Wildlife Control

HOW TO INDENTIFY WILDLIFE

Skunks: Most skunks are black and white, but they can also be brown or grey. Skunks can have one or two stripes, or white spots and broken stripes across their back and tail. Skunks have excellent senses of smell and hearing, but their eyesight is extremely poor. They cannot see much beyond 10 feet, which is why they are often run over by passing vehicles. The lifespan of a skunk is approximately three years. Skunks produce their offensive scent in two anal glands which they fire off in defence as a last resort when their threatening dance of hissing, foot stamping and tail raising has not had the desired effect.

Squirrels: Tree squirrels include over a hundred species that are found on all continents except Antarctica and Australia. Tree squirrels live mostly among trees, as opposed to other squirrels that live in burrows in the ground or between rocks.

Pocket Gophers: Pocket gophers weigh around half a pound. They are about 6–8 inches long in body length, with a tail that is 1–2 inches long. A few species reach weights approaching 1 kg. Within any species, the males are larger than the females and can be nearly double their weight. A pocket gophers lifespan is normally one to three years. The maximum life span for a pocket gopher is approximately five years. Most gophers have brown fur that often closely matches the color of the soil in which they live. Their most characteristic features are their large cheek pouches, from which the word “pocket” in their name is derived. These pouches are fur-lined and can be turned inside out. They extend from the side of the mouth well back onto the shoulders. They have small eyes and a short, hairy tail, which they use to feel around tunnels when they walk backwards.

Raccoons: The raccoon is about 2 – 3 feet long and weighs approximately 10 to 30 pounds. It is distinctively marked, with a prominent black ‘mask’ over the eyes and a heavily furred, ringed tail. The animal is a grizzled salt-and-pepper gray and black, although some individuals are strongly washed with yellow. Raccoons from the prairie areas are paler in color than those from eastern portions of the region. Captive raccoons have been known to live for more than 20 years. Raccoons life expectancy in the wild is about 1.8 to 3.1 years, depending on the local conditions in terms of traffic volume, hunting, and weather severity. With the harsh winters in Calgary, one would expect the life expectancy to be on the lower end.

OUR SOLUTION

One of the first steps with any wildlife removal program is to take the time to confirm which pest is bothering you. At Peregrine, we have a variety of tools such as thermal cameras, snake cameras, and pest cameras to help identify animals in wall voids, roof voids, and under steps, etc. Once we have confirmed that there is a wildlife problem, the two most common wildlife removal methods include the use of one-way doors and live trapping. Once the wildlife has been removed from the structure, the entrance point(s) can be repaired, and remediation can be done on any latrines that the wildlife may have created. The wildlife removal programs we use at Peregrine focus on passive deterrence, exclusion systems, and live trapping. Ask to your pest control service technician about the best solution for your structure.

COMMON CONCERNS

If I hear noises in my attic, what could it be?

Always remember the knock test. Knock on the wall where you are hearing the noise. If the noise stops, then reoccurs in the same general area within a couple of minutes, then it is probably mice due to a freeze response. Larger wildlife tends to have a flight response and will flee disturbance.

Do you guarantee your work?

We stand behind all our work. Should any problems arise within 12 months of the job, we will return for no extra charge, completely hassle-free.