Lions, and Tigers, and Bears! Oh My!

Nearly everyone remembers the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Before Dorothy and her friends Scarecrow and Tinman meet up with the Cowardly Lion on their way to Oz, they hear strange sounds coming from the forest. A frightened Dorothy asks if there are any wild animals in the woods. Scarecrow and Tinman tell her there are Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, which they all begin to chant and to which Dorothy adds, “Oh my!”

It’s unlikely that you’ll meet up with any of these creatures in your backyard, but because of its great diversity of habitat types, Florida is home to more wildlife species than most other states. So you may find some less exotic animals on your property creating a nuisance and understanding why they are there is key to resolving the problem.

Snakes

Florida has approximately 45 species of snakes of which only six are venomous. According to the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the University of Florida, snake bites related deaths have occurred at a rate of about one every four or five years in the state. IFAS goes on to say that mortality figures for lightning strikes and bee stings are much greater.

Snakes are actually beneficial to the environment. They eat insects, rats, mice, worms, toads, frogs, fish and some snakes even eat other snakes, including the venomous ones. You could just give them their space and leave them alone. They’re not aggressive and don’t chase after people. But if snakes are a problem for you, IFAS says their visits to your yard and home can be reduced by eliminating firewood stacks, debris, boards and other objects lying close to the ground. These create the cool, damp and dark shelter or prey habitat areas that snakes prefer.

There are no repellents, poisons or fumigants registered for snakes. They can be removed from inside buildings with the use of a glueboard or funneled minnow trap. Glueboards are sold at hardware stores while minnow traps are available at bait and tackle shops. Finally, a broom can also be used to sweep a snake into a trash can for removal outside.

Armadillos

Armadillos weren’t always present in Florida. They migrated from Texas into the Florida Panhandle and then over a 50 year period, from about 1920 to 1970, there were several introductions of armadillos into the Atlantic coast region of Florida. Soon, the Panhandle and the coastal populations merged, so that armadillos are now found in uplands throughout the state.

More than 90 percent of an armadillo’s diet is made up of insects and their larvae that live in the soil. In addition, they feed on earthworms, scorpions, spiders and other invertebrates, so it’s no surprise that they cause damage by rooting in lawns, vegetable gardens and flower beds. Since they live in dens, they can also cause damage to foundations, driveways and other structures with their burrowing.

There are also no successful repellents, poisons or fumigants for armadillos. Although it is possible, live-trapping armadillos is very difficult. Shooting is an effective method, but discharging firearms is illegal in some areas. Armadillo meat is edible and recipes include baked or barbecued armadillo and armadillo and rice.

Bats

We reported this past Spring that real bats eat bugs and that they do not turn people into vampires (see Real Bats Eat Bugs, April 27, 2012). In fact, bats are beneficial. One bat can eat up to 3,000 insects in a night. They are also pollinators of countless plants and essential seed dispersers. Despite the fact that they are beneficial, nonetheless, no one wants one in their home.

Most bats are able to squeeze through slits and cracks no wider than 3/8”. Most likely, a bat that has found its way into your home has lost its way or come in accidentally through an open window or door. Remain calm and the bat will probably leave on its own. During the past 30 years, only eight human fatalities in the U.S. and Canada have been attributed to rabid bats. More people die annually from dog attacks, bee stings, lightning and household accidents. Bats are protected under Florida law and it is illegal to willfully kill them, so don’t attempt to poison or exterminate them.

Woodpeckers

Despite the fact that cartoon classic Woody Woodpecker has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a woodpecker would still not be a welcome guest in your home. They cause damage by drilling holes in wood and synthetic stucco siding and eaves, and are an annoyance when hammering or “drumming” on houses. This predominantly springtime behavior is generally done on resonant dead tree trunks or limbs to attract mates, establish or defend a territory, to excavate nesting or roosting sites and to search for insects, but your home will do.

Damage can be prevented or eliminated with several techniques. including visual repellents, loud noises, exclusion, alternate construction materials, providing nesting boxes, and as a last resort, killing. Take immediate action to reduce damage because woodpeckers are not easily driven from their territories or pecking sites once they are established.

Raccoons, Skunks and Opossums! Oh My!

These three mammals are opportunistic and have adapted well to city life. They will eat any plant, insect or other animal food that is available. Raccoons have learned that uncapped chimneys make good substitutes for their more traditional hollow den habitats.

Be sure that garbage cans have tightly fitting lids and that the cans are secured to prevent raccoons from tipping them over. Don’t leave pet food out at night and be sure to cap

chimneys. These animals can be kept out from underneath houses by sealing off all possible entrances.

Repellants such as naphthalene crystals and noise-making devices may have limited temporary effectiveness while live traps baited with sardines or cat food are effective for garden damage situations. However, trap and release of these animals is seldom biologically sound. Relocation permits from the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission are required to transport any native wildlife species. Relocation of raccoons is is especially discouraged because of the possible threat of rabies.

There are no easy solutions for eliminating these urban pests, but the trained professionals at Insect Protection Pest Control can help. Call now for your FREE consultation.

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