What You Need to Know About Beavers

Although you wouldn’t immediately think so, beavers are actually categorized as a common nuisance wildlife species here in Indiana. There are many land damages that can result from localized beaver activity, all of which can pose even more serious hazards and threats. Areas that are heavily populated with beavers should take extra precaution. This is especially true for homes and businesses located near moderately-large bodies of water, like streams and ponds.

Continue below to learn some important facts about beavers. Get to know them better so that you can better control their nuisance activities and behaviors.

Beaver Critter Control Indianapolis Indiana 317-875-3099
Beaver Critter Control Indianapolis Indiana 317-875-3099

Facts About Beavers You Should Know

If you live in an area populated by beavers, these are the facts you need to know. Understanding beaver lifestyle and behavior can help you better protect your property from animal damages.

Beaver Biology

Are beavers rodents? Yes, they are! The American Beaver, scientifically called Castor canadensis, is actually the largest rodent in North America. In fact, they are the second largest rodent in the entire world! Beavers are indeed large, capable of reaching 70 pounds or more in adulthood. As semi-aquatic mammals, they spend the majority of their time in and around water.

Beaver Reproduction

A fun fact about beavers is that they mate for life. Once a male and female partner up, they stick together forever! They birth their young in the late spring, usually around May. Their offspring, called kits, are born with a full set of teeth, a coat of fur, and open eyes. In fact, they are swimming within the first 24 hours! Within two years, young beavers take on an adult role and venture out on their own.

Beaver Behavior

They are a family-oriented species, so if you see one, there are definitely more. Beavers tend to stick in pods of 8 to 10, but that number can fluctuate depending on the local regional conditions. As a family-friendly species, beavers are also protective and territorial, often marking local mud puddles with their urine.

Beavers are mostly nocturnal, meaning they are active between the hours of dusk and dawn. During this time, they forage for food, add onto their dams, and build underwater canal systems. Beavers are herbivores, meaning they only eat plant matter. They chew and gnaw down trees and take twigs back to their lodges for food storage.

Nuisance Beaver Control

Beavers are known for their dams, which they build in streams to make a pond. This can be a big problem in urban and metro areas. Their underwater canal systems can also do quite a bit of destruction to the local lands. Their dams can cause flooding, destroy creeks and streams, and even kill trees. How can you stop a nuisance beaver problem? Sometimes, beavers are too destructive, and must be trapped and relocated, but in most cases, beavers can be a beneficial asset with the right animal control and mitigation plan in place.

Are you ready to talk to a licensed wildlife professional about your beaver abatement options? Contact Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 for trusted and affordable critter control for beavers in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve residential and commercial clients. Request a free quote, anytime.

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Top 3 Signs That There is a Dead Animal Close By

A dead animal is essentially a rotting carcass full of evolving bacteria, viruses, and other dangerous microorganisms. If you ever spot a dead animal carcass, whether a small bird or a roadside buck, it is important to keep clear and if necessary, notify the proper wildlife and gaming authorities in town. Whether out on a walk in the neighborhood, trailing along your favorite community hiking path, biking in the park, or strolling within the boundaries of your own backyard, you may come across some common signs of a nearby dead animal. Although it is best to stay away from a dead animal, if you do come across one, you should know what to do.

Continue below to learn the top three signs that indicate the presence of a dead animal within your proximity, plus what to do if you come across one.

Nashville Dead Animal Removal 615-337-9165
Nashville Dead Animal Removal 615-337-9165

How to Tell if There is a Dead Animal in Range

A dead animal carcass produces a lingering, foul smell, as well as pest outbreaks and scavenger activity. If you spot one or more of these signs, you can safely assume there is a dead animal carcass somewhere, close within range.

Dead Animal Smell

The most distinctive and distinguishable sign of a nearby dead animal is the smell. If you have ever smelled rotten meat, you have come close to experiencing the smell of a deceased carcass. Imagine that smell, but 100 times more putrid. Once you have smelled dead animal smell, you will never forget the odor. Furthermore, the smell can travel quite a distance, up to 20 feet or more, often making it the first noticeable sign of a nearby dead animal.

Pest Outbreaks

If you are out walking or biking, and you come across a massive swarm of insects or ants, it could very well be due to a nearby dead animal. Flies, gnats, and ants are common pest outbreaks that occur near or on a dead animal carcass. Flies lead to maggots, too. If you notice a large accumulation of insects or pests like these, you would not be far off to assume that there is a dead animal somewhere close by.

Scavenger Activity

A dead animal is a perfectly convenient meal for many other living ones. Animals like rats, crows, hawks, vultures, coyotes, and sometimes opossum are prevalent scavengers, and will quickly jump on the opportune meal if they cross paths with another dead animal. If you notice heightened activity of these scavenger species, they could be attracted to a carcass.

What to Do if You Find a Dead Animal

If you ever come across dead animal, just stop right there. Stay away from it. Do not attempt to touch it or use an object to move it. To be safe, maintain a 3 foot distance from the dead animal carcass. If you are out in nature, just leave it alone and let nature take its course. Dead animals play an important role in the Eco-system.

If the dead animal is on your property within areas frequented by people or pets, moving it is probably the best choice. You can choose to do this yourself by using dead animal relocation best practices, such as placing a shoe box on top, sliding the lid underneath to secure it, and burying it deep into the ground somewhere far away from your property. Or, you can hire professional dead animal removal services. The latter is strongly encouraged.

Are you having trouble taming the nuisance wildlife around your property? Contact Budget Animal Removal at 615-337-9165 for TWRA licensed and insured animal removal services in Nashville, Tennessee. We serve residential and commercial clients.

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Tennessee Wildlife Removal and Control 615-337-9165
Tennessee Wildlife Removal and Control 615-337-9165

Is a Ringtailed Cat a Raccoon?

The quick answer to this question is, yes. Continue reading to learn more about the Ringtailed Cat, and how they relate and differ from their distance relative, the raccoon.

Raccoon Control Indianapolis Indiana 317-875-3099
Raccoon Control Indianapolis Indiana 317-875-3099

Facts About Ring-Tailed Cats

The Ringtailed is a mammal that is a part of the raccoon family, Procyonidae. They are scientifically known as Bassariscus astutus, and sometimes referred to as “miner’s cat” or “bassarisk.” Although they are much different from the common raccoon we know, you would be surprised to learn that they are similar in many respects, including appearance, behavior, diet, and more.

Appearance

Ringtailed cats have upright ears, pointy snouts, long whiskers, and large black eyes that are surrounded by light-colored fur. Their bodies are covered in a semi-soft, thick fur that comes in various shades, ranging from buff and beige hues to dark browns and black.

Their most distinguishable trait is their raccoon-like black and white striped tail. It is longer than their actual body, usually between 14 and 16 inches. They use it for balance, camouflage, and protection from predators. It is the trait that gives them their name. And they also have short, straight, semi-retractable claws that aid in climbing.

As for size, adults are generally similar in size to a standard house cat. From head to rear (not to tail), they range between 12 and 17 inches, and weigh on average between 1.5 to 3.5 pounds. 

Diet

Like their relative, the raccoon, they are omnivores, which means they eat both meat and vegetation. Meat choices include bugs, small mammals, and small invertebrates, such as insects, fish, frogs, snakes, lizards, mice, rats, rabbits, and even ground squirrels. While vegetation includes seeds, plant matter, berries, juniper, persimmons, nectar, prickly pear, and more. They will eat whatever is in season and readily available to them.

Behavior

Ringtails are nocturnal, just like raccoons. They have terrific hearing and vision, which allows them to navigate in the dark and forage for food. They use a series of barking, clicking, and chattering sounds just like raccoons as well.

They are quite solitary too, usually going about their business alone until mating season in spring. They are hardly seen around human activity and keep their distance as much as possible. Their primary predators vary from region to region, but include bobcats, coyotes, foxes, owls, hawks, and more.

Reproduction

Spring is mating season for Ringtailed cats. Males care for females during their gestation period, which lasts an average of 45 to 50 days. They bring them food and protect them from predators. Females generally give birth to 1 or 2 baby ring tailed cats, called pups.

After a month, pups will open their eyes. From there, they will stay with their mother until they can hunt for themselves. This usually takes place between 4 and 6 months, but sexual maturity isn’t reached until 10 months. After that, ring tails live in solitude until it is time to mate.

Are raccoons becoming a nuisance around your residential or commercial property in Indiana? Contact Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 for DNR licensed and insured racoon control in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties. Request a free estimate or advice, today!

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