Types Of Wildlife

What types of wildlife are common in our area?

The term “wildlife” refers to those animals that live successfully outdoors without relying on people for their daily food, water, and shelter needs. However, urban development has pushed many species of wildlife out of their natural habitats and forced them into ours.

Over time wildlife have learned to take advantage of the food, water, and shelter our yards, homes, and businesses provide them. Nuisance wildlife species are difficult to control and prevent and create stressful situations for both them and us. Some of the most common types of wildlife in Roanoke and Virginia include raccoons, opossums, squirrels, snakes, groundhogs, and bats.

Are wildlife dangerous?

Wildlife certainly have the potential to be dangerous.  Wild animals are unpredictable, and when they’re scared or feel threatened, they lash out by biting and scratching.  Their aggressive nature may put people and pets at risk.  

Raccoons and other wild animals can spread diseases and bacteria in their saliva, urine, and feces including rabies and raccoon ringworm. Histoplasmosis is another condition that can jeopardize health and is a result of the accumulation of bat droppings.  

Not only are wildlife dangerous to people and pets, they're also a threat to property.  Wildlife damage structures by burrowing under foundations, infesting attics and other parts of structures. Inside, they'll chew through insulation, drywall, wires, and other building materials.  They also damage lawns and gardens with their activity.

Why do I have a wildlife problem?

If your property provides food, water, and shelter, you are likely to have wildlife visiting.  Easy access to trash cans, compost piles readily available, and gardens with produce are all attractants. 

Holes along the roofline make getting inside easy for these determined pests and once inside, they'll enjoy the warm shelter. So much in fact, they may decide to use your home to reproduce.  Sheds, garages, and under buildings and decks are also common places to find encroaching wildlife.

Where will I find wildlife?

Where you find wild animals nesting and burrowing depends on their species and living habits. 

 Raccoons
Raccoons are common in wooded areas, farms, fields, and suburban neighborhoods. They create dens in the ground, under decks or sheds, between rocks, and in hollow trees. If they find their way inside to nest, they usually do so in chimneys, attics, and crawl spaces. 

 Opossums
Possums prefer to live outside close to rivers, streams, and other water sources, nesting in hollow trees, under large piles of brush, in the abandoned burrows of other animals, or inside outbuildings like garages, sheds, or barns. 

 Squirrels
Squirrels usually nest up off of the ground in trees. These rodents regularly find their way into barns, sheds, garages, and homes. 

 Groundhogs
Groundhogs live outside and nest in burrows. In residential neighborhoods, you’ll find them burrowing under sheds, garages, and decks.

 Bats
These nocturnal pests like to roost and create their nesting areas in dark, quiet places like caves, rock crevices, and hollow trees. Attics, chimneys, wall voids, and roof eaves offer suitable places for bats to rest.

 Snakes
Snakes live in wooded areas, grass, fields, and gardens. They nest in the ground, and you’ll find them under woodpiles, foundations, decks, sheds, and piles of debris. 

How do I get rid of wildlife?

When it comes to dealing with a wildlife problem in your home or business, the best solution is to contact a local company that specializes in wildlife removal services in Roanoke. By partnering with Star City Pest Control & Wildlife Services, you will have peace of mind knowing our team will evict wildlife that have infested your structure.

Our dedicated professionals take pride in providing the wildlife control services needed to help home and business owners get rid of bats, raccoons, squirrels, and more. Call today to learn more or schedule your free pest inspection!