Wiarton Willie and Winter Storms Won’t Stop Urban Wildlife Babies
For release: February 4, 2008
Neither snow, nor rain, nor even the predictions of the intrepid Wiarton Willie will stop urban wildlife such as raccoons, squirrels, skunks and mice from producing babies in the next few weeks. And Valentine’s Day tends to be a “frisky” time of year for these animals.
“Overall, winter temperatures this year have been closer to normal,” notes Humane Wildlife Control President Bill Dowd, “which means that most of the animals have already mated and we predict that babies will be born in late February or early March.”
“If they’re warm and dry in someone’s attic, roof or chimney, these animals will produce larger litters than their ‘wild’ cousins,” he adds.
Humane Method is to Remove Animals Before Babies Are Born
Humane Wildlife Control recommends that homeowners remove wildlife from their houses and outbuildings before babies are born to reduce stress on the animals. Although wildlife technicians are careful not to separate newborns from their mothers, it does stress the animals when they have to find an alternate den or nesting site. The cost of removing a single mother is also much less than an entire family of raccoons, squirrels or skunks, which can number eight or more. The average female mouse can produce five to ten litters of 5-6 babies per year, so catching a pair early could stem a much larger population later on.
Thorough Inspection Will Determine Areas of Wildlife Intrusions
Homeowners are advised to look and listen for signs of wildlife around their property. Different animals exhibit unique behaviours as they prepare for birthing, but homeowners should check for the following signs of animals in the house:
- Sounds of chewing or scurrying in the roof, attic, walls, chimney, vents or basement
- Any damaged building materials (soffit, shingles, eavestroughs, roof/wall vents, foundations) that show signs of entry
- Feces around entry holes or gathering in certain areas. Note: Raccoon feces are commonly infected with a roundworm known as Baylisascaris, which if ingested by humans, can cause nausea, organ malfunction, loss of muscle control and even death
- Increased activity of animals around the area, indicating mating behaviour or nest preparation
Different animals exhibit unique behaviours as they care for their young, but homeowners should check for the following signs of animals in the house: chewing or scurrying in the roof, attic, walls, chimney, vents or basement; damaged building materials; feces around entry holes or gathering in certain areas; and increased activity of animals around the area.
Damage Can Be Significant
These animals can be quite persistent in getting back into their dens, and homeowners often become frustrated at not being able to keep the industrious animals from ripping up siding, flashing or vents. Mice are especially difficult to exclude because of their small size and ability to find alternative entry holes. They can also chew wiring and building materials as they create pathways around the house, not to mention the contamination caused by feces. Humane Wildlife Control guarantees their exclusion services for 3 to 10 years and provides sanitation and insulation services as well.
Humane Wildlife Control has been an industry leader since 1989, and has pioneered several humane removal and exclusion techniques for a wide variety of urban animals. It looks like Wiarton Willie, however, will be staying where he is.
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For more information:
Bill Dowd, President
1-877-222-3459 ext 220