and utility wires (fire hazard), drywall, wood, and all other types of materials. Squirrels will chew on drywall for calcium deposits. Although this may appear that they are attempting to gain entry, once they reach light, they will move on to another area. Squirrels also carry ectoparasites (fleas, ticks, bed bugs, lice) that are easily transferred to other surfaces, pets, and humans.
A. No, all bats do not have rabies. That being said, bats CAN carry rabies. If a bat is captured within your property, it is recommended to have the bat tested by your local health department.
Moles
Food Sources: Skunks are scavengers, similar to raccoons, in that they can make use of just about any food source. They will feed on a mixture of small reptiles (lizards, snakes, frogs, salamanders) small mammals (rodents, chipmunks, moles) as well as birds, leaves, grass, nuts, berries, and an assortment of other items. Skunks are main predators to honey bees. Their strong, thick fur protects against stings.
Raccoons
Description: Raccoons are four legged, nocturnal, tailed mammals native to North America. Their sizes can range from 15-25+ inches and they can weigh anywhere from 7 to 20 pounds. Raccoons have a grayish colored fur with a long (8"-15" inches) tail and specific tail/face markings which are usually black or dark brown in color. Raccoons are equipped with an "undercoat" of fur. This coat protects the animal in cold weather. Raccoons are known for their superb intelligence, climbing abilities, as well as their extremely dexterous paws. They are like humans in that they have opposable thumbs, allowing them to easily open and access a number of areas that many other forms of wildlife would find impossible. Once considered solitary animals, recent studies show that raccoons do indeed participate in gender specific activities. Females seems to gather together in a central area while males (usually in groups of no more than 4) will join together to protect their territories (ranging up to 7 acres) against invading males during the mating season.
Snakes
Trappro humanely excludes snakes that have gained access to your house, attic, walls, barn, roof, chimney, shed or other areas of your home. Snakes will be trapped and removed. Snake skins and other messes made by snakes will be safely removed from walls, attics, sheds etc. Dead snakes or baby snakes will also be carefully removed if found in your home in Maryland, Washington DC or Northern Virginia.
Description: Opossums tend to look somewhat like a giant rat. They have long pointed snouts and skinny naked tails. Opossums have the most teeth of any mammal (50), opposable thumbs, gray fur on the main body, 4 legs, and their skinny naked tail is prehensile (can wrap around tree limbs and such for short term suspension). They average out to be approximately the size of a large house cat; approximately 10 to 14 pounds. Opossums are North America's only marsupial, meaning they raise their young in a pouch (like kangaroo's). Opossums are nocturnal animals and are rarely seen in the daylight hours. Opossums are excellent climbers, spending much of their time in above ground areas. Their sharp claws and prehensile tail aid in their search of altitude. While they are not very fast animals, they will stand their ground when being threatened by bearing their teeth. In dire circumstances, they are known for playing dead. They will fall over and, surprisingly enough, doing so works as an excellent mechanism against predators or danger. Opossums CAN be aggressive if need be. Hissing or squawking noises are common.
Coyotes
Life-Span & Reproduction: The mating season for flyers begins in February and continues through the month of March. After a gestation period of about 40 days, a litter of up to 7 young are born without any capabilities of their own. The young are born in a nest; at first appearing naked and helpless. Their internal organs are visible through the skin. They are cared for by their mother as the males do not participate in nurturing the offspring at all. By 5 weeks old, they are almost fully developed and are able to practice gliding skills. They will continue to practice hopping and gliding during the first few months of life until they are successful. Their skills are perfected after approximately 2 and ½ months and they are ready to leave the nest. Flying squirrels can live up to 6 years in the wild and up to 15 years in captivity. The mortality rate in young flying squirrels is high because of predators and diseases. Several animals serve as predators for flying squirrels, hence them being nocturnal in an effort to avoid as many as possible. Predators of flying squirrels include, but are not limited to, coyotes, raccoons, owls, coyotes, feral cats, and tree snakes.
Dangers: Bird nesting and droppings left behind can lead to serious health problems for humans and domestic animals. Pest birds can harbor over 40 types of parasites and host internally over 60 types of infectious diseases that can be spread. Humans are most at risk for infection when dried bird droppings become airborne. Physically touching feces doesn't touch the risk associated with inhaling what is traveling through air vents and open windows. Infections and diseases associated with birds include, but are not limited to, histoplasmosis (a respiratory disease that can be fatal), cryptococcosis (begins as a pulmonary disease and may damage the central nervous system), e-coli, and louis encephatlitis (an inflammation of the nervous system that can ultimately result in paralysis, coma, or death). In addition to being direct carriers of disease and infection, birds are associated with over 50 kinds of ectoparasites. Ectoparasites work their way throughout structures, infest, and then attack. These pests include, but are not limited to, bed bugs, mealworms, and chicken mites. Bird droppings accumulate quickly, so removal and exclusion at the earliest sign of activity is the best line of defense.
Woodpeckers
Life Span & Reproduction: Birds reproduce by internal fertilization, which means the egg is fertilized while inside the female. The hard-shelled egg develops within the female with a thin membrane forming a closed sac around the embryo. The eggs are typically then laid in a nest. Bird eggs come in many different colors in an effort to camouflage them from predators. For additional protection, different bird species build different style nests. Some are more elaborately shaped, while some birds skip the entire nest and lay their eggs on a cliff. The birthing process for birds bases much off of the avoidance of being preyed upon. Likewise, in very general terms, the larger a bird is, the longer it's life expectancy. For small birds, the average life expectancy may be as little as two years. This short life expectancy is due to the many hazards birds face from birth. These hazards include, but are not limited to, predators, diseases, accidents, migration, starvation, habitat loss, and hunting. Some individual birds have survived surprisingly long, including a cardinal (13.5 years), a black-capped chickadee (10 years), and an American goldfinch (7 years). There have been woodpeckers to survive in the wild for 20 years. Many waterfowl have longevity records between 30 and 40 years. Captive birds, protected from the hazards of nature, have much longer life spans.
Sparrows
Food Sources: In the wild, a bird's diet usually depends on its size. Birds like sparrows and finches eat seeds, worms and other small invertebrates, as well as insects like crickets or mosquitoes. There are so many types of birds out there that have each adapted to the power of flight a little bit differently. Baby birds rely on their parents to feed them. Parent birds, either one or both, leave their young in nests and return with food already digesting in their stomachs. The parents then regurgitate the food to feed their offspring.
Starlings
Trappro humanely removes birds that have gained access to your attic, walls, shed or other areas of your home. Birds including pigeons, starlings, sparrows and woodpeckers will be trapped and removed. Bird nests, droppings and other messes made by birds will be safely removed from walls of your house, attics, sheds etc. Dead birds or baby birds will also be carefully removed if found in your home in Maryland, Washington DC or Northern Virginia.
Pigeons
Trappro provides humane wildlife trapping, removal, and exclusion of squirrels, flying squirrels, opossums, raccoons, beavers, birds (including pigeons), bats, groundhogs, skunks, foxes, mice, rats, snakes, and feral cats. Our technicians are trained in odor removal, which includes location and extraction of the odor source. They are also trained in the removal of hazardous material, including animal carcasses, all types of debris, animal excretions, bird nesting material, and much more.
Description: Known for their burrowing abilities, groundhogs are large rodents (larger than the average cat) fairly exclusive to North America although they inhabit some parts of Canada. They can measure up to 2' ft. long with a 6" long tail with a weight of 5 or more lbs. Their short limbs are a very powerful digging tool when paired with their sharp curved claws. Groundhogs will burrow for sleeping purposes, rearing young or hibernation. Most burrows have two or more entry/exit points to avoid predators and attain a quick escape if needed. They are typically active during the daylight hours but go in to hibernation in late October until March or early April. Groundhogs are not communal animals, but multiples can be found in burrows for warmth.
Mice
Rats
Description: Gray squirrels are four-legged, with an 8" to 10" long body and a bushy tail typically just as long as the body. They are usually gray or brownish in color (colors will be extremely varied from location to location). These animals are excellent climbers. They are the most intrusive and territorial nuisance wildlife. We service more squirrel eradications than any other simply due to that fact. Squirrels will continue to inhabit a given area or structure until they are forced to re-locate. Typically, squirrels are in families of 2 or more, but they are more than capable of surviving solely. Squirrels do not hibernate and are typically active throughout the daytime hours. Squirrels often use a number of gestures and "barks" or vocalizations to converse with one another, much like mice or rats.
Squirrels
Trappro humanely removes flying squirrels squirrels that have gained access to your attic, walls, shed or other areas of your home. Flying squirrels will be trapped and removed. Flying squirrel nests, droppings and other messes made by flying squirrels will be safely removed from walls, attics, sheds etc. Dead flying squirrels or baby flying squirrels will also be carefully removed if found in your home in Maryland, Washington DC or Northern Virginia. If you hear sounds in the walls of your home, noises in the attic or see squirrels on your roof call us today.