Groundhogs – Protect Your Yard and Garden

These large rodent looking mammals are not just about telling you how soon the spring is coming.  They commonly become pests when they start destroying gardens and put building foundations at risk.

Groundhogs (also known as woodchucks and marmots) are hibernators - they sleep from October to March. But once grasses and forbs appear, the groundhogs start eating them. They also like to eat tree leaves, fruits and vegetables. Many home owners reported woodchucks eating unripe tomatoes and apples that fall on the ground.

Aside from eating plants, they like to gnaw (chew) on things and make holes in the ground. Even if plants are located really close to the house, it makes no difference. The crop is just too attractive to woodchucks and they will go after it.

Commonly, they are seen out in the open, but if not, you can detect their presence by the clues they leave behind: chewed wood and plants. Their tooth markings are similar to that of a rabbit, but slightly larger.

Cute or Aggressive?

Typically, groundhogs will not go out of their way to attack household pets if they are not threatened. However, they often stand their ground and sometimes attack by biting.

If you suspect a groundhog (or a family of them) is living in your yard, please give us a call. We will assess the situation and safely remove them if found.

Carpenter Ants Can Actually Destroy Your House…

What are these large black ants you see in your house? Are you seeing them in your kitchen and your bathroom... or by the front door? Most ants you see inside your home are small and brown. But the large ants, also known as carpenter ants, actually build above ground nests in cavities. Nest building and cavity expansion by these ants can cause damage if nests occur inside a house. Carpenter ants are very common. They live on every continent except for South Pole. They are one of the most aggressive wood destroyers. Similar to termites, they damage wood. But unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood. Carpenter ants they make holes inside the wood to establish and expand their nests. While they don't destroy homes nearly as much as termites, their nesting habits can do a lot of damage to the wood which is the main material used for building framing. What can you do as a homeowner to protect yourself from these insects? Prevention is the key. Eliminate sources of moisture. Carpenter ants love to establish their nests inside moist wood. Seal up their entry points. Inspect outside walls of your home. Pay specials attention to the areas near ground or foundation. Seal any holes, cracks or crevices with clear caulk. This will keep away not only ants, but other unwelcome insects, like spiders. Do not store wood near your house. Keep any firewood, yard waste, etc. away from your actual living areas. Is problem with carpenter ants getting out of control? Call us for help. As a professional pest control company, we have access to insecticides and bates that are not available to the general public and our experience allows us to locate and address ant infestations faster and easier than the average homeowner.

Winter Dangers - Rats

The most common rat infesting homes is the Norway Rat. They typically live about one year, but in some cases may survive longer. Female rats may have up to seven litters of young per year. Rats don't hibernate. Winter nights can mean a rat in a house. Rats are most common in roof spaces, cellars and cupboards. They can also live in the walls. Rats leave tooth marks - they gnaw through soft metals, such as lead and aluminum. Chewing wiring is a the biggest problem caused by both rats and squirrel in the winter – it can lead to house fires. Rats can destroy or contaminate food supplies. Their feces and urine are a source of gastrointestinal diseases such as Salmonellosis and E-coli infections. They also cause respiratory diseases such as Hantavirus.

Grey Squirrel Habits – Did you Know?

Grey Squirrels like to use the same trails over and over which helps them move rapidly through the trees.

During the mating season which is twice a year, winter and summer, you may see more activity and chasing than usual. You may notice noisy chases through the tree tops in late January or February and again in late June or July. Following pregnancy, which lasts for 45 days, the litter of 3 to 5 young is born.

When gray squirrels bury a nut, they dig a hole that is about 3 to 4 inches deep, put the nut inside of it, push it down whit their nose. Then they pull the soil over it with their front paws. Later, when they want to retrieve the nut, they return to the general area where it was buried and try to locate it by the smell of a nut or by squirrels' own scent left behind when they pushed a nut with their nose.

Squirrels don't remember where they hide every nut and often come across nuts buried by other squirrels if they happen to be in the same general location the squirrels search.

During warmer season grey squirrels are most active in the morning and the evening, avoiding the worst heat of the day. They do not hibernate during clod months. They produce a variety of noises, including a mouse-like squeaking or a chatter.

Mice in your house? What to do?

A mouse is a small mammal belonging to the order of rodents. Most common one is so called house mouse. The reason they become a pest problem is because they seek shelter and food and often find it in our homes.

How do I know I have mice in my place?
The signs that mice are present are their droppings, gnawing, squeaking, damage to food, food containers or other materials. Mice constantly leave feces and urinate in the areas they frequent. Their droppings are about 1/8 to 1 inch in length and pointed at both ends.

What are the dangers?

All rodents, including mice, carry and spread various diseases and can transmit diseases by way of their feces or urine, infecting food they come in contact with and or contamination of food by urine and or feces, or by coming in contact with your house pets. Mice are responsible for causing injuries to people who at times become alarmed to such a degree that their reaction causes them to injure themselves in many different ways, the most common injury being fractures or broken bones.
What should I do if I suspect there are mice in my house?

Baltimore Animal Control Services provides complete mouse control (mice control) by proofing, trapping, removing, and cleaning your house / apartment. Please call at 443-562-9509 as soon as possible.

Bats in Your House or Attic

There are over 900 kinds of bats, but one we see the most in United States is the big brown bat.

Bats are one of the most beneficial mammals in the world. They eat tons of insects each night and they are extremely important for the overall well-being of the ecosystem. Bat is the only true flying mammal.

Despite their "big brown" name, bats are quite small. They can often enter where the sides of a house meet the roof or chimney.

Unlike other rodents, bats do not physically harm your home. But their presence in the house is considered a health hazard. If they are present in a home long enough large amounts of guano or urine can build up. Histoplasmosis (also known as "Cave disease", "Darling's disease", or "Ohio valley disease") is commonly found in bird and mammal droppings here on the East Coast of US. Symptoms of this infection vary greatly, but the disease primarily affects the lungs and sometimes can be fatal in humans.

Like most of other wildlife, bats can carry rabies.

As long as the bat never touches anyone, there is no need to worry about transmitting any diseases. Otherwise, anyone that comes in direct, unprotected contact with bats should receive rabies post-exposure examination and treatment from a health-care provider.

The best way to get rid of bats is to exclude them. Bats that live in a house must still go out each night to hunt. If they can't get back into your house in the morning, they will have to go somewhere else to live. But in Maryland, this must not be done during spring because that's the time when babies are born and still unable to fly. Only a licensed professional will be able to accurately assess your bat situation. If you suspect you may have bats living in your house or attic, please call AtOnce Wildlife Control at 443-562-9509 for assistance.

Why Squirrels in Your House are Dangerous?

The presence of squirrels in your attic can mean anything from small wire damage, to electrical surge or even fire. The government estimates that there are about 60,000 residential fires of "unknown cause" each year in the US. About 25% of the fires are attributed to squirrels, mice and roof rats chewing on the wiring. If you have rodents, such as squirrels, in your attic - you most likely have some wire damage.

Rodent comes from ORDER RODENTIA (from the Latin word rodere, "to gnaw"). The front teeth of an average squirrel grow about 6 inches in length each year. Because of it they constantly need to gnaw and chew to keep their teeth short enough to be able to eat. Otherwise their teeth would grow too long and they would starve.

Bottom line - Squirrels do an enormous amount of wire damage. The longer you have squirrels in your house - the more wire damage they will cause. Call AtOnce Wildlife Solutions at 443-562-9509 as soon as possible if you suspect that squirrels (or other rodents) moved into your attic.

Tip: It's is a myth that placing moth balls in the attic will help you get rid of the squirrels. Using Moth Balls in the attic is illegal in all 50 States because it is toxic to both humans and house pets. Most moth balls are made from naphthalene (EPA has classified naphthalene as a Group C, possible human carcinogen.) The gas emitted from moth balls is heavier than air and will seep from your attic into the living areas. Rodents like mice and squirrels will get used to the smell of moth balls, and will not be affected. Humans and pets, however, can suffer health conditions.

AtOnce Wildlife Solutions is Baltimore based Wildlife Trapping and Removal company. We specialize in animal control, trapping wild animals, nuisance removal and pest control. For more information about us, please visit www.baltimoreanimalcontrolservices.com.