What You Need to Know About the Brown Bat

Bats are actually very docile creatures despite the many misleading myths about them. These animals play big roles in the balance of our ecosystem, and they do much more than just scaring people at night (although that's not really their intention!) Bats are nocturnal animals and play vital roles in pollination and propagating fruit trees, as well as controlling pests.

You may think that bats belong to just one species. The truth is, there are over a thousand bat species, and each of these species are unique in their own way. One of the most adorable bat species are the brown bats. Sadly, the population of these bats have been shrinking since 2010, because of a disease in the northeast of USA and Canada called white nose syndrome, which has killed and will continue to kill millions of bats.

There are two varieties of brown bats, the little and the big ones. The small ones grow wingspans that are about 8 to 11 inches, and they only weigh less than half an ounce. They live in colonies and roost together as all other bats do, but they are not the territorial kind.

Big brown bats can weigh from half to 1.2 ounces. They can grow and have wingspans ranging from 12 to 16 inches. They are reported to be fast fliers which can reach up to 40 miles per hour.

Brown bats choose den sites that have stable temperatures and roost in colonies. These animals hibernate for most of the year, and their hibernacula, a place where they roost during winter months, should provide them warmth and protection from the cold while they hibernate. This could include caves, and probably your attic or walls.

Yes, these poor animals may even be in your attic right now, as it presents itself as a suitable alternative to their wild hibernacula. Bats can creep into your attics through just a dime-sized hole, and since they don't roost alone, they bring their families and colonies with them. Imagine that number of bats living in there, and the amount of droppings they can make. Also, some bats could catch rabies, and if one gets infected, the whole colony and even you and your own family, could be in grave danger.

Since we don't want any of these bats to lose their lives through extermination, bat exclusion is the only option you can trust. This way, exclusion experts like the trained professionals at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control will move the entire colony out of your home and back into where they naturally belong-- the wild. You, your family, and your home aren't the only ones saved, but also our dear nocturnal friends, the brown bats.

Bird Droppings: How to Safely Clean the Droppings

Bird infestation may not be as common as other nuisance wildlife infestation such as mice or raccoons but did you know that they can be a real headache if you let them?

When your home is infested with birds, you will be faced with droppings all over your house. Most of the time, your outdoor furniture and exteriors will be the main victims. Bad news is, this does not only expose you to a slew of diseases but can also cause physical damage to your furnitures because bird droppings are acidic and corrosive.

Now that you know the health risks and damages that bird droppings bring, it is imperative that you should clean them immediately. However, you should take the necessary precautions and employ safety measures when cleaning them. Bird droppings can contain bacteria that may cause infections and diseases, so it is best to avoid direct contact as much as possible.

Here are a few tips to help you get on the work without risking your health:

• Wear safety clothes such as long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Wear gloves and a mask, as inhalation of bird droppings alone exposes you to certain diseases such as Bird Fancier's lung, histoplasmosis, or psittacosis.

• To prevent inhalation of airborne particles, gently wet the droppings. This will suspend the disease-carrying airborne particles so they don't mix with the air. Always wear a protective dust mask.

• Using detergent, scrub off the area. You may also want to disinfect the area with a disinfecting spray.

• Wash the clothes you used. This is to fully get rid of any possible contamination from these bird droppings.

Many people are unaware of the risks bird droppings expose them to. Cleaning without proper knowledge will only worsen the situation. People who clean without wearing gloves and resort to direct contact are more likely to get the infectious bacteria living in bird debris. This may then be transmitted to their children and pets who have weaker immune systems and are most likely to get infected.

Cleaning the remnants of bird infestation is one thing but it is best to treat the problem at its source. Bird droppings can be totally eliminated if your remove the winged creatures that produce them. However, many homeowners find it difficult to remove birds from their properties. In cases like this, you need professional wildlife technicians like the experts from Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control.

Skedaddle Wildlife Technicians are trained to efficiently, effectively and humanely remove birds like sparrows, pigeons and starlings from your home. Some of the removal techniques that they employ is by scaring the adult birds from the den site and sealing all possible entry points of your home to prevent future access by these nuisance wildlife.

Let the birds roam in the wild where they belong while you enjoy the peace and quiet of your home. Call Skedaddle today and make your property wildlife-free.  

Why DIY Pest Removal Won’t Stop Re-infestation

Do you see holes around your roof? Do you hear strange noises at nighting inside your attic? Raccoons might have infested your home without you noticing it immediately. These animals have strong paws and have a distinct bandit-like mask on their face. They can tear through rotten wood that will enable them to enter your property and build a den to raise their young.

DIY Removal

Most people will impulsively try to kill the raccoons or trap them. This may seem like a good solution, however, it will only solve your problem in the short-term. You must also keep in mind that a mother raccoon will become aggressive when they feel that you are threatening her young. They will try to scratch and bite you while protecting her offspring. These may result in serious injuries or transmission of disease.

Mishandling of dead or injured animals may cause health problems, especially if you do not have the right equipment and attire. Raccoons might transmit an illness, bacteria, viruses or germs.

If you are not thorough with your inspection and fixing of raccoon entry points, other pests may invade your home again. It is important to seal any potential entrances of these animals to prevent a re-infestation.

Cleaning up the den area after you remove the raccoons is a difficult task. When you do not have the right equipment, cleaning and deodorizing products, you may get an infection or increase the likelihood of re-infestation.

Re-Infestation

DIY removal may save you money, however, the risk of re-infestation is high because you do not have the training to remove animals properly. Other pests will find ways to invade your home, especially, if you do not know their possible entry points. The nesting materials and even the smell of a previous den will attract other animals to your basement or attic.

An animal remover will know how different pests think and behave. They will know where they build a nest or den, the types of food they look for and how fast they multiply. This information enables them to provide you with a personalized service that makes sure re-infestation does not happen.

Animal Removal Experts

Animal removers have the expertise and experience to remove raccoons, squirrels, rodents, bats and other pests humanely and effectively. They assess your home and determine possible entrances and exits, this allows them to know where to lead a pest out of your home while using its young as bait. They will then seal these areas to prevent the animals from re-entering. They will identify the location of the den and deodorize it to prevent it from attracting other animals. They use proven methods to keep your home pest-free.

Check out more at http://skedaddlewildlife.com/

The Different Phases of Rabies

Rabies is a life threatening disease that has no cure once it reaches the last stage of its infection; an animal and a person will die, if not treated immediately. Rabid animals may transmit the virus through their bite.

The Phases of Rabies

An infected animal will go through three stages of rabies, these are:

1. The first stage is a one to three day period characterized by certain behavioural changes, this phase is prodromal stage.
2. The second is the excitative stage, which may last between three to four days. This is the phase often known as furious rabies because of the tendency of an infected animal to act hyper reactive to stimuli and bite at almost anything nearby.
3. The final stage is the paralytic phase, caused by the virus’ damage to motor neurons. An infected animal will experience incoordination because of rear limb paralysis, and the paralysis of throat and facial muscles cause drooling and difficulty in swallowing. This damage disables a victim’s ability to swallow, which results in saliva to pour out of the mouth. The virus is primarily found in the cheeks and throat, which contaminates the saliva. This is the reason bites are the most effective way to transmit the disease.

An infected person or animal usually dies of respiratory arrest.

How Can You Get Rabies?

The rabies virus primarily contaminates saliva that is why bites from an infected person or animal are the likely mode of transmission. Saliva of the infected that comes in contact with open wounds or the mucous membrane may also result in an infection.

Rabid dogs, skunks, bats and other small mammals may transmit the disease. Once you see an animal acting peculiar or aggressive, there is a possibility that they have the virus. Knowing the signs of rabies will help you know how to deal with an infected animal.

Signs of Rabies

The period between the bite and the onset of the signs of rabies is the incubation period, this may last four to 12 weeks. The initial onset of the disease starts with symptoms similar to the flu, these include:

1. Fever
2. Tingling
3. Muscle weakness
4. Burning at the bite area

As the virus damages an infected person’s central nervous system, he or she may develop two types of the illness, these are:

Furious Rabies

Persons with this type display excitable and hyperactive behaviour, other signs are:

1. Insomnia
2. Anxiety
3. Agitation
4. Confusion
5. Excess salivation
6. Problems swallowing
7. Fear of water

Paralytic Rabies

This form takes longer to display its symptoms, but its effects are just as severe as furious rabies. An infected person becomes paralyzed slowly, will eventually enter a coma and dies.

Knowing the symptoms, types and causes of rabies will enable you to prepare and protect yourself, if ever you encounter an infected animal.

Check out more at http://skedaddlewildlife.com/

What You Need to Know About Aleutian Disease

Aleutian Disease or ADV is a contagious ailment caused by the parvovirus. The infection affects the mustelids, which will eventually result in spontaneous abortion and death in ferrets and minks.

History of the Disease

The first report of the disease was in a ranch-raised mink in 1956. The ailment got its name because its first victim was a mink an Aleutian coat color. The initial assumptions about the illness was a result of poor genetics, however, later studies discovered that minks of all colors were susceptible to the ailment. Other minks with a different coat color had lower fatality rates compared to their Aleutian counterpart.

During the 60s, it was common for mink ranchers to create their own vaccines by homogenizing tissue from a distemper-infected mink. They made suspensions and inject all their minks with it. This resulted in an outbreak of Aleutian Disease on a ranch in Connecticut. The fatality rate of the disease outbreak was approximately 100% in less than six months. The ailment later also affected ferrets because both animals were usually raised on the same ranches.

The Transmission of the Ailment

Aleutian Disease is highly contagious, an infected ferret transmits the virus through bodily fluids, and it can lie dormant on an owner’s shoes or clothes and dried urine for almost two years. ADV positive minks and ferrets must not be taken to a place where other ferrets and minks are. They must also be prohibited from running on areas or floors where uninfected animals or their owners may come in contact with traces of the virus.

Signs and Symptoms

A deadly infection in ferrets and minks, the Aleutian disease virus remains dormant in ferrets until an injury or stress enables it to surface. The parvovirus causes little to no harm to its ferret host, however, the antibodies created in response to its presence causes a systemic vasculitis, which lead to bone marrow suppression, renal failure and eventual death. The symptoms of the disease include:

1. Chronic and progressive weight loss
2. Rear leg weakness
3. Lethargy
4. Enlarged spleen
5. Anemia
6. Black tarry stool
7. Seizures

Once the symptoms of the illness surface, it will progress rapidly, leading to death within a few months.

Treatment

Currently, there is no known cure for ADV. When symptoms of Aleutian disease present itself, owners must have the animal get a CEP (counterimmunoelectrophoresis) blood test or an IFA (immunoflourescent antibody) test. The former takes less time and is more affordable, but the latter is likely to detect the infection in borderline cases.

Visit us today at http://skedaddlewildlife.com/

Most Common Bacteria From Animals That Carry Human Diseases

The lives of humans and animals are very much attached to each other. Many animals nowadays are considered to be possible pets, but there are still dangers in having them in close quarters and direct contact can still pose some risks, especially if the animals that you harbor as pets are meant to be in the wild.

There are many kinds of bacteria found in animals that may produce diseases. Here are a few of the many in the list:

Escherichia Coli

Also known as E. Coli, this bacterium is found in animal's guts and intestines. Fecal matter contain these bacteria as well. People who consume contaminated food or water are most likely to get them and will cause diseases such as diarrhea, and even a severe case of hemolytic uremic syndrome. This bacterium is usually found in feces of birds, cattle and poultry. 

Salmonella

Salmonella bacterium is found in fecal matter of infected animals, most especially by rodents. It is transmitted to humans through direct contact, ingestion of contaminated food and water, . It also causes food poisoning, derived from raw meat and poultry or unpasteurized cheese or dairy. 

Leptospira

This bacterium can be found in mice and rat urine and is the cause of the disease called leptospirosis. It can infect humans and a wide range of animals. When leptospirosis is left untreated in humans, it can cause meningitis, damage to the kidneys, respiratory problems, and ultimately, death. 

Chlamhiydopla psittaci 

This bacterium  can be contracted from birds, more specifically from sparrows and pigeons. The disease is called psittacosis. Inhalation of bird droppings causes this infection. Bacteria in bird debris become airborne as the particles dry up and turn to dust, which can then travel in the air and can be inhaled by humans. Some of the symptoms of this disease are high fevers, cough, nosebleeds, and spleen enlargement among others. 

These bacteria we mentioned above are carriers of what we call zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases are diseases brought to humans by any animal. Because of the gravity of some of them, it is important that you have the basic knowledge of the health dangers these wildlife creatures can cause you and your family. Commit to constant washing and proper hygiene to avoid these bacteria, and clean any signs of wildlife infestation with as much care and protection to avoid inhalation and contact.

Should you face any wildlife infestation, we strongly suggest that you call on wildlife control services like that from Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control so that you minimize your risk of exposure to these health hazards. Skedaddle has been in the business of efficiently, effectively and humanely removing nuisance wildlife from Canadian homes for more than twenty-seven years.

Keep Your Pets Safe from Pest Diseases

Pets are like family to many of us, and we want to make sure they are protected against diseases and health risks. One of the many concerns homeowners throughout Canada have is wildlife infestations and the many dangers they can expose to families and pets.

Pet owners should always keep in mind that their pets should get their complete immunizations, as they are less likely to be infected with diseases the environment brings to their doorstep. If you own a pet, it is the responsible thing to do to get them their immunizations, just as how child immunizations are encouraged. You will shield them from the many possible diseases and infections they can acquire as they go outdoors, or even indoors.

Wildlife infestations bring with them many dangers and most especially parasites that could be transmitted to your pets. For example, mice droppings can be poisonous to your pets, and their urine can cause leptospirosis. Exposure to water sources mixed with rat urine will put people and pets in a dangerous, and sometimes lethal situation.

Birds bring with them mites especially when they start nesting. These mites will look for better sources of food and can cling to your pets, and may give them irritations and wounds if not taken care of.

Raccoons, bats and skunks are also probable carriers of rabies. Rabies has been known to kill pets for many years, and avoiding wildlife infestations in general will reduce the risks favorably. Pets are domesticated animals and have weaker immune systems compared to wild animals, and if your home is infested with one, you will have to take precautions and do what you must; and that is to seek help and remove the wild animals in your property.

All wild animals bring with them many possibilities of different illnesses your pets can harbor. Being infested with these animals is unsafe as you never know what these nuisance wildlife can bring inside your property.

Being pet owners, you must know that every animal has its place. Protecting your pets and family does not necessarily mean you have to exterminate the animals sharing homes with you. Humane wildlife control companies like Skedaddle, offer humane ways in the removal of these wildlife creatures from your home and offer services such as exclusion to help you, your pets and the wild animals get on with your everyday lives without giving risks to each other. If you happen to have wildlife infestation and hope to remove it, choose the humane way. Choose exclusion from Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control.