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What should you do if you have a snake problem?
January 27th, 2012

There are probably very few people out there who like having snakes around them. At best, you don’t want to get closer to them than looking through a thick glass cage at the zoo.

Most humans naturally fear snakes and most urban residents can’t readily distinguish a poisonous snake from a non-poisonous snake. There are farmers and ranchers in rural areas who encourage certain non-poisonous snakes to take up residence in a barn, for example, to keep the rodent population down. But most people would prefer to get a cat instead!

As harmless as some snakes can be, most people don’t want them around and in that case they are a nuisance, and removing a snake from your property can be a dangerous proposition.

 

When you have a problem with snakes

The truth is that non-poisonous snakes are not a problem. Some handlers have been bit hundreds of times with no adverse effects. The harm done by a non-poisonous snake largely involves creating fear and maybe stress on the part of the victim; however, bacterial infections can occur at the site of the bite.

A bite from a poisonous snake is a different thing. It will cause swelling, turn tissue dark blue-black, and cause tingling and nausea. A pit viper bite, from copperheads, rattlesnakes, and cottonmouths like those that make their homes in southern Louisiana, show two fang marks. Poisonous snake bites can also cause death but that danger is probably exaggerated in the minds of most people; however, side effects can cause long term disability or possibly loss of limb.

How to keep snakes away

The best way to get rid of snakes is to take away their habitat. Outdoors this might mean removing shelter from wood piles or raised structures like patios and decks. Snakes can also reside in heavy vegetation so keep your gardens neat and trim if possible and the grass cut.

Snakes also like to get indoors when conditions are suitable, especially if they are attracted to rodents and insects which are the major sources of food for snakes. Snakes often like cool, dark, and damp areas associated with buildings.

You have to close off all entry points to keep a snake out of a house or building. That includes openings 1/4 inch and larger. Places to check are corners of doors and windows, and around water pipes and electrical service openings. Holes in masonry should be sealed with mortar, and holes in wooden buildings can be sealed with mesh, hardware cloth or sheet metal.

If none of these methods work, or you just don’t have the time or patience to manage this checklist, it is time to call a professional.

Safely removing snakes

If you are one of the many people that can’t tell a poisonous snake from a harmless one, do not attempt to deal with your own snake problem. However, if you are brave enough to try a “do it yourself method” there are several brands of snake traps and repellants on the market.

But ultimately the best way to deal with a snake problem is catch and removal, and this should always be done by a trained wildlife control professional . Dial One Franklynn Pest Control uses humane catch and remove wildlife control methods, and is also a state approved wildlife removal company.

 


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What should you do if you have a raccoon problem?
January 13th, 2012

You probably know what a raccoon looks like. They are a common animal and most of us grew up thinking they were cute. With that bandit-like black mask across their eyes, they are distinctive and can’t be missed.

Raccoons have a wide range across America, and unfortunately, they have become used to living with and around humans. They do not fear us as a predator. Yet, we can certainly fear or, at least, be annoyed by their behavior when they’ve decided to take up residence nearby, sometimes even in our homes.

When you have a raccoon problem

You obviously do not want a raccoon problem. They can cause damage or just be a plain nuisance. When you note some unwanted to damage to your property or even a problem with a pet, you often can identify raccoons as your problem by their distinctive tracks.

While few New Orleans area residents keep poultry, raccoons can wreak havoc on them in more rural areas such as the NorthShore. They’ll kill young poultry and steal eggs from a nest, eating them on the spot.

Raccoons can also destroy the nests of your favorite song bird or even a wood duck nesting box. They’ll damage your vegetable garden or destroy your backyard watermelon patch. They’ll steal your pet’s food and scare and annoy that pet.

Worst of all, they may invade your home, the attic or even the chimney, and use the space for their new home. They’ll tear up your attic and it will be become their personal outhouse. It is not a situation that you can tolerate for very long. They’ll tear open the fascia to get into the attic. They’ll even tear up a screen door to get to that pet food.

Of all the wild animals you encounter, the raccoon is the most likely one to carry rabies, which is 100% fatal in humans if not treated.

 

How to prevent and control damage

The best method to prevent and control damage is to keep raccoons out when possible. Use tightly covered doors and windows on buildings when you want to keep them out. They are good climbers and are capable of bypassing many fences.

You also have to eliminate their food source, which means keeping your garbage cans equipped with tight fitting lids that will defeat the animal’s efforts to get in. Also if you have pets and store the food in the garage, make sure it’s stored within a metal container or one that’s difficult to open.

You can also cap and screen your chimney to prevent access to the attic, and you can remove overhanging limbs that enhance a raccoon’s access to your roof.

Trap and remove

Trapping is the preferred method for getting rid of raccoons but it’s not quite as easy as it sounds. Raccoons are crafty animals and very comfortable around humans. As such, they are often trap-shy and hard to catch. What’s worse if you could potentially trap the wrong type of animal such as the neighbor’s dog or cat! And even if you do capture the animal, you should bring it at least 10 miles away to release it – and be careful when you do!

If yourraccoon trapping efforts fail and you aren’t successful with trapping on your own, it’s time to call a professional. Dial One Franklynn Pest Control uses trap and remove nuisance wildlife control methods, and we are also a state approved wildlife removal company.

 

 

 

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What should you do if you have an opossum problem?
December 23rd, 2011

What’s that big “rat” you saw in the headlights last night on the way home from the LSU Game? It could well be an opossum if you live in south Louisiana.

Opossums are found throughout most of America, except the western plains states, and usually resemble big gray rats. They are mammals usually about the size of a house cat. They can and often are a nuisance animal in human areas. They have prominent canine teeth, which are just plain fangs.

Opossums can live in a variety of habitat, from wooded areas to open fields. They like to be near water. They take shelter in the burrows of other animals, tree cavities, brush piles and under other cover. They can become a nuisance near humans.

 

When you have an opossum problem

The biggest problem for humans is an opossum takes shelter in attics or garages. When they do so, they cause a horrible mess. Near humans, they’ll get into garbage, bird feeders, and pet food. They’ll destroy poultry, game birds and their nests.

And never try to corner or trap on opossum on your own as they can and will bite with their very sharp teeth!

How to prevent and control damage

The best method to control damage from armadillos  is to try and keep them away when possible. Step one is to remove the source of food, or contain it in a method that makes it difficult or impossible to get to for the animal. That may mean you have to store garbage cans with tight fitting lids that will defeat the animal’s efforts to get in.

Step two is to make it difficult for them to find shelter. A common hiding place in Louisiana homes is near a wood pile for firewood or underneath raised structures like decks or patios. It’s also a good idea to use tightly covered doors and windows on buildings when you want to keep them out. They are good climbers and are capable of bypassing many fences.

If possible, sometimes you can hot wire a fence with an electric charger and that increases the fence’s effectiveness.

Trap and remove

The good news is that opossums are not especially trap wary, and are relatively easy to trap and remove. You can avoid using kill-traps and you can also use bait that will appeal to opossums and not to cats or dogs, for example.

However, even if you catch one in a trap, releasing them is not easy as opossums can be dangerous when cornered as mentioned earlier. That is why we always recommend letting the professionals to set and remove traps for this large of an animal.

If exclusion efforts fail and if you can’t encourage them just to go someplace else, call Dial One Franklynn Pest Control. Dial One Franklynn uses trap and remove nuisance wildlife control  methods, and we are also a state approved wildlife removal company.

 

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What should you do if you have an armadillo problem?
December 12th, 2011

Once you’ve seen an armadillo, you can’t miss it the next time you see one.

Armadillos are fairly small, weighing about eight to seventeen pounds. It is about the size of an opossum. It can roll its protective armor, covering its head, body, and tail, up into a ball.

Armadillos are burrowing animals and the damage they cause is related to the way they build their dens and look for food. They are used to humans and you often can find one living much too close. And unfortunately, they are becoming all too common near homes and businesses across southern Louisiana.

 


Armadillos may be cute, but they can cause problems

Just because armadillos appear cute and harmless does not mean you want them around your yard as they can not only be a nuisance, but they can also cause real damage to your property. They will root in your lawn, your vegetable garden and even your flower beds. They’ll dig up your yard looking for their favorite foods, grubs and earthworms.

Worse, they can undermine foundations, sidewalks, and driveways. Sometimes, they’ll even keep you awake at night, rubbing their shells against your house.

And never forget, armadillos may also carry bacteria that can cause leprosy. So no matter what you do, never try to handle or catch these animals yourself!

How to prevent and control damage

People usually turn to armadillo traps first to try and contain the problem. The traps must be large enough to allow the armadillo to enter as they may not be able to enter smaller traps with their large shells. However, successfully baiting these traps can be a problem as armadillos prefer worms which are not easy to keep in a conspicuous place.

The best method to prevent and control armadillo damage is exclusion, when possible. Armadillos can climb and burrow but you can use a fence to keep them out. You have to slant the fence outward to prevent climbing and you have to bury part of the fence to prevent burrowing. The cost of this type of exclusion can add up, and you may well not want to have an outward facing fence running all around your property line.

You can also discourage their residence close by with removing anything they can use for cover. They do not like having their burrows our in the open and will go someplace else to find cover.

Trap and remove

If exclusion efforts fail and if can’t encourage them just to go someplace else, it’s time to call a nuisance wildlife control professional. Dial One Franklynn Pest Control uses traps to humanely remove nuisance wildlife and relocate them to a more appropriate area. We are also a state approved wildlife removal company which means we have received special training and certifications in the safe and humane methods for dealing with animals such as armadillos when they get too close for comfort.

 

 

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