Why You Need to Protect Your Home From Skunks Right Now

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Budgetanimal

Many people assume that skunks hibernate during the winter, but this is not true. Although skunks are certainly more active in the spring and summer months, in the winter, they have plenty to do, and they sure do get it done! Just around the corner is February, which is prime skunk mating season. This means that skunks are active right now, and on the hunt for a mate, and for a place to birth and raise their young.

For those who live near wooded or forested areas, or large bodies of water, you could be at a higher risk for nuisance skunk intrusions and subsequent damages. Even if you do not live in areas like these, skunks are commonly known to wander through urban and suburban neighborhoods, causing all sorts of mayhem. What kind of mayhem? Well, skunks are quite destructive.

Continue reading to learn why you do not want skunks around your property right now, and how to protect your property from the increased skunk activity during their February mating season.

Indiana Skunk Removal and Control 317-875-3099

Skunks Spray Their Scent During Mating Season

February is skunk mating season, which is just one week away. Right now, skunks are out and about, searching for potential partners and places to raise their offspring. Skunks have been known to wander up to a 50 mile radius looking for a mate, so they certainly get around town. One primary way that skunks attract their potential female mates is by spraying their scent. To make matters worse, when females turn down a male partner, they spray their scent back! You do not want this tell-tale odor lurking and lingering around your property!

Skunks Find Shelter in Residential Spots

Skunks are a nuisance animal because they are intrusive and destructive. In residential and metro areas, they typically look for shelter in anything they can access. Most often, wildlife removal companies get calls about skunks under the porch, skunks in the crawl space, and even skunks in log piles, barns, and sheds. Once they have found a place to den and raise their young, you can expect them to make an awful mess. Not only will their food scraps leave behind an unhygienic and unsanitary mess that can attract pests and parasites, but their droppings will be around too, as they freely use the outer areas of their dens as bathrooms.

Furthermore, skunks are common carriers of several infectious disease, including the Rabies virus, which can be transmitted to both people and pets. They also carry disgusting parasites like lice, ticks, and more. If you have a curious pup, you do not want them having a dangerous encounter with a diseased skunk!

Skunks Will Destroy Your Lawn for Grubs

Skunks can reproduce up to 7 baby skunks per litter, known as kits. Not only will skunks be birthing their litters come early March or late April, but they will need to feed too! Skunks are omnivorous species, meaning they eat both plant and animal matter. Skunks favorite source of food are grassy lawns, where they can use their long, sharp claws to dig up sod and access the juicy grubs and worms below. After mating season, skunks are even more prevalent, and can cause more lawn destruction than any other time of year.

Your Top Solution to Skunk Control in Indianapolis, Indiana

Call Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 for fast and affordable animal removal and control services for nuisance skunks in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our DNR licensed skunk trappers offer skunk removal, skunk control, skunk trapping, clean up and minor restorations, 24 hour emergency service, free estimates, and more! In fact, just entrust all of your wildlife removal and control needs to the DNR licensed and insured professionals at Budget Animal Removal. Request a free estimate, today.

3 Ways to Protect Your Bird Feeders From Squirrels and Chipmunks

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Budgetanimal

Wintertime is not the best time for admiring nature’s wildlife, as most are snuggled and hidden away in their winter dens. But birds are a beautiful and abundant species that remain active yearlong, leading many of us to install bird houses and bird feeders in our yards. Too bad squirrels and chipmunks are not always a part of that hibernating crowd, because they are notorious for pillaging bird feeders all winter long!

If nuisance squirrels and chipmunks are hindering your bird watching pleasure this season, continue reading to learn the top 3 best ways to protect bird seed feeders from these winter thieves!

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How to Safely Stop Squirrels and Chipmunks From Stealing Bird Food

☑ Install a Squirrel Dome

A squirrel dome is an attachment that you can put below or above a bird feeder. They can be found at supermarkets, home stores, and online. For bird houses that hang from something above, the dome is placed above the bird feeder. When it’s in place, the squirrel cannot gain traction long enough to climb under the dome and get to the seed. If you have bird houses that are hung from a shorter pole that stakes into the ground, the dome should be placed under the feeder. This way, when squirrels try to climb the staked pole, they can only reach the inside of the dome, and cannot get above it to the bird feeder. A squirrel dome is an inexpensive and immediate solution to conserving your bird feed.

☑ Make Your Own Repellent Spray

There is a product on the market that can be found at home stores, grocery stores, department stores, and pet stores called squirrel repellent spray. It comes in a simple and easy to use spray bottle and is inexpensive to purchase. Although the word “repellent” may seem harsh, it is actually 100% safe for the squirrels and birds. The directions say to spray the solution all over the bird house itself, as well as the bird seed. The birds do not mind the spray one bit, but the squirrels do not like the taste at all. This deters them from wanting the bird seed in the first place. If it doesn’t taste good, they won’t pursue it!

☑ Install a Squirrel Feeder

A friendlier approach would be to just give the squirrels their own food. This option is most helpful for homeowners with large populations of squirrels living near their property. There are squirrel toys on the market, such as picnic table-shaped squirrel feeders and spinning wheels that entertain families of all ages. Purchasing unshelled peanuts and placing them on the opposite side of the yard from the bird feeders can greatly reduce the amount of bird seed you go through.

Nashville, TN Squirrel and Chipmunk Control Services

Call Budget Animal Removal at 615-337-9165 for safe and humane Nashville, Tennessee wildlife removal and control services for nuisance squirrels and chipmunks. Our TWRA licensed and insured wildlife control specialists have more than 30 years of experience, and serve all of Middle Tennessee and the Greater Nashville areas, including Franklin, Brentwood, Murfreesboro, Nolensville, and Thompson’s Station. Our Nashville critter ridder specialists serve both residential and commercial clients, and also offer several complimentary amenities, including free phone quotes, estimates, advice, and referrals.

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How to Remove a Dead Animal From Your House

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Budgetanimal

Unfortunately for anyone who owns real estate, whether residential or commercial, wild animal intrusions are very common. And when they intrude, the damages are virtually infinite. To make matters worse, animal infestations, both inside and outside of a property, can easily go undetected for quite some time. In fact, the majority of animal intrusions serviced by professional critter control companies are initially detected by a foul smell. That foul smell is almost always a dead animal. Having live animals removed from your house is one thing, but dead animals require a bit more attention.

Continue reading to learn how to remove a dead animal from your house, safely, and without causing further damage to your property.

Indianapolis Dead Animal Removal 317-875-3099

Dead Animal Carcasses are Hazardous

Having a dead animal in or around your home is a health hazard. Not only do dead animal carcasses develop highly-dangerous bacteria and parasites that can be transmitted to people and pets, but they also rot, causing a disturbing and distinct smell of decomposition. Furthermore, dead animals also attract other unwanted pests, like flies, maggots, lice, and more. What it all boils down to is this: You do not want a dead animal anywhere near your house, whether inside or out. This is especially true for those with young children and curious, outdoor pets.

Signs Pointing Toward a Dead Animal

Always keep your eye out for the signs of a dead animal in or around your house. The most common sign is that smell of decay we just spoke of. You have certainly taken a walk through the woods or hang out by the lake shore, and during these times, you have likely smelled what dead animal smells like. The odor is very distinguished, and cannot be mistaken for anything else. It smells sour and putrid.

Generally, the stronger the smell, the larger the animal, or number of animals. In the warm seasons, this smell can spread throughout the entire property. Cold temperatures slow the decomposition process, which is why most animal infestations are caught in the spring. But don’t wait that long to have your home inspected for animal intrusions!

Another common sign are suspicious ceiling and wall stains. When a dead animal decays, let’s say in an attic or wall void, the muscle fibers and furs begin to rot and breakdown, which causes both an odor and an oily, greasy, watery substance. This substance can seep through floorboards and stain ceilings, or seep through sheetrock and stain walls.

How to Remove a Dead Animal

You should not attempt to remove a dead animal from your house on your own. As mentioned, dead animal carcasses contain highly dangerous bacteria and parasites that harm people and pets. For this reason, they must be handled, contained, transported, and cleaned up after, properly. Only a licensed and certified wildlife removal company can do this all for you. They have the proper training, permits, equipment, and resources to remove a dead animal safely, and decontaminate the exposed area. Best of all, they can implement the proper modifications to ensure your home is not intruded on by nuisance wildlife ever again!

Emergency Dead Animal Removal Service in Indianapolis, Indiana

Call Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 for affordable emergency dead animal removal services in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding areas. Our DNR licensed and insured wildlife rescue and control specialists offer nuisance wildlife abatement services, cleanup and minor restorations for animal damages, 24 hour emergency service, free estimates, and much more! Get started by requesting a free estimate or advice, today.