Wildlife Management

At Skyline Pest Solutions, we love nature in all of its wondrous forms – yes, even termites have an important place in the ecosystem!  Our goal is to co-exist peacefully with our fellow earth inhabitants.
However, sometimes certain parts of the wild kingdom decide to share our abodes!  Rats, mice, snakes, squirrels, raccoons, birds and bats, among others, occasionally like to call on their human neighbors for extended visits.  When unwanted guests start invading your home, it’s time to call Skyline!
Skyline is proud to have on our staff a dedicated Director of Wildlife Services, Stewart Cloud.  A Wildlife Biologist with a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Georgia and over 7 years of professional experience in solving human/wildlife-related conflicts throughout the greater Atlanta area, he can help make sure your “guests” do not become permanent residents!  Our ethical and cruelty-free method of wildlife pest eradication will soon have you once again masters of your own castle!

Types of animals we commonly encounter...

Raccoons: Raccoons are primarily nocturnal (active at night). In the south they usually mate in the winter and have litters ranging from 1-7 with a 2-3 month gestation period.  The offspring will stay with the mother for the first year. They have adapted to living with humans and found that houses are excellent habitat. They will nest in attic spaces where they have a more controlled and protected environment to raise their young. Raccoons are very strong animals. A mother raccoon will often tear a hole in a roof to access an attic, where they will make quite a mess and a lot of noise. Once inside an attic, they often tear off insulation paper, rip open ducts, and tear insulation off pipes. Their feces may contain raccoon roundworm, the spores of which humans can breathe in and become seriously infected by. Raccoons are carriers of rabies and distemper which can be spread to humans and other animals. They are very opportunistic feeders and have learned that garbage cans, dumpsters, and pet foods are excellent sources of food.  These are the reasons that raccoons are one of the most commonly dealt with nuisance animals and need to be trapped or removed from any human structure and any entry points excluded to prevent future entry.

Squirrels: Gray Squirrels are primarily diurnal (active during the day). They generally mate in the fall and spring and have litters ranging from 2-6 with a gestation period of 1-2 months.  They can have 2 litters a year. Squirrels feed primarily on fruits, nuts, and seeds, but will eat insects, eggs, and other kinds of meat. They have a very strong homing instinct and pass their nesting sites down from generation to generation. So the offspring will return to their birthplace to breed over and over again. Squirrels have adapted to living with humans and love to live in attics. They also love to chew, and will chew on houses, wires, ducts, and pipes. People don't like the noises of squirrels running about above the ceiling or in the eaves, but it's really the chewing that's a problem. If squirrels chew on electrical wires or water lines in an attic, it can create a real potential fire or flooding problem. Squirrels also bring in nesting material and leave urine and feces in an attic. There are no real important diseases associated with squirrels, however, they do carry parasites, and thus are vectors for the diseases that fleas, ticks, and other insects can transmit. Their feces pose the usual excrement health risks, such as leptospirosis or Salmonella. Squirrels are one of the most common nuisance animals in any human structure and need to be trapped or removed and any entry points excluded to prevent future entry.
 
Flying Squirrels: Flying Squirrels are primarily nocturnal (active at night). They are the smallest of the tree squirrels. They usually breed in the fall and have a litter ranging from 2-6. They behave similar to gray squirrels in feeding and breeding. In the winter, it is common for multiple families of flying squirrels to den together in the same attic space which differs from gray squirrels. They do cause the same problems gray squirrels do other than being active at night. They need to be trapped and removed and any entry points excluded to prevent future entry.

Chipmunks: Chipmunks are primarily diurnal (active during the day). They are commonly called ground squirrels because they dig extensive tunnel systems in the ground and live in the tunnels and burrows. They generally breed in the spring and fall and will have 2 litters a year with a gestation period of 1 month. Their eating habits are similar to other squirrels. Chipmunks can cause problems for people. When their food becomes scarce, they will feed on the roots of plants and shrubs, and can destroy your plants and shrubs in the yard. Chipmunks can also undermine foundations, driveways, and sidewalks by their tunneling and removing the dirt from underneath these areas. Rain and water erodes even more dirt and can cause serious problems in the future. They can be controlled but not eradicated using aggressive trapping methods.

Opossums: Opossums are primarily nocturnal (active at night). They are the only marsupial (pouch bearing) mammal in North America. They can have a litter up to 14 and a gestation period of only 2 weeks. Opossums are opportunistic scavengers’, they will steal garbage and pet food which usually causes problems for people.  They can distress pets, and if cornered, they can give a nasty bite. They often like to live under sheds or decks and in attics and crawl spaces. When an opossum lives in an attic or crawl space, they leave a lot of feces and they can spread fleas and other parasites. They can also cause destruction tearing up insulation and ducts. In addition, opossums very frequently die inside buildings, inside the attic or walls, and the smell of a rotting opossum body is horrible.  The best control methods are trapping and excluding any entries to prevent future entry.

Armadillos: Armadillos are a non-native species and have been rapidly migrating northward throughout the state. They are primarily nocturnal (active at night). They have a litter usually in March with 4 identical babies. The offspring will stay with the mother through the summer. Armadillos feed on grubs, worms and other insects just underneath the soil layer. They are considered a nuisance because of their digging and burrowing. The most common complaints include their presence being alarming to pets, burrowing large tunnels under structures for den sites, digging small holes all over properties and uprooting mulch beds and landscaping to feed. Their burrowing will cause cracking of concrete and damage to pipes. For these reasons, many people wish to have this nuisance animal trapped and removed.

Rats: Rats are becoming a very large problem in Georgia. They have adapted to living with humans and love to occupy attics and crawl spaces. They can have litters ranging from 2-12 with a short gestation period of 3 weeks. The female enters a postpartum estrus period 18 hours after giving birth and can breed again. The females can breed up to 7 times a year. Because their reproductive rates are such, they can move into an area and quickly multiply and cause major damage to structures and crops. Rats like squirrels, love to chew, and will chew on houses, wires, ducts, and pipes. Rats are very opportunistic feeders and will invade the living space looking for food. The 2 types of rats in Georgia are the Norway rat and the Roof rat. Norway rats are larger in body size and generally nest in burrows while the Roof rats are more arboreal and nest in trees and higher places. There are over 30 different types of diseases that are associated with rats and their feces. Some diseases are more prevalent in certain parts of the country. These rodents may be the most commonly known nuisance mammal species worldwide and control and exclusion methods must be done properly to prevent infestations.

Mice: The House Mouse and Field Mouse are the most common mice inside people's homes. They are usually around three inches long and weigh less than an ounce. They're quite a bit smaller than rats. They can have up to a 12 litters a year, and up to 12 in a litter.  Their reproductive potential is higher than rats but they rarely live longer than a year in the wild. They behave similarly to rats and can pose the same problems as rats. Control and exclusion methods need to be done properly to prevent infestations.

Moles: Moles spend the majority of their life under ground.  They usually have 1 litter in the spring ranging from 2-5 with a gestation period of 5 weeks. The offspring will stay with the mother for a short period of time. Moles are generally solitary animals throughout the year until breeding season.  Moles have 2 distinct tunnel systems, feeding tunnels and main tunnels. They feed on grubs, worms, and other insects underground. These animals become a problem for humans when they move in to our properties and tunnel through our lawn and landscaping to feed. Many people simply don't like the destruction to their lawn and landscaping, so the moles need to be removed by trapping or poisoning methods.

Groundhogs: Groundhogs or Woodchucks are large rodents. They breed in late winter and have a litter ranging from 3-6 in the spring. They are primarily diurnal (active during the day) and they are herbivorous, eating a wide variety of plants. Groundhogs are diggers. They excavate tunnels and burrows underground, in which they live and raise their young. The main tunnel may have up to five entrances and 50 feet of total tunnel distance. They create a den to live in, and to hibernate in. Groundhogs are considered agricultural pests, since they love to eat a wide variety of crops. However, their burrowing habits often cause a bigger problem. Horses can break their legs by stepping into burrows, and when a groundhog digs under a house or deck, the removal of soil can undermine the foundation. If groundhogs are causing a problem they need to be trapped and removed from the property.

Skunks: Skunks are primarily nocturnal (active at night). They generally mate in late winter and have a litter ranging from 3-6 with a gestation period of 2-3 months. The offspring will stay with the mother for a year before moving on to establish their own family. Skunks are omnivores eating both plant and animal matter, but really seem to prefer insects . They very frequently inhabit human structures and will live under sheds, porches, decks, and in crawl spaces. One of the largest concerns with skunks is their odor. They may discharge or scent mark the areas they inhabit, creating an unpleasant odor. Many people don't like skunks on their property, because of fear of stumbling across one and getting sprayed. There's also the problem of pets confronting a skunk and getting sprayed. In addition, they can also do a lot of digging, and burrowing causing damage to lawns. Skunks need to trapped and removed and any entry points excluded to prevent future entry.

Beavers: Beavers are the largest rodent in North America. They are primarily nocturnal (active at night). They generally mate in late winter and have a litter ranging from 2-5 with a gestation period of 2-3 months. The offspring will stay in their home range for 2 years before moving on to establish their own family. Beavers will generally live in groups up to 8 or more and will chew down trees and twigs, and bring them back to the home den to store for feeding. They are extreme engineers, and will build dams in many different situations to make a pond. They build a lodge within this pond, in which they live. They will also build canals in order to travel and transport wood. One of the main problems beavers cause, is that they flood areas with their dams and compromise existing pond banks or protective barriers. They can cause a number of other problems such as, chewing down ornamentals and landscaping, flooding of property, and flooding of roadways. If left undisturbed, beavers can change entire ecosystems to suit them. They need to trapped and removed from the property.

Foxes and Coyotes: Foxes and coyotes are mostly nocturnal but can be active during the day. They are very adaptable depending on food availability. They both have 1 litter a year and numbers of offspring and times of breeding can vary greatly. Fox are more solitary animals than coyotes. Coyotes will pack up in larger numbers. They both will eat a wide variety of foods, and will often scavenge but primarily feed on smaller animals like rabbits and other rodents. These animals are becoming more of a problem for humans. They are moving into neighborhoods feeding on smaller pets and living in close quarters with us with no natural predators to keep their populations down. They are also approaching humans and becoming less scared of us in general. They both can carry rabies, just like any canine. These animals can be trapped and removed from an area but can be very time consuming and costly.

Birds: There are many different birds that cause nuisance problems. Birds are usually classified as a nuisance when they roost on and in buildings or in public areas. The most common complaints are Pigeons roosting on or in buildings leaving droppings everywhere, Canada Goose foraging and leaving droppings everywhere, Woodpeckers damaging siding to excavate nesting cavities or searching for food, and Chimney Swifts living in chimneys making a lot of noise. Bird droppings can cause serious damage to structures. They can deteriorate almost any kind of material. The uric acid in bird droppings can damage roofs, corrode wires, even steel beams over time. Other than damage to structures they leave behind nesting material which can cause fire hazards. Bird droppings can be very hazardous to our health. There are over 40 diseases associated with bird droppings that can be ingested by food or inhaled through air borne spores. Here are some to name a few: Histoplasmosis, Salmonella, Typhoid, Tuberculosis, Encephalitis, Pox, and many more. There are many different methods to solve any bird related problem.  Some species of birds are protected by either federal or state laws. You need to contact a professional to discuss your options.

Bats: Bats are the only group of flying mammals. They are insectivores and not the blood thirsty animals they have been portrayed to be. Bats are very beneficial to us and the environment because of the amount of insects they consume. They become a problem when they roost in buildings and homes. They can be noisy and unsettling at dusk and dawn as swarms of them fly in and out, but the main problem is that they leave their droppings (guano) and urine behind which causes a very strong pungent odor. With larger colonies of bats, this really adds up. After a while large piles of guano form. Once the guano decomposes into a soil layer it becomes susceptible to growing fungus. The main health concern is with fungal spores that people can breathe in. Histoplasmosis is the most common fungal disease that is associated with bat guano. Bats are protected in some states and excluding them from your home needs to be left to a professional.

Snakes: There are over 40 species of snakes in Georgia. Only 6 species are venomous and harmful to humans. The rattle snakes (timber, diamond, and pygmy), cotton mouths or water moccasins, copperheads, and coral snakes. All other species of snakes are relatively harmless to humans. Snakes vary in size and color and even snakes in the same family can differ in colorations and markings, which makes identifying them difficult. Snakes are very beneficial to the environment by feeding on and controlling insect and rodent populations. The best thing to do if you encounter a snake is to move away slowly and give the snake a way out.  Most incidents happen when people try to kill a snake or get to close.  The most common snake found in and around human structures is the rat snake. They are excellent climbers and will follow the scents of rodents into a structure. Snakes are usually considered a nuisance due to people's fear of the animal. They become a nuisance when their living in the attic or crawl space or under a deck, found in the swimming pool, or seen in the yard or on your property. Snakes can be hand removed by a professional and any entry points excluded to prevent future entry. Information by a professional can be given to alter any property to make it less desirable for snakes to inhabit.

Bees, Wasps, Hornets, and Yellow Jackets:  There are many species of stinging insects. Most insect stings occur during late summer and fall when stinging insects are most abundant. Generally, these insects will not sting unless stepped on, touched, annoyed, or protecting their nest. Most stinging wasps and bees are beneficial but when they pose a direct hazard to humans nesting in close quarters, they become a nuisance. You should take extreme caution in dealing with any stinging insect.  They can cause serious pain and even serious injury if allergic to their sting. Your body can always have an adverse reaction to an insect sting, even if you think you are not allergic. The most common nuisance stinging insects are Hornets, Wasps, and Yellow Jackets. These are all Paper Wasps. They construct their nest out of secretions from their mouth that turn into the paper like material you see. Hornets are the larger paper wasps and build nests that look like a football.  They can build these large nests in a short period of time, generally in 4-6 weeks. They can be very agitated with lawn equipment, very aggressive in protecting their nest, and can pose serious problems when encountered. Wasps vary in size and color and build open face nests all over, in, and around your home. These are the easiest paper wasp to run into because of how small their nests are and where they decide to build them. Yellow Jackets are the smaller paper wasp. They generally nest in the ground but will occasionally nest in wall voids or soffits around your home. They are very aggressive like hornets and feel they need to protect their nest. Dealing with any stinging insects should be left to a professional.

Honeybees: Honeybees are very beneficial to the environment. They are excellent pollinators and are usually docile when encountered.  They become a nuisance when they decide to build their hives in your wall voids or soffits. Honeybees can be removed by using chemicals or live removal of the entire hive. A lot of people prefer to remove Honeybees without chemicals because of how important they are to the environment. 

Dead Animals: Sometimes the wildlife living in and around homes or buildings dies. This can be a problem because of the terrible odor produced by a decomposing carcass, the presence of swarms of flies and insects attracted to the carcass, the concern over health risks associated with the carcass and what’s attracted to it, and any staining or discoloration to ceiling or walls. The rotting body needs to be removed and the area disinfected and deodorized.