Help raccoons are digging up my Lawn!

There are many critters that can be damaging to your landscaping. Animals like to dig holes, create homes and generally make a mess in neighborhoods. If you are a homeowner who is experiencing issues with raccoon damage, it is important to learn how to remove such animals from your life. Below are a few tips on how to avoid raccoon damage to your landscaping as well as home. 

Landscaping Damage
Raccoons are diggers and scavengers. The creatures like to get into everything and home owners are never happy with the results. No one wants to see their yard dug up, especially a garden space. Raccoons love to eat and will easily dig up garden veggies just to have a meal. It is important to learn how to make raccoons go away so you can enjoy your home without damage. 

Light Up the Space
If you have raccoons making nightly visits, consider lighting up the space. Raccoons are nocturnal creatures who come out at night to eat their meals. To keep raccoons from getting into your garbage or in your garden, add a motion light. Motion lights are very affordable and can be added anywhere around the home. When motion is detected, the light will come on. The light will scare the raccoon and make the animal go away. This is a great way to avoid having this type of creature in your yard space. 

Garbage Control
Garbage is a big prize for raccoons. The garbage cans of a home are easy pickings, especially if they are easily accessible. It is important for home owners to keep the garbage area cleaned up. Lids should close well so that raccoons cannot dump the garbage out. Raccoons can easily overturn a can and get into the garbage. If you find that raccoons are getting into your garbage try moving the cans to a new location or getting better receptacles that will close tightly. 

Make Noise
Racoons also do not like noise, so making any loud sound in the area they are frequenting can work to get the animal to stay away. Consider placing a radio tuned to talk shows in the garden area for a few nights to see if the raccoons stay away. Try this for some time and if you are successful, remove the radio. Hopefully the raccoons will stay away. If not, try the method again for a longer period of time. 

Fencing
If raccoons are affecting a particular area of your home, consider adding fencing. A mesh fencing that is installed down deep and high will keep the creatures out of your yard. Raccoons cannot climb well but can dig. You want to make sure you have a fence installed that is high and deep enough to keep the raccoons at bay. 

Professional Removal Service.
Raccoon removal Toronto services will ensure that the raccoons are removed from your property and never come back. A service company will be able to inspect your home and find the areas in which the raccoons are accessing your yard. A plan of action will be made to remove the animals and make sure they do not return. Contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control for assistance in removing raccoons from your property.

Rat Bite Fever Causes Symptoms and Treatment

Rat bite fever is a serious disease that oddly enough does not always come from being bitten by a rat. Individuals are most commonly affected by rat bite fever due to contaminated water or food that has been infected by a rat in the home. If not treated, an individual can become very ill and even die. Learn how the fever is contracted as well as symptoms and treatment options if infected. 

Transmission of Rat Bite Fever
Rat bite fever is transmitted in a few ways. First, individuals can be affected by being scratched or bitten by a rat, mouse or gerbil. Anyone who handles a rodent that has the disease can become infected even without being scratched or bitten. Food or drink that has been contaminated with rat bite fever can lead to infection. Once you have rat bite fever, you cannot transmit the disease to another individual. 

Symptoms of Rat Bite Fever
There are two types of rat bite fever. The first is known as streptobacillary RBF and has symptoms such as fever, vomiting, headache, pain the muscles, joint pain or rash. These symptoms will begin around 3 to 10 days after being exposed to an infected rodent. After two to four days after a fever begins, a rash will occur on hands and feet. 

The second type of rat bite fever is known as spirillary RBF. Symptoms of this type include fever, an ulcer on the bite wound, swelling near the wound, swollen lymph nodes and rash. Symptoms take longer to develop with this type, from 7 to 21 days after being exposed. 

Treatment
If you believe you are suffering from rat bite fever, contact your health care provider immediately. You want to let your physician know that you have been exposed to rats and that you need treatment. Your doctor should prescribe you antibiotics that will help to cure the disease with penicillin the most commonly used medication for treatment. 

Without treatment, you can suffer from major health concerns such as infections in the heart, brain and lungs. Abscesses in internal organs can also take place. Death is rare with infection of rat bite fever but can happen if the issue is not treated by a professional. 

Avoid Exposure
The best way to avoid rat bite fever is to avoid exposure with rodents. If you have rodents in the home, have a professional remove them. Getting rid of rodents is a tough job and most homeowners are not equipped to handle removal. By contacting a professional removal company, you will be able to have the experts handle the rodent removal with ease. 

Once you have contacted a rodent removal company, an inspection of your property will take place. The threat level will be assessed and a plan put in place to remove the rodents as well as cleaning and treating the area. The pests are removed and the wildlife technician will recommend cleaning techniques as well as what to do to ensure that such creatures are not gaining access to your home again. 

For all your rodent removal needs, contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control. You will be working with expert rodent removal services to ensure you home is free from the unwanted pests.

What is Integrated Pest Management?

Pests are a common occurrence in the home. Almost every home owner has experienced a pest of some kind in the home, be it a squirrel, bird, raccoon or other animal or insect. Most home owners are not experienced or equipped to handle pest infestations and this work is better left to the experts. Because infestations and pest issues can vary, it is important to work with a company who has experience with Integrated Pests Management and humane wildlife control. 

IPM is a solution that calculates and customizes strategies for your specific pest control needs. When it comes to pests in the home, every situation is different. A one-size-fits-all approach is not going to work. If you are in need of pest removal services, you want to work with a company who covers IPM solutions. 

Customized to Your Service Need
With IPM services, you will have access to options that are customized to your given situation. Pests are different as well as how they enter the home, where they have created a nest, etc. You want to have access to integrated pest management services to ensure your problem is taken care of correctly instead of just some basic service option provided. 

Understanding the IPM Approach
The approach of IPM is completed in three basic steps. These steps were created to make the process work with ease. 

Step 1: The Inspection of the Area
With this step, the area is inspected to determine what types of pests are involved, how they are entering the property, etc. The technician carefully goes over your home to gain the information needed to move forward. 

Step 2: Identification of any existing pest problems
Once the inspection is completed, the technician will be able to identify the pest problems at hand. Each pest will be cataloged and a plan of action put in place to be able to remove the critters from your home. 

Step 3: Removal and Exclusion
The last step will involve the actual removal of the pest along with exclusion. Various methods are used based on your given situation to remove the critters and put your home back in proper working order. Once the animal is removed, the technician will then work on exclusion. This means that a plan will be put in place to ensure the same type of infestation will not happen again. This can include blocking entry ways and filling gaps in seams of walls, foundation, windows and doorways. 

Identify and Avoid
Once the problem areas have been located, a wildlife technician will be able to help you implement IPM techniques as well as practices to resolve such issues. specific actions that are used in IPM services include:

Limited use or eliminating the use of chemicals
Structural repair and maintenance
Modifying behavior to prevent problems with rodents or insects (including garbage removal technicians, cleaning, etc.)

Professional assistance with humane wildlife control is always needed when pests enter the home. Consider working with Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control whenever you have an animal or insect issue. The company uses quality IPM techniques to ensure your situation is handled with a customized plan. Contact Skedaddle today to learn more about service options and schedule an appointment for inspection.

Humane Ways To Get Rid Of Squirrels From Your Home

Squirrels may seem cute and cuddly but can easily become a nuisance if they gain entry into the home. Squirrels are a common animal that likes to make attics or crawlspaces a home, creating a nest and starting a family. But you do not want such creatures living in your home causing destruction to insulation or other areas of the home. How do you remove such creatures without harming them? Below are a few ideas for wildlife control Ottawa to get you started removing squirrels from the home in a safe and humane way. 

Evaluate the Infestation
To get started, you will need to evaluate the infestation. You need to be able to determine if you actually have squirrels in the home. Have you heard little feet running through the attic space? If so, take a high powered flashlight and check out the area. If you see a nest or actual squirrels, then you have problem. You will need to find ways to remove the squirrels and relocate them to another area far away from your home. If babies are present, you will have a harder time with removal and may want to seek assistance from the experts. 

Light and Sound
One way in which squirrels can be removed from the home is with light and sound. Once you know their location, place a lamp with an LED bulb for safety to light up the area. Add a radio and turn it on to produce sound in the space. Squirrels want to sleep soundly so the light and sound will become annoying which will lead to the animal moving out of the space. 

Trapping Methods
A trap can also work to remove the squirrel without harming the animal. Purchase a one way door trap and lead the squirrel to the harmless invention. Once the squirrel is inside it will not be able to get back out again. You can then take the trap and relocate the squirrel away from your home. It is recommended that you travel at least three miles from your property to ensure the squirrel does not come back. 

Predator Urine
Another option that will remove squirrels from the home is predator urine. Purchase fox urine from an online retailer or from a farm supply store to scare the squirrel into leaving. The squirrel will smell the urine, which should be placed near the nest, and will think danger is present. The squirrel will move away to avoid any danger. 

Professional Assistance
If you find that your squirrel problem is too much for you to handle, consider hiring the wildlife control experts in Ottawa. Wildlife experts will be able to assess your infestation and work quickly to have the squirrels removed from the home. Once removed, the technician will be able to help you learn what to do to avoid this from happening again. In most cases, any points of entry will need to be blocked with a wire mesh to keep any squirrels from gaining access to the home once again. 

If you are in need of squirrel removal services, contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control. Their quality wildlife removal services will have your home cleared in no time, providing humane removal services with ease.

Damage and Diseases Caused By Bats

Bats are unique creatures that can be fun to watch in the nighttime hours, fluttering around in the sky. Bats eat insects, which makes the creature essential to the population control of such insects as mosquitos. However, bats can also use your home as a breeding ground which can lead to damage as well as disease. Bats can easily enter the home in openings as small as a dime to their contortionist features. You may never know that bats are in your home until you hear something in the attic or actually see one fly by inside!

Common Areas Bats Frequent in the Home
There are a few common areas in which bats will take up residence in the home due to the environment provided. Bats are known to hole up in attics, crawl spaces and basements when access is provided. Bats can squeeze through tiny holes to gain entry into the home and then use the space as their very own. Droppings and urine will be left behind which can damage the space as well as bring about the risk of disease. 

Spreading Disease
Without wildlife control, bats would be able to spread several diseases. Bats can carry rabies but rarely bite humans, however the disease is still a risk factor. Bats also produce feces known as guano which can carry spores of Histoplasmosis. This is a disease that affects the lungs and can be especially dangerous to children as well as the elderly. 

Bat Mites
Another issue that can occur when bats are in your home are bat mites. Compared to bed bugs, bat mites will infect a human, making the individual their new host. When an infestation occurs, the mites are mistaken for bed bugs and not treated effectively by exterminators. It is important to inspect the entire home and search for the presence of bats in case your ‘bed bug’ issue is actually bat mites so the proper treatment can be provided. 

Structural Damage to the Home
Bats do not chew on the exterior of the home to be able to gain entry, so that’s one area of damage you do not have to worry about. However, bats do leave guano behind as well as urine. This can accumulate over time and the result is such waste will be dripping through the ceiling destroying the insulation of the home as well as soaking into sheet rock. The structure of the home can be majorly damaged and repair service needed which can be quite costly. 

Bat Removal
If you have found bats in your home, it is time to contact wildlife control. Such experts in bat removal will be able to help you remove the pests and recommend what action needs to be taken as far as cleanup is concerned. The experts have experience in removal of such animals, ensuring the area in which bats are coming in to the home is repaired for no further invasions. 

When you come across a bat or other pest issue, contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control  today. This wildlife control company can provide assistance to remove such creatures and restore your home back to normal.

Get Rid of Skunk Smell: What Really Works?

Skunks are creatures that can find a home anywhere, but do like to keep to themselves. We all know that if a skunk feels threatened, the animal will spray a solution that is quite stinky! No one wants to be sprayed by a skunk so humans tend to stay away. However, a pet, such as a dog, may be curious and commonly approach a skunk. This can lead to a stinky dog as the skunk will spray the animal before running away. What do you do if your dog becomes the victim of skunk spray? Read on below to learn how to clean your pet and avoid skunk issues in the future. 

Oh The Smell!
So your dog now stinks horribly and you have no idea how to remove the skunk scent. There are several options to try. You can go with an over-the-counter product but this may not be an option if you are away from the store and you want to try a natural solution. If you are able to have someone pick up an over-the-counter remedy, then do so. However, there are ways to remove the stink with products you have at home. 

DIY Skunk Solution
To get started, you have to leave your dog outside. You do not want the scent coming inside the home. Make sure you check the eyes of your pet and ensure they are not red or irritated. If they are, try to flush them out with water before mixing up the cleaning solution. 

The solution you can create from household ingredients includes hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and dishwashing liquid. Use 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide (3%), ¼ cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap. Put on rubber gloves and wash your dog with this solution as quickly as you can after the spray took place. Do not put this solution in your pet’s eyes. Be sure to mix the solution as needed as it can explode if placed in a closed bottle or container. 

Once the solution is rubbed in, be sure to rinse thoroughly. After the solution is cleaned away, take time to use pet shampoo and clean and rinse. Hopefully, your pet will now smell fresh and clean. 

Skunk Removal
If you commonly see skunks in your area, it may be time to contact a wildlife animal removal service. Such experts in wildlife removal will be able to assist you with relocating the skunks so they are no longer a problem in your area. It is never a good idea for homeowners to try and catch a skunk as you will usually end up sprayed and stinky. 

Experts in wildlife relocation know just how to handle skunks and have the equipment to do so. You will be able to rest easy knowing that skunks are not lurking around the woods of your home, just waiting for a quick spray. Let your pets run free as you can worry less about having a skunk interaction. Contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control today if you have a skunk concern to rid your life of these stinky creatures!

Rodents And Hantavirus: How To Keep Your Family Safe

Rodents are a certain category of pests that can infiltrate the home. Mice are a common rodent species that will enter the home and become an unwanted guest. Mice harbor diseases and can make your family unwell due to simply being in the home. Such diseases as hantavirus can affect those in the home, leading to serious health conditions. 

What is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a lung disease that is very serious and just discovered in 1993, though it most likely has been around for a longer period of time. While the disease is rare, it is something to consider if you find mice in your home. Rodents, especially deer mice, carry the virus. The virus is left behind in feces, saliva or urine as the rodent moves around your home. 

Infection of the virus can take place when you breathe in dust that has been infected, being bitten by a mouse that is infected or by touching any skin that is broken open with a material or area that is infected. The disease does not spread person to person. Symptoms of the virus include fever, chills and pain in muscles. It can become harder to breathe as the disease progresses. If an individual feels they have been exposed to the virus, treatment should be scheduled with a physician. 

How to Protect the Home from Hantavirus and Other Diseases
To avoid the hantavirus in the home or other diseases, homeowners need to be proactive. You want to create a safe home where mice are not enticed to come in. Make sure rooms are clean and food is put away. Wipe down counters after meals and sweep up any particles of food. Ensure children clean up after snacks or do not leave food items in their room. 

Any packaged food should be closed and not open, offering an invitation to mice. Mice are drawn to food so ensuring foods are cleaned up and put away will be a great deterrent. Another issue that will allow mice into the home is holes or cracks in the foundation or walls. Have the perimeter of the exterior of your home inspected as well as the walls and baseboards in the interior. Check for holes or cracks, areas that mice can easily use to enter the home. Even doors and windows can have small openings that will allow for mice to enter. Have these areas sealed or closed up to make it hard for mice to enter the home. 

Work with the Experts
When you find that you do have a rodent issue, you will need to access rodent control services in Toronto. You want to have your home inspected to remove any rodents and ensure the space is sealed so rodents will not have a point of entry. Experts in rodent care will be able to provide such services, ensuring your home is free of pests and the unwanted diseases they bring along with them. 

Contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control when you are in need of rodent control services. Don’t let mice overrun your home. Have the problem assessed by the experts and a solution provided for a safe and clean home.

Pest Control Tips: How To Rodent-Proof Your Home

Rodents are a common occurrence in the home and one that most homeowners dread. No one wants to see a mouse or rat running through the kitchen. While you may keep your home spotless, such rodents can still enter the home and become a nuisance. Learn how to rodent-proof your home so that you do not have to deal with unwanted guests. 

Clean, Clean, Clean
It is very important to keep your home clean. Sweep and mop the floors regularly to ensure no food particles are left. Wash dishes and avoid leaving out food overnight. Rodents such as mice love to nibble on leftovers and food smells can easily entice them from the outside to come inside your home once you go to sleep. Clean out any food from the kitchen sink and be sure to take out the trash regularly so mice are not tempted to get inside your trash can and rummage round. 

Put Away Foods
Because mice like to eat, it is essential that you put away old food. If you are prone to leaving out open containers of food or perhaps crumbs from a snack on the counter, the mice will certainly be attracted to these food items. You can easily have an infestation on your hands when you leave food out. Have children put any candy away or snacks they may take to their bedrooms or the mice will start there and then work their way into the kitchen. If you do find that mice have taken up residence in your home, you will need to take advantage of rodent control services to take care of the issue correctly. 

Seal Any Gaps or Holes in the Home
Besides food, rodents can enter the home via holes or gaps in windows and door frames. Anywhere that your home is not sealed tightly is an open invitation to rodents and pests. To avoid such issues in the future, keep your home in check. Complete regular inspections to ensure that any areas are secure. Check doors and window frames. Inspect the foundation of your home for cracks or openings. Have any areas that need repair fixed to ensure that rodents are not able to get inside your home. 

Schedule Servicing
When you do have rodents in your home, waste no time in contacting rodent control services. Have an expert come to your home for an inspection. The site will be evaluated and a solution determined. Once a plan is in place, the inspector will catch the rodents in your home and suggest steps to ensure the pests do not enter your home once again. 

If you need assistance with rodent control services, contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control. Skedaddle are experts in this industry and are ready to help you remove any unwanted pests in a safe and humane manner. Your home will be well cared for as they evaluate the issue and come up with a timely solution to rid your home of pests. Contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control today to learn more about the many service options provided.