Chipmunk Facts That Will Help You Protect Your Home and Garden

Posted on December 20, 2021 by Budgetanimal

Winter is almost here. In fact, tomorrow is the official first day of winter! If you love the cooler season here in Indiana, then you have much to look forward to. But as a respectable homeowner, be sure to watch out for winter pests, like chipmunks! This time of year, chipmunks tend to cause a load of problems for homeowners. If you are struggling with a nuisance chipmunk population near your home, it is time to fortify your animal control arsenal with some seasonal animal-proofing tactics.

Continue below to learn some helpful facts about chipmunks that can in turn, help you better protect your home and gardens, year-round!

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Chipmunk Facts You Might Not Know

Chipmunks are part of the Sciuridae family, just as squirrels! So yes, they are technically rodents. Like other rodents, they dig underground burrows where they store their food reserves. This can serve as a problem for homeowners come spring, when they realize they have a soft, bouncy lawn.

As omnivores, chipmunks eat a variety of foods, from seeds and nuts to grass, flowerbeds, mushrooms, insects, worms, and even small frogs or freshly hatched the birds. In the situation of nuisance chipmunks, they leave anything you are growing in your garden, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Adult chipmunks are pretty much solitary, and travel alone most of the year. Once mating season arrives, they partner up to breed, but then part ways once again. However, if you find a chipmunk burrow or system of tunnels, it is likely that more than one chipmunk resides inside.

Chipmunk Removal and Control

Chipmunks sure are cute, especially as babies. But regardless of their fluffiness and quirky behaviors, chipmunks do not make great house guests, let alone visitors to your lawn. Chipmunks can be quite destructive, even more so if they access the interior of your home.

This time of year, chipmunks are looking for warm and safe shelter to wait out the winter season. This might be a hollowed tree, gutter, birdhouse, or your attic! In the spring and summer, you can expect localized chipmunk populations to be after your gardens and flowerbeds, too!

If you are dealing with an increasing number of chipmunks on your property, now is the time to take action. Animal-proofing is the best strategy for nuisance chipmunk control, which starts with environmental modification and professional wildlife removal assistance.

Are nuisance chipmunks a problem on your property? Or worse, do you suspect you have chipmunks in the attic or chimney? If so, contact Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 for safe and humane chipmunk control service in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve residential and commercial clients.

Common Signs That You Have Bats in the Attic

Posted on December 13, 2021 by Budgetanimal

Your home is your sanctuary. You expect to be in full control of its overall structural integrity. So, when you suspect that bats are roosting in your attic quarters, it is important to act fast. The longer bats reside inside your house, the more damage they will cause. Not only do bats cause a massive amount of structural damage, but they also generate an unsanitary and unhygienic environment that can lead to serious health complications. If these risks weren’t bad enough, bats are also known carriers of several infectious diseases, including the Rabies virus.

Not sure if bats are an issue in your home? It is better to be on top of your animal-proofing than to be too late. Continue reading to learn the most common signs of bats in the attic so that you can catch an infestation early on and abate invasive repairs or threats to your health.

Bats are Dangerous and Destructive

You do not want bats as house guests. They are highly destructive, both inside and out. When bats are roosting in attics, they tend to rip away and soil all of the insulation, including insulation in wall voids. Their droppings will also saturate and soil floorboards and electrical wiring, which leads to ceiling and wall stains in the living areas of your home, lingering odors, and even fire hazards. Bats will also chew electrical wiring, which can pose all sorts of safety and structural catastrophes. If you store cherished belongings in your attic, they can destroy those too.

Additionally, bat poop, or guano, can grow fungal spores that can become airborne and travel through the home’s ductwork. This can cause a serious illness in both people and pets known as Histoplasmosis, an upper respiratory infection. Needless to say, you do not want a bat infestation anywhere near your home, especially inside your attic.

What to Look For if You Suspect Bats in the Attic:

► Strange Noises Overnight

Bats are nocturnal, so they are active from night until dawn. One of the most common signs of bats in the house is hearing strange noises inside the walls or ceiling. Such noises can be described as chattering, squeaking, squealing, or screeching. You may also hear shuffling as bats meander through the attic space.

► Lingering Odors

As mentioned, bat droppings and urine can saturate the space they occupy. Once the accumulation has reached an absorbent amount, it can begin to leak through attic floorboards and into ceilings, walls, and even hanging artwork. Although the stains might not be apparent yet, a lingering odor usually is by this point. If you are detecting a foul smell in your home that you cannot identify, and it seems to be concentrated to one particular area, it could be bats in the attic.

► Bat Droppings

Another common indicator of bats in the attic is guano sightings, typically around windowsills or near roof edges. If you notice guano around your attic vents or windows, on the roof, or even inside the attic, it could very well be from a localized bat infestation.

Do you think you might have bats in the attic or around your house? Contact Budget Animal Removal at 615-337-9165 for TWRA licensed and insured Nashville, Tennessee critter control for bats. We serve residential and commercial clients.

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How to Protect Your Pets From Predator Birds

Posted on December 8, 2021 by Budgetanimal

Predator birds, or birds of prey, are bird species that hunt and consume other small animals, such as rodents, rabbits, snakes, frogs, small birds, and sadly, small dogs and cats. That’s right; here in the Midwest, common birds of prey like hawks and vultures will purse an outdoor pet for an easy meal. Equipped with hook-tipped beaks and talons, a predator bird can swoop up your beloved furry friend in a matter of seconds.

For this reason, it is important to implement all the necessary strategies to protect your dogs and cats from becoming victims of a preying eagle or owl, especially in Indiana where these species are quite prevalent.

Continue reading to learn how to keep your pets safe from predator birds in Indiana.

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Birds of Prey in Indiana

There are many species of birds of prey, but all can be categorized in one of two orders: Falconiformes (hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures) and Strigiformes (owls). Falconiformes are diurnal species, meaning they are active during the daytime. Strigiformes, like Great Horned Owls, are nocturnal birds, and prey from dusk to dawn.

The most common predatory birds in Indiana are owls, hawks, eagles, vultures, and falcons. Specifically, the bird species to watch out for when it comes to protecting your pets include the Red-Tailed Hawks, Golden Eagles, and Great Horned Owls (pictured above). Puppies and kittens are at the most risk since they are the smallest and slowest.

The Best Protection Against Predator Birds

The best method for protecting your outdoor-loving pets from birds of prey in Indiana is bird abatement. You must modify your environment to keep the birds away as much as possible. Basically, you do not want your property to be an attractive spot for predator birds. Some common strategies for bird abatement include maintaining clean property grounds, installing bird control devices, staying on top of routine tree work, removing all bird feeders and baths, and incorporating a pest mitigation plan.

► Clean Property – Keeping your property clear of debris can thwart other yard pests from coming through, like mice, rats, rabbits, and snakes. Without any places to hide, these pests will steer clear of your grounds, which means predator birds have nothing to prey on near your residence.

► Bird Control Devices – There are several critter control devices and technologies that can displace or divert bird activity on your property. Such devices include ultrasonic repellents, reflective metal tape, bird spikes, bird nets, bird balloons, and scarecrow owls.

► Tree Care – By keeping your landscaping trees properly trimmed and pruned all year long will abate bird activity because birds will have little privacy or available nesting areas.

► Pest Control – You can take care of other pests on your property that attract birds of prey, like mice, rats, and snakes. Removing these critters will reduce the meal options in your area, thus triggering predator birds to move onto a more fruitful location.

Professional Bird Removal and Control

The most effective strategy for getting rid of nuisance or predator birds around your property is professional wildlife abatement. Professional critter control for birds provides a comprehensive program of protection and security, year-round. Consider them the efficient source for optimizing your bird control plan and budget.

Do you need to get rid of nuisance birds in Indiana? Contact Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 for professional bird removal and control in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve residential and commercial clients and offer animal cleanup services.