Colorado’s diverse landscape provides a perfect environment for various types of wildlife, but sometimes these animals make their way into homes and businesses, causing a host of problems. Understanding how to manage wildlife invasions, particularly from raccoons, squirrels, and skunks, can protect both your property and family.
Wild animals may seem harmless when viewed from a distance, but once they invade your property, they can cause significant damage, spread disease, and even pose safety risks. Whether they are seeking food, shelter, or nesting grounds, Colorado's raccoons, squirrels, and skunks can become unwelcome guests.
Left unmanaged, these animals can:
Raccoons are clever creatures that are often found rummaging through trash or seeking warmth in attics and crawl spaces. They are notorious for creating messes and damaging property, especially when searching for food.
How to Identify a Raccoon Infestation:
Raccoons can also carry diseases like rabies and can transmit parasites through their droppings. It’s important to act quickly if you suspect a raccoon problem.
Tips for Prevention:
Squirrels: Small but Mighty Troublemakers
While squirrels may look harmless, they can cause extensive damage to your home once inside. Colorado's population of tree squirrels is particularly active, and they are known for chewing through wires, wood, and insulation.
Signs of Squirrel Activity:
How to Prevent Squirrels:
Squirrel infestations are not only inconvenient but also dangerous, as their habit of chewing through electrical wires can increase the risk of fire.
Skunks are known for their pungent spray, which can linger on pets, clothes, and even inside your home. While they generally avoid people, a startled skunk can spray as a defense mechanism, creating both a nuisance and a health hazard.
Signs of a Skunk Problem:
Skunks are also known carriers of rabies, making it crucial to remove them from your property safely and humanely.
Prevention Tips:
In Colorado, it’s essential to handle wildlife control in compliance with local regulations. Some animals, including raccoons and skunks, are considered nuisance wildlife, meaning homeowners are allowed to take steps to remove them, but only in humane ways. It is always best to work with a licensed professional who understands these regulations and can ensure that any wildlife removal is done legally and safely.
Colorado is home to a diverse range of wildlife species that have adapted to the state's unique landscapes, from towering mountains to sprawling grasslands. The native species that call Colorado home are crucial to maintaining the ecological balance, playing roles in everything from pollination to controlling insect populations. In this post, we’ll explore some of the most iconic native species to Colorado and their impact on the environment.
Colorado is home to a wide variety of birds and bats, which play an essential role in the ecosystem by controlling insect populations and helping with pollination. However, when these animals invade homes or commercial spaces, they can become a significant problem.
