Tag: Mole Removal

Raccoon Roundworm in Richmond and Charlottesville | Raccoon Trapping, Control and Removal

Animal Damage, Bats, Beavers, Charlottesville, Henrico, Moles, Odor Control, Odor Removal, Opossums, Rabies, Raccoons, Removing Animals From Chimneys, Richmond, Skunks, Snakes, Squirrels, Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, Voles

Raccoon Roundworm

Baylisascaris procyonis (BP) – also known as Raccoon Roundworm is the common roundworm of raccoons in Richmond and Charlottesville, Virginia. Adult BP live in the small intestine of this host, where they produce eggs that are passed in the feces. BP eggs ingested by hatch in the intestine, producing larvae that can migrate widely, causing serious intestinal, eye, or nerve damage. Cases of nerve damage in humans caused by BP likely acquired from raccoons have resulted in severe encephalitis with permanent deficits and in death. Although raccoons are the most common definitive host of BP in North America, some other carnivores, including domestic dogs, can serve as definitive hosts, making them a potential source of human disease. Less well-documented is infection in procyonids other than raccoons. Avoiding contact with feces from potentially infected animals and routine deworming of pets, including dogs and exotic species that might host this parasite, will prevent infection with BP. Our Wildlife Removal Technicians are trained to safely remove and dispose of the primary mechanism for transporting Raccoon Roundworm – the feces of raccoons. Raccoons create toilet areas in attics and other areas of your home. These piles of raccoon feces can pose a significant health risk to you and your family and should only be removed by professionals who are trained and equipped to address this problem. Raccoon feces in your home also contaminates insulation, damages sheet rock and produces unpleasant odors in your home.

We provide humane, fast and efficient trapping, control, exclusion and removal of all species of nuisance animal wildlife pests in Richmond and Charlottesville, VA. Some of the critters we remove include squirrels, raccoons, skunks, snakes, bats, birds, beavers, opossums, groundhogs, moles, voles, etc. Call Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, LLC at (434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975 or visit us on the web at www.virginiaprofessionalwildliferemovalservices.com.

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Opossums in Richmond and Charlottesville, VA | Trapping | Removal | Control & Exclusion

Bats, Beavers, Charlottesville, Golf Courses, Henrico, Moles, Odor Removal, Opossums, Rabies, Raccoons, Removing Animals From Chimneys, Richmond, Skunk Odors, Skunks, Snakes, Squirrels, Voles

Opossum Removal In Virginia

(434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975

Opossum Removal. The opossum (Didelphid virginiana) is definitely the only marsupial in Richmond and Charlottesville Virginia which is a distant relative with the kangaroo. The most known similarity for these close relatives is definitely the female opossum’s abdominal pouch intended for carrying and nurturing young. Unlike its relative, though, the opossum is really a sluggish animal which has a repulsive smell.

Adult opossums in Richmond and Charlottesville are around the proportions of a big cat. They’ve long, light gray hair which includes a scaly tail of approximately one foot. Typically, the opossum likes to start a home within existing structures like hollow logs, garages, under buildings, inside burrows, as well as squirrels’ nests in trees. It likes establishing residence in close proximity to a food source with an easy commute. The opossum is definitely an omnivore, so it’s not picky. Almost anything the marsupial are able to find to eat is likely to make for a meal – fruits, grass, insects, mammals, birds, fish, and carrion. They’re proven to damage Richmond and Charlottesville lawns, too, when digging for grubs.

Opossums aren’t community creatures. Typically, they reproduce once each year but sometimes have two litters producing about 7 offspring each. The count may go up to 13 in the litter, though. Gestation lasts only 13 days, and newborns are merely the dimensions of small bumble bees and partially developed. The young will nurse within the mother’s pouch for the following 3 months while they further develop and mature.

The best approach to get rid of or prevent an infestation by opossums is by exclusionary techniques. Ensure that there aren’t any holes, cracks, or damage of any kind where an opossum could access permanent structures like garage, house, basement, barn, shed, etc. Just before installing a procedure for closure, inspect the premises for infestation. Before you take control measures, check local regulations as opossums may be protected. In the event you aren’t certain of the infesting pest or that you could humanely capture it, we always recommend contacting a pest control management professional like Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, LLC to get an evaluation.

We provide humane and efficient opossum trapping, opossum control, opossum removal and opossum exclusion for the Richmond and Charlottesville areas. We handle all types of nuisance wildlife pests and animal critter trapping and removal. Visit us on the web at www.virginiaprofessionalwildliferemovalservices.com or call us at (434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975.

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What To Look For In A Virginia Nuisance Animal Wildlife Removal And Control Company

Blog, Distemper, Raccoons

Wildlife removal is our specialty. If you are in need of a company in the Richmond or Charlottesville Virginia areas to provide nuisance animal wildlife removal services there are certain things to consider. First, there are two types of companies out there, pest control operators (PCOs) and wildlife control operators (WCOs). Pest control operators (PCOs) are your typical companies that handle bugs, mice and rats. On the other hand, most wildlife control operators (WCOs) do not handle insects, mice and rats–they only handle wildlife. With us, your in luck. We are a dual licensed company capable of providing wildlife removal and pest control services.

Because of the current economy, some pest control companies are attempting to offer wildlife removal services. Unfortunately, most neither have the necessary training, experience and proper state licensing. You would not hire a plumber to repair the wiring in your home or an electrician to do your plumbing. Likewise, you should not hire a bug control company to solve your nuisance wildlife problem. When searching for a company to solve your nuisance animal wildlife problems in the Richmond and Charlottesville Virginia areas or elsewhere, the company you hire should have at a minimum three things:

1. A local business license,
2. Commercial liability insurance, and
3. A Commercial Nuisance Animal Permit – Issued By The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

A company CANNOT get one permit to cover all employees. Each employee is required to have their own permit.

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for references. Just because a company has the three items listed above is no guarantee that they have the knowledge, skills and abilities to solve your Richmond and Charlottesville Virginia nuisance animal wildlife problem. Wildlife control operators do not necessarily consider themselves as trappers. While trapping animals is part of the job, we are problem solvers. No two nuisance animal wildlife problems are the same, and some animal species are extremely unique and are difficult for even the most experienced wildlife control operator (WCO). We tell our customers that the only certainty with nuisance animal wildlife is their uncertainty and unpredictability.

If you live in the Richmond or Charlottesville Virginia area and need a company with the knowledge, skills, abilities, and professionalism to handle your nuisance animal wildlife problem contact Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, LLC at (434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975. We offer the humane and efficient removal of ALL types of animal wildlife. Some of the animals we handle include, but are not limited to: bats, birds, beavers, squirrels, raccoons, snakes, skunks, opossums, groundhogs, moles, voles, foxes, coyotes, muskrats and turtles. Feel free to call us with any of your Richmond or Charlottesville VA animal wildlife problems. If you don’t own a home or business in our service area, we have a network of other wildlife control operators across Virginia that we know and trust that can help you.

We provide residential, commercial and industrial animal trapping, wildlife removal, animal control and wildlife exclusion services 24/7 in the Richmond VA and Charlottesville VA areas and our work is guaranteed!

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Getting Rid of Moles in Richmond & Charlottesville — Not Easily Done

Animal Damage, Charlottesville, Golf Courses, Henrico, Moles, Richmond, Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services

Moles Removal in Richmond & Charlottesville, VA — No Easy Answer
Forget the ground hog, there’s one sure sign spring is on the way popping up in yards all over Richmond and Charlottesville Virginia — mole tunnels. Though moles tunnel actively all year in Richmond and Charlottesville, the tunnels they make in spring and fall are usually more obvious because they are closer to the soil surface. Unfortunately there is no easy, fast solution to rid a yard of moles. Instead, effective mole control relies on patience, persistence, and a little knowledge about their habits and behaviors.

The Ways of Moles in Richmond and Charlottesville, Virginia
Moles generally lead solitary lives in Richmond and Charlottesville and are believed to be fairly territorial. Adult moles reproduce once a year, with females giving birth to between two to five babies in spring.

These young moles strike out on their own when they reach five to six weeks old. Though homeowners often think they have multiple moles living in their yards, this is often not the case. Extensive damage can be caused by one mole, which may create up to 150 feet of new tunnel each day.

Mole Control Options For Richmond and Charlottesville
There are a plethora of home remedies touted for mole control — unfortunately none of them work. Many commercially available products, such as sonic vibration devices and castor bean repellents, have not been scientifically shown to have any effect either. In reality mole control is very difficult and even if you get rid of the mole living in your yard right now there is nothing stopping a new one from moving in. The problem is the conditions where grass grows best, where the soil is well drained, loose, and reasonably fertile, are also the conditions preferred by moles.

Reducing the amount of insects in the soil by broadcasting pesticides throughout your lawn is sometimes touted as way to reduce mole damage, but this is rarely effective and not recommended. Most soil applied pesticides target specific insects, such as white grubs or mole crickets. Moles, on the other hand, eat a wide array of insects with earthworms being one of their favorite foods. Most lawn insecticides do not kill earthworms, which is a good thing because earthworms are highly beneficial to lawns and gardens. In some cases treating your lawn with pesticides can even increase mole activity in the short term because moles will have to tunnel further to find enough insects to eat.

The most effective mole control method is trapping, but successfully trapping moles takes time and patience. Two types of traps are available, live traps and kill traps. To use either successfully you must first find out which tunnels your mole is actively using by mashing them down each day and checking the next day to see which ones have popped back up. Traps should be set in the tunnels that are popped back up and checked daily. Both have their drawbacks — kill traps can be difficult to use and dangerous, while with live traps you must do something with the captured animal. Another option is to hire a wildlife damage control company like Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, LLC to come and trap the moles for you. We provide mole removal, mole control and mole trapping services in Richmond and Charlottesville, VA. Call us today at (434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975 for all of your animal wildlife pest removal problems.

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Expert: Snake could have climbed door

Animal Attacks, Snakes

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 4 (UPI) — A herpetologist says a Louisiana man who claims to have been bitten by a snake hiding in a wreath hanging on his door may be telling the truth.

David Steen, a Florida graduate student and author of a blog on reptiles, told The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune he thinks the snake that bit — or did not bite — Marc Jones of St. Tammany Parish could have been a Texas rat snake. The snakes, despite their name, also live in Louisiana.

Steen said Texas rat snakes are excellent climbers, famed for their ability to climb vertical brick walls looking for food. One could have gotten to the wreath.

Jones says he was bitten on the head in October when he opened the door for a parcel delivery. The story has gone viral online.

“In contrast to many ‘unbelievable’ stories I receive via e-mail, I actually believe this one,” Steen said.

Call us at (434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975 for expert Snake Removal, Snake Control and Snake Trapping in Central Virginia including the Richmond VA and Charlottesville VA areas.

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Squirrels nesting in your Charlottesville or Richmond Virginia home for the winter?

Charlottesville, Henrico, Richmond, Squirrels

As we turn up the heat to beat the cold temperatures, squirrels are trying to do the same thing. Squirrels will leave their leafy homes behind in the wintertime and go somewhere warmer like a hollow tree or your Richmond or Charlottesville Virginia house.

Squirrels don’t realize that they are going into your house. They see a weak/rotten spot in the house, and in the eyes of the squirrel that’s a really good hollow tree to make home for the winter.

The best way to prevent squirrels from getting into your house is by taking care of the structure of the house and doing regular maintenance. If you’re already having a problem with squirrels, or other pest control problems, contact Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services at (434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975.

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Removing and Controlling Moles and Voles on Richmond, Virginia and Charlottesville Virginia Golf Courses

Charlottesville, Golf Courses, Moles, Richmond, Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, Voles

Mole Removal & Trapping in Central VA

(434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975

mole removalWe currently offer ongoing mole trapping and vole control programs for golf courses, and in taking over the mole control on these courses either from the maintenance crews or from other independent contractors, we have repeatedly seen several key factors that often cause mole and vole control programs on golf courses to fail. All the courses we do have had mole and/or vole control programs of one form or another in place before bringing us on, but none of them had achieved the kind of near 100% control that is possible with the implementation of an optimized trapping program. Listed below are several of what we feel to be the most important factors in determining success.

1. Trapping vs. Fumigation and Baiting of Moles

There is a common misconception that trapping is not as efficient as poisons when dealing with large populations of moles and voles as often exist on golf courses. Nothing could be further from the truth–we’ve seen many courses where populations of hundreds of moles and voles survived poisoning efforts, but were quickly brought down to near zero with an optimized trapping program.

The success of poisons varies widely depending on soil composition and moisture content. Soils that are on the sandy or dry side allow the poisons to diffuse into the soil, and you simply don’t build up a sufficient concentration to kill the moles and voles. And baiting and fumigation are completely ineffective in controlling moles, as their long narrow tunnels make it even less likely that fumigants will build up to lethal levels in their tunnel system.

Trapping can be a devastatingly effective control technique. It’s also a relatively hassle free from a regulatory perspective. No pesticides to buy and store, and no pesticide permits, licenses or notices of intent are required.

 2. Mole Trap Shyness and Trap Avoidance

mole hair caught in trapIf you look closely at the Macabee trap shown at right, you see mole hair between the tines of the sprung trap, but no mole.  Macabees, Easy Sets, and other similar traps may catch juvenile moles on a regular basis, but they just don’t have sufficient spring strength or the proper mechanics needed to catch the larger adults consistently. Many larger adults are pinched in traps, but wriggle free to live another day.  And they do learn from their experience.  Moles that are pinched in ineffective traps and manage to escape will quickly become trap shy and almost impossible to trap. Once they know the danger associated with that foreign object in their tunnel system, they will repeatedly pack dirt against it or simply avoid it altogether.

Creating trap shy moles through the use of marginally effective traps is a disaster for any mole and vole control program. Your staff will spend countless hours of wasted time repeatedly re-setting traps for the same trap shy moles and voles with minimal results, and the trap shy moles and voles will continue to breed and produce offspring that will re-invade tunnel systems on a course.  You may continue to catch many naive younger moles and voles, but without eliminating the larger breeding adults, you will never disrupt the breeding cycle and achieve real population control.

When we take over doing mole and vole control on golf courses usinig our stainless steel traps, we’ll literally haul out buckets of trapped moles and voles.  The superintendents on these courses are often shocked by how efficient our trapping program is compared to results they obtained with their staff using rusty Macabee traps or similarly ineffective traps. Theyr’e also consistently shocked by the size of the moles and voles we catch, as they’re used to seeing the juveniles that their staff catch with less powerfull traps, and they’re not used to seeing the full sized adult moles and voles that we take out with our traps.

 3. Spot Treatment vs. Population Control for Moles

We’ve noticed on many of the golf courses we’ve taken over that due to time constraints, the maintenance staff tend to “spot treat” moles and voles when they get into highly visible areas such as greens, tees, bunkers, and out in the middle of fairways, but often pay less attention to them when they’re in the roughs or other less critical areas. In our view this is a short sighted approach to mole and vole control, because even though those moles and voles in the less critical areas may not be a major concern, they do continue to breed and thus produce an endless supply of moles and voles to re-invade the critical areas of the course.

A more effecitve approach that will result in far better control and will also eat up significantly less staff time in the long run is to shoot for 100% control throughout the grounds. Mole and vole control becomes a vastly easier proposition once you get the population low enough to break the breeding cycle. You’ll always have to trap moles and voles invading from the perimeter, but this is a very easy proposition compared to constantly trying to keep pace with the natural increase of a breeding population.

 Consultations for Moles

We do a lot of work on golf courses as part of our service business, and we enjoy talking with golf course superintendents about mole and vole control, so if any of you have questions about mole and vole trapping or need advice about getting going with a truly effective trapping program, please feel free to call us for a no cost consultation.

Call Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal (434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975.

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