Foley and Fairhope, Alabama, are located in Baldwin County, Alabama, along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay. Its coastal location, mild weather, beautiful scenery, and plenty to do have made this region the seventh fastest-growing area in the nation. However, the reasons residents and tourists are attracted to the area are the same for wildlife.
As a long-time resort community that is busy all year round, this region has a plethora of restaurants, hotels, and attractions like zoos and parks that attract wildlife. And, since it is a growing residential area, the local wildlife is discovering that homes are the perfect environment for their needs.
Alabama is home to 62 native mammals, including 22 species of rodents and 16 species of bats, as well as skunks, raccoons, opossums, armadillos, squirrels, and more. In addition, black rats, Norway rats, and the house mouse are among the species that have been introduced to the region.
As the human population expands closer to the forests, wetlands, rivers, and agricultural lands of the Wolf Bay Watershed, Gulf Coast Flatwoods, and Southern Pine Plains of the Foley-Fairhope region, clashes with wildlife are becoming more frequent.
Critter Control is the perfect solution to wildlife problems in Foley-Fairhope as we can comprehensively inspect, eliminate, exclude, and restore properties once the wildlife is eliminated.
Raccoons are nocturnal and typically live in wooded areas in a tree cavity high enough to be safe from predators. That’s why attics are attractive to them as den sites. Found almost everywhere throughout the country, they’ve become quite adept at living among humans, having discovered that where there are people, there is a constant source of food and water.
Raccoons give birth in the spring to two to five kits, and the mother raccoon usually separates from other raccoons to raise her young alone. Physically adept, with strong claws, raccoons have little trouble tearing a hole in a roof or soffits to gain entry to the safety of an attic. Unfortunately, once inside, a raccoon will continue to cause extensive damage, set up a place where they will deposit urine and feces, and pose a risk from diseases such as trichinosis and rabies. They also bring parasites into the house.
Squirrels are one of the most common mammals in the U.S. Alabama has three species of squirrels: the gray squirrel, fox squirrel, and southern flying squirrel.
The gray squirrel is the most common and spends much of its time in the trees. Fox squirrels are less agile and prefer to stay on the ground. Flying squirrels cannot really fly. A membrane attached to its wrist and ankle allows it to jump, then glide from one point to another, making it seem like it’s flying.
Fox and gray squirrels are the ones most likely to jump from the branches of close trees to a house or commercial building.
Like rats and mice, squirrels are rodents. While flying squirrels are nocturnal like most rodents, gray and fox squirrels are diurnal, most active in the morning and again at dusk.
As rodents, squirrels do the same type of damage. Their teeth grow continually throughout their lives, so gnawing is their way of maintaining the length of their teeth. They will gnaw on beams, electrical wires, and sheetrock. Squirrels will tear insulation to build their nest. And, unlike rats and mice, they will bring acorns and other nuts and seeds into the attic, making a mess. They also carry diseases and parasites, making it imperative to call professionals to remove squirrels.
Rat and Mice Pest Control
Everyone squirms at the thought of having a rodent infestation. The most common telltale sign of a rodent problem is the feces they leave in pantries, drawers, and on countertops as they search for food. Because they are nocturnal, you may never actually see one unless you have a significant rodent problem.
The most common rodents in the Foley-Fairhope area are house mice, roof rats, and brown rats. There are two rare species in the region: the Perdido Key beach mouse and the Alabama beach mouse. Both are on the endangered list because of habitat destruction.
They can squeeze into a home or business through tiny holes and gaps as small as a dime. Access to food and water are their main reasons for coming into homes — or if flooding from a storm is occurring. Rats and mice, although small, can create significant and costly damage to your home or business. They dig and gnaw out extensive tunnel systems, will chew through electrical wires, causing a fire hazard, and will soil and contaminate insulation and food.
Rodents are prolific breeders. One pair of rats can give birth to about 800 offspring in a year, so a rodent problem is something you’ll want to address quickly. DIY attempts at getting rid of rodents will not ensure they are all gone. A Critter Control inspection will reveal the extent of your rat or mouse infestation, at which point a custom plan for removal can be put into effect.
Bats are predominantly beneficial animals as they consume hundreds of thousands of unwanted insects annually and pollinate many types of plants. They are also the only mammal capable of true flight. Alabama has 16 species of bats, some of which are full-time residents and others that migrate through. The gray myotis and the Indiana myotis are two Alabama bats on the U.S. Department of Interior’s endangered species list. Four other bats are listed as species of special concern by the Alabama Department of Conservation. All Alabama bats are insectivores.
In their natural habitat, bats live in trees or caves. As nocturnal creatures, they feed at night and roost during the day. In populous areas, they can sometimes be seen feeding near streetlights. And, as the area’s population grows, attics, eaves, shutters, and chimneys are places bats are attracted to for roosting.
Signs of a bat infestation include seeing bat guano, hearing squeaking noises in the walls, and rub marks — a combination of dirt, body oils, and urine — along the edges of where they enter and exit. Bats are not capable of causing structural damage. Their only downfall is that their feces and urine will soil and ruin insulation, and their feces grow a fungus as it dries, which is capable of causing histoplasmosis, a serious lung disease. They are also capable of carrying rabies, but that is rare.
Because bats are protected, they cannot be harmed and must be removed during a specific time of year. Bat pups are born in spring and are fairly helpless. It is during this period that they cannot be separated from their mother as they cannot yet fly or hunt on their own. In the fall, when they become old enough to leave the roost, Critter Control can come in and install a bat valve or one-way door that lets the bats fly out but does not let them fly back in.
Opossums are slow-moving creatures. With 50 teeth, they can do a lot of damage to your home, yard, and smaller animals. They like to nest in burrows made by other animals, trees, brush piles, attics, and crawl spaces. Like skunks, they can release a liquid that smells like a weaker version of skunk spray. If your pet, or your tenant’s pet, gets near an opossum, expect it to be sprayed if it feels threatened and if all its other tricks did not work, like playing dead or growling.
Opossum damage is like raccoon and skunk damage. They uproot garden crops, dig holes in the yard, destroy insulation, travel through ducts, dumpster dive, and raid bird feeders. They do this to find food, like a raccoon or skunk. They will eat almost anything, from plants, fruits, vegetables, and seeds to junk food and table scraps. Many opossums will move to another location after being on your property for a few weeks. However, the damage they do in that short period is extensive.
The nine-banded armadillo can be found in Alabama yards, woodlands, and dense brush.
Able to catch the scent of insects below the soil,armadillos often ruin lawns and gardens while digging for insects. People don't usually notice these nocturnal pests until they dig up yards or gardens. An armadillo usually digs multiple burrows that may weaken sidewalks, driveways, or patios.
Armadillo control can protect expensive landscaping and the integrity of surrounding property such as driveways and decks. One way to keep armadillos away is to build a fence that feeds a few feet into the ground.
Birds can be some of the most annoying and destructive nuisance pests. Common problems include birds building nests in bathrooms, dryers, or kitchen vents, pigeons roosting on buildings, and geese congregating on lawns. The migratory bird coordinator for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources cites the increase in goose populations in the state, the diseases they carry, and their ability to drop about one pound of droppings per day.
Geese are not the only nuisance bird in the Foley-Fairhope region. Gulls, doves, crows, starlings, and sparrows can also become pests. In large numbers, these flocks create noise pollution, make a mess with their feces, and can spread disease and parasites. Their feces contain a high amount of uric acid, which is corrosive to roofs and siding. In addition to leaving a mess, their feces become a slip hazard.
It is ineffective to remove birds as they can come right back. The most effective solution is with exclusion tactics such as having Critter Control place screens around vents, and other openings, cap chimneys, and add netting and spikes to roofs to keep them from landing and roosting.