Species

Groundhogs (Woodchucks, Whistle Pigs)

Groundhogs are extremely disruptive little bulldozers that will excavate large holes and tunnels underneath decking, sheds, barns or open fields. In our experience we have seen groundhogs unearth tombstones with their caverns!

Groundhogs have 3-5 pups in the spring. The groundhogs favorite types of food include flowers, fruit and vegetables. This appetite leads to the destruction of many home gardens. It is not uncommon for one groundhog to occupy a network of up to 8 holes. Each hole usually has an entrance and an exit. My customers often tell of putting bricks, broken glass, mothballs or bubble gum as an attempt to get the groundhog to leave. I have seen these pests tunnel right next to the closed hole. The only successful method is to have them trapped and removed.

WARNING: Groundhogs are recognized by the Pennsylvania Game Commission as a rabies vector species. This means they are a hazard to both people and pets. Therefore, extreme caution must be taken when handling these animals as they pose a significant health risk. 

Our service provides trapping and removal of the groundhogs along with repairing the damage created to the property by the groundhog (filling up the holes and or structural fencing).

Starlings, Sparrows, Pigeons or Other Birds

Birds are a wonderful creature of nature to watch or feed. However, they can cause health hazards and a mess with their droppings. I receive calls to remove unwanted bird nests, remove pigeons from buildings or place exclusion barriers to keep unwanted birds out of designated areas. I have also transported orphan young birds to wildlife rehabilitation personnel. I have used for live trapping and humane techniques to solve bird and human conflicts.

Squirrels

In our part of the state you will find gray squirrels, red squirrels and flying squirrels. Each species of squirrel brings their own problems to homeowners including entering attics, chewing on wiring or crawling around in walls during the middle of the night. The flying squirrel is nocturnal and rarely seen. It is smaller than a gray squirrel and has skin between its front and hind legs, which allow it to glide between trees. They live in colonies, which can be up to two dozen members. I was called to residence that kept hearing scratching sounds, scampering and nuts being rolled in the middle of night. These sounds could be heard in the walls and the attic. After investigating and researching the mystery animal, I caught 14 flying squirrels on the roof and in the attic. In most situations squirrels can be live trapped and relocated to wild places.  However, certain situations warrant the use of humane techniques. Exclusion barriers and habitat modification are available.

Beavers

Beavers are becoming more common in our area. An adult beaver can weigh up to 50lbs and can easily fell a tree with a 2-foot diameter. They create their own ecosystem by damming up stream and waterways often causing unwanted flooding. Beavers have acclimated themselves to living close to people which unfortunately causes significant damage to local trees and the landscape.

I have successfully used live traps to capture beavers and relocated them to wild areas. These projects warrant the approval of the Pennsylvania game commission who designates the location of their new home.

Foxes and Coyotes

In our part of the state we have both red and gray foxes. The fox population has recently increased drastically in our area. This has resulted in foxes living in close proximity to people, foxes feeding on domestic animals and an increase in cases of mange. Mange is a horrible skin disease that leaves the animal with large patches of missing fur and scabs on the skin. It is extremely contagious by direct or indirect contact and can be passed onto domestic animals. 

Coyote sightings have also increased in our area along with numerous accounts of them feeding on domestic animals. A resident of the Haycock area had a guinea hen snatched and taken right in front of him by a coyote at 2 O'clock in the afternoon.

WARNING: Both of these species are on the rabies vector species list and pose a significant risk to people and domestic animals. There are two documented cases of people being attacked by a rabid fox and a coyote in our area over the past 6 months. Due to the extremely alert and cautious nature of these species, leg hold traps and cable restraints are the most effective means to capture them. The use of predator calling and firearms are also effective methods.

White-tailed Deer (Virginia Deer)

The Pennsylvania game commission does not allow a wildlife pest control operator to remove this species under our current guidelines. However, as a licensed hunter I am able to hunt and remove deer during the designated season and by following all other regulations. 

There is no fee for this service as I am often looking for hunting locations and hope to reduce the number of deer in over populated areas. In residential areas we use archery equipment so that we do not cause alarm to the public. 

Deer over population, the transfer of Lyme Disease ticks, and the destruction of thousands of dollars of ornamental horticultural has left homeowners extremely frustrated. Hunting has been proven to be the most effective means to deal with this problem.