Critter Control in Essex County, Virginia
Essex County is a rural region in Virginia's middle peninsula on the Rappahannock River with access to the Chesapeake Bay. Comprised primarily of farmland, forests, and wetlands, the county is populated by only about
4,500 households as of 2019. Because of its rural nature and primary industries of agriculture, forestry, and fishing, Essex County is home to a wide variety of wildlife.
Farms provide a wealth of delicious food from fallen fruit and other crops, attracting small animals that often become unwanted house and barn guests. In Virginia, it is illegal to trap and relocate an animal to another area.
The Farmer's Almanac reports that raccoons thrive in both farmlands and woodland areas with streams and wetlands, which makes Essex County a prime location for raccoons and their mischief. They can and will eat livestock feed.
Rat and Mice Pest Control
Mice and rats have long been known to find food and cozy nesting places in barns and farmhouses. However, they carry disease and can contaminate farm feed and water supplies,
spreading disease to other animals.
When rodents move from barn to house, they can cause homeowners thousands in damage to insulation and wiring. Chewing on wiring can even cause fires. They are known to breed plentifully; a female rat can have up to six litters in one year.
Squirrels are a nuisance pest everywhere across the United States, and Virginia is no exception. There are
five species of squirrels in Virginia – Carolina northern flying squirrel, fox squirrel, gray squirrel, northern gray squirrel, and the Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel. Hosts to a variety of parasites and diseases, squirrels are best left outdoors.
Adorable when jumping from tree to tree outdoors, they can wreak havoc in your attic, shed, dormers or barn. Tearing up insulation, gnawing on wires, and making a lot of noise are some of their favorite activities. They mate two to three times per year and have litters of three to five young per litter.
Bats happen to be
excellent nocturnal neighbors as they can eat 50-100 percent of their body weight each night in insects. Unlike other nuisance pests that can dig and gnaw holes in your attic or roof, bats can only get through existing openings. Bats usually give birth in mid-spring, so the best time to get rid of bats is early spring before they give birth.
Opossums are not only the
only marsupial in the country, but a beneficial animal to have in the wild since they eat insects, mice, and snakes. In residential or farmland areas, they become a nuisance because they can also destroy poultry, bird feeders, and garbage cans.
They are sensitive to the colder weather and do look for shelter under homes and barns. They also carry a variety of parasites and diseases including Lyme, and Protozoal Myelitis that affects horses.