They can cause a hefty amount of damage to a home if they manage to wriggle their way into an attic.ħ. Their hand-like paws can easily grasp things, allowing them to tear away at roofing or small holes created by other animals. Raccoons may reside in attics, crawl spaces, sheds, and under porches. They are opportunistic feeders, meaning they take advantage of a wide variety of food sources, including nuts, berries, eggs, small rodents, and occasionally human or pet food left outside. However, they may create small holes in yards as they forage for insects. Similar to opossums, raccoons do not burrow. They have a black nose, white facial coloration above the eyes and on the sides of the snout, and a grayish-black body with a bushy, ringed tail. They are easily identifiable by the black patches around their eyes that resemble a mask. Raccoons are nocturnal creatures that can be found lurking around homes and rummaging through garbage that has been left out. Even though their presence may not be appreciated by homeowners, possums are actually very helpful in reducing harmful insect and rodent populations. They have white faces with gray bodies and long, bare prehensile tails that are able to grasp things.Īlthough possums do not dig or burrow, they can be found hiding under decks, porches, sheds, and accessible crawl spaces. The only marsupial native to North America is the Virginia Opossum, Didelphis virginiana. Opossums are nocturnal marsupials that like to linger around decks and porches. On top of damaged lawns, voles also destroy shrubbery and trees as they like to nibble on roots and bark.ĥ. Homeowners are likely to see lawn damage after winter. You may also like: What Animals Eat Cucumbers?Ĭommon signs of vole damage include interconnected runways and small holes scattered throughout a yard. Voles have stubby snouts, light to dark brown fur, and are fairly small as they grow to be about seven inches (17.8 cm) in length. Voles are often mistaken for moles and shrews, however, voles do not create prominent ridge-like surface tunnels and they do not have long, pointy snouts that moles and shrews possess. Rat infestations within a home can cause an immense amount of damage to structures by gnawing, urination, and nesting.Ĥ. Wild rats live in large communities and breed rapidly as females have the ability to give birth to over 10 babies in one litter and are in heat every four to five days. Because of their intelligence, rats are very difficult to trap and often go unseen as they are nocturnal creatures. Rats like to burrow and seek refuge in attics and underneath homes. They have great hearing with highly sensitive whiskers that help them identify their surroundings. Rats are very clean, intelligent rodents that are either a beloved pet or pesky burden to homeowners. Their eating habits and burrows can destroy gardens and the foundation of a home. Groundhogs can build large burrow systems, with some reaching over 60 feet (18 m) in length. These creatures can vary in color, but are typically reddish-brown, light brown, or grayish-brown with cream coloration on their face.
Groundhogs spend much of their life eating in the warmer months and sleeping, or hibernating, in winter months. They are commonly referred to as “woodchucks” and can typically be seen munching on roadsides and in yards. Groundhogs are fairly large rodents, a part of the marmot family. Although moles contribute greatly to insect control and soil aeration, their burrows can cause a substantial amount of damage to yards and building foundations. Their large forepaws and strong claws help them dig with ease. A common indicator that moles are occupying an area is the distinct ridge-like tunnels that appear on the surface of the ground, known as molehills. Moles spend much of their life underground building complex burrows that are used for shelter and nesting. The Eastern Mole, Scalopus aquaticus, is one of the most common moles in North America and can be found in the eastern and central portion of the United States. There are more than 40 mole species in the world, seven of which are native to North America.
Moles are small rodents that create large burrow systems that can take over an entire yard. In this article, we’ll discuss several species that may be lurking around your home and the damage they could potentially cause. Small holes and meandering raised tunnels around a yard or near the foundation of a house is a clear sign that critters may be digging and burrowing on your property. These species are known as subterranean animals and have the ability to create problems for homeowners as they can disturb the foundation of a home. Certain species have adapted to life underground and are able to create complex burrow systems that provide them with a safe place to live. There are many animals that live under houses in order to seek refuge and forage for food.
0 kommentar(er)
