Do the Squirrels Drive You Nutty!

Personally, I like squirrels. My backyard is full of a group of squirrels who get their morning exercise chasing each other around the yard. It is particularly funny when 2 chase each other and then all of a sudden, they reverse roles- the one being chased turns around and is now the chaser. My kids & wife especially love watching this.

But when these squirrels suddenly take up residence in my home or yours it is important to have them excluded from your home. Squirrels like other wildlife and rodent in particular are responsible for the spread of diseases like Histoplasmosis and other diseases. When they make a home out of your attic or homes walls they urinate and defecate all over the place.

Hiring a professional to inspect your home, and begin excluding these lovely creatures many times can be done by the installation of one way doors allowing them to leave and no longer re-enter.In addition to installing one way excluders we will close off all access points and identify how to keep your home wildlife free.


If you have any wildlife , animal or bird concerns please give me a call . I promise to find the solution to eliminating your wildlife problems.

Robb Russell

1-800-714-8727

Servicing Most of North Central Florida, including the communities surrounding Gainesville, Ocala, Alachua, Newberry, Trenton, Branford, Ft White, Lake City, Live Oak,Lake Butler, Worthington Springs, High Springs,& the western parts of Jacksonville.

I handle most animal, bird ,reptile, wildlife concerns you the North Florida residents may encounter bats, raccoons, squirrels,moles, pocket gophers, snakes, lizards, sparrows, pigeons, nutria, beaver. Some of these may require by permit from the Florida Wildlife Fish & Game Commission.

http://www.gainesvillewildliferemoval.com
http://www.anytimeanimalcontrol.com
Robb@wildlifepro.net
Serving All North Central Florida
Founder, The Wildlife Pro Network Read My Blog , Listen To My Podcasts
If You Are A Professional Join my entire network

Have You Ever Smelled A Skunk Before?

Recently while driving down US 27 near my home my truck air conditioning suddenly flushed my vehicle with the scent of a dead skunk somewhere out of my sight but clearly within range of my smell buds. The song, Dead Skunk In The Middle Of The Road by Loudon Wainright III which was a big hit in 1972 quickly came to mind.

Click Below to listen to the song performed by the original artist performing in Germany .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doqTSev-_lQ

Skunks (sometimes referred to as polecats or a striped weasel) are mammals best known for their ability to excrete a strong, foul-smelling odor.Did you know a skunk can spray with high accuracy as far away as 7 to 15 feet ! Skunks have a pair of anal scent glands that they use as a defensive arsenal. The odor is the result of a mixture of sulfur-containing chemicals created within a beast often described as a combination of rotten eggs, garlic, burnt rubber and a pair of nasy dirty socks.

Skunks are omnivorous, eating both plant and animal material and changing their diet as the seasons change. They eat insects and larvae, earthworms, small rodents, lizards, salamanders, frogs, snakes, birds, moles, and eggs. They also commonly eat berries, roots, leaves, grasses, fungi, and nuts.

In settled areas, skunks also seek human garbage. Less often, skunks may be found acting as scavengerrs, eating birdand rodent carcasses left by cats or other animals. Pet owners, particularly those of cats, may experience a skunk finding its way into a garage or basement where pet food is kept. Skunks commonly dig holes in lawns in search of grubs and worms.

Skunks are one of the primary predators of the honeybee, relying on their thick fur to protect them from stings. The skunk scratches at the front of the beehive and eats the guard bees that come out to investigate. Mother skunks are known to teach this to their young. I also perform live bee removals and am equipped to help any beekeeper on getting rid of skunks and saving their bee hives.

Many of us don't give much thoughts to skunks until our dog comes home stinking or a skunk and its family moves in under the family porch. However, once their is initial contact with a skunk most folks don't mess round and find a professional to help them remove it and save their homes from unleashing an unforgettable odor.

If you have any concerns related to skunks or other wildlife , animal or bird concerns please give me a call . I promise to find the solution to eliminating your wildlife problems.

Robb Russell

1-800-714-8727

Servicing Most of North Central Florida, including the communities surrounding Gainesville, Ocala, Alachua, Newberry, Trenton, Branford, Ft White, Lake City, Live Oak,Lake Butler, Worthington Springs, High Springs,& the western parts of Jacksonville. I handle most animal, bird ,reptile, wildlife concerns you the North Florida residents may encounter bats, raccoons, squirrels,moles, pocket gophers, snakes, lizards, sparrows, pigeons, nutria, beaver and or skunks. Many of these may require apermit from the Florida Wildlife Fish & Game Commission.

http://www.gainesvillewildliferemoval.com

http://www.anytimeanimalcontrol.com

Robb@wildlifepro.net

Serving All North Central Florida

Founder, The Wildlife Pro NetworkRead My Blog , Listen To My Podcasts

If You Are A Professional Join My entire Network

24 Hour Emergency Squirrel Removal or Control

Squirrels can be considered adorable, but when they start chewing up your home and nesting in your attic space, Robb Russell, The Wildlife Pro is here to help. The Wildlife Pro specializes in 24 hour emergency squirrel removal services in the entire North central Florida Region- Live Oak, Jasper, White Springs, McClenny, Orange Park,Keystone Heights, Starke, Waldo, Hawthorne, Gainseville, Ocala, Newberry, Trenton, Chiefland, High Springs, Alachua, Branford, Fort White, Mayo, Brooker , Lake Butler and the remainder of the North Central Florida region.

It's the season for squirrels in the North Central Florida and they are not hibernating. It is important to take prompt removal action to assure that your home and property are not destroyed by chewing squirrels and that you family isn't exposed to diseases.

Squirrels like to nest inside the eaves and attics of homes and commercial properties when left alone, they can be quite destructive. Squirrels are difficult to eradicate once established. They will return year after year to the same location for nesting. To remove them, you will need professional experienced service from Robb Russell, The Wildlife Pro, your squirrel removal experts.

We Provide These Squirrel Control Services:

24 Hour Emergency Squirrel Removal
Humane Squirrel Trapping
Quick Squirrel Removal Services

Contact me through my call center 1-800-714-8727.

Robb Russell
The Wildlife Pro

Are you uncomfortable when you associate the words of Wildlife & Disease?

Wildlife & Diseases



Robb Russell, The Wildlife Pro, LLC

Are you uncomfortable when you associate the words of Wildlife & Disease? If not, you should be since nearly 30 infectious diseases common here in Florida can and may start with the wildlife that surrounds us in our very own local communities. These are disease that are easily transmitted freom animal to human and many of them can be even fatal if detected in latent stages. Many of us who handle wildlife are aware of the potential of a disease being present but many homeowners or parents don't thus the reason to share these words never handle wildlife, and never feed wildlife.

For example, live-trapping a nuisance raccoon with an in apparent infection of rabies or other disease, then transporting and releasing that raccoon in another area can be devastating to individuals in the new area, as it will likely enhance the spread of rabies or other diseases. That is the main reason it is illegal to transport wild-trapped, live raccoons in Florida. Current law in Florida as of July 1st, 2008 requires all nuisance wildlife may only be transported for purposes of euthanasia and both homeowner and professional are accountable to following the law.

Examples of Infectious Disease Agents

Rabies is probably the most notable and feared viral zoonotic disease. Rabies has been found in a number of Florida mammals including raccoons, bats, skunks, foxes, opossums, otters, bobcats, and panthers.The rabies virus is most commonly transmitted from the saliva of the infected animal into the bite wound of another. Raccoons and bats are probably the most important hosts because they live in close proximity to humans, although the percentage of infected individuals within an area might be quite low. Brucellosis in wild hogs and salmonellosis in a number of carnivores and other medium-sized mammals are two examples of bacterial zoonotic diseases. These are transmitted by direct contact, either by the handling of infected meat in the case of brucellosis, or contaminated feces in the case of salmonellosis. Histoplasmosis is caused by a fungus which lives in old buildings, attics and bat caves—especially in guano (feces) enriched soil. Transmission occurs by inhalation of fungal spores and has occurred in spelunkers who have explored Florida's bat caves.Toxoplasmosis is caused by a microscopic protozoan and is spread to humans by the handling of contaminated cat—such as bobcat—feces and by consumption of infected meat from deer, rabbits, and squirrels.

Transmission of Diseases from Wildlife to Humans

At least 30 different, infectious disease agents can be transmitted from Florida's wild mammals to humans— while a smaller number of infections can originate from birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Most of these disease agents can be avoided by following common sense practices such as

* minimizing contact with wildlife exhibiting unusual behavior (seen in animals with rabies),
* using gloves and washing hands after handling wild animals (salmonellosis, brucellosis, and toxoplasmosis), and
* cooking wild game well before consumption (toxoplasmosis).

What to do in Case of Exposure to a Diseased Wild Animal

If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to a diseased wild animal, you should contact your physician for treatment and advice If you suspect rabies, you should also contact your local animal control service or county public health office.

In short, there is nothing more wonderful then our opportunities to enjoy viewing Wildlife. Wildlife may appear cute and inviting but every encounter with any wildlife is also a opportunity for you or family members to become sick or even die from contact with them. If you hunt wildlife, minimize your contact by wearing gloves and dispose of the carcasses properly. If you find a orphaned, or sick animal or bird please leave it alone. You can find someone who rescues wildlife by searching the internet in your area or phone book but please the contact to actual professionals and keep your family safe and healthy.

Nature's wild animals are both cute and adorable when glimpsed from your kitchen window or encountered in the park. Sightings are followed by smiles and "oohs" and "aahs" as we rush our children to the window to watch their charming antics. But these same wild animals quickly lose their charm when these wild animals seek shelter within the cozy confines of your home. Wild animals wreak considerable havoc outside their natural setting, they carry pests and diseases that pose a very real threat to your family's health and safety.

As urban population's grow, so do our chances of human-wildlife conflicts. The Professionals at Anytime Animal Control are specially trained in wildlife management. We resolve human-wildlife conflicts using responsible techniques and methods to preserve the animals natural habitat.
What ever the situation. Anytime Animal Control and The Wildlife Pro, LLC has the knowledge, equipment, technology and commitment to professional resolve your conflicts with wildlife.

Should you require the service of a wildlife control professional in North Central Florida please remember to give me a call. You can find me through my web site, http://www.gainesvillewildliferemovals.com or http://www.anytimeanimalcontrol.com or phone me at 800-714-8727 .

Invasion of Iguana's In South Florida

UF study recommends nest-box control for south Florida non-native nuisance iguanas

For Immediate Release Sept. 13, 2007

Contact:
Paul Ramey, APR
Assistant Director, Marketing and Public Relations
Florida Museum of Natural History
(352) 846-2000, ext. 218, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu
Source: Kenneth Krysko, (352) 392-1721, ext. 479; kenneyk@flmnh.ufl.edu
Writer: DeLene Beeland

GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- Health and safety risks from non-native iguanas in south Florida have prompted a University of Florida researcher and his team to recommend widespread use of artificial nest boxes to control the reptiles' population growth.

Homeowners and property managers have grown weary of green iguanas eating shrubs and damaging foundations and seawalls with subterranean nests and tunnels. The 3- to 5-foot-long lizards also create human health risks by defecating in swimming pools and on sidewalks, docks and moored boats, and endanger drivers when crossing or basking on roads.

The nest boxes are designed to humanely capture the troublesome lizards and their eggs, said Florida Museum of Natural History herpetologist Kenneth Krysko, lead author of a study published in the September edition of Iguana: Conservation, Natural History and Husbandry of Reptiles. This is the first study to describe the natural history of the green iguana (Iguana iguana) and its expanding geographic range in south Florida. The lizards are native to central America down to Brazil and the Caribbean Islands.

"Extensive use of artificial nest boxes by private property owners and land managers could potentially make a big dent in their population," Krysko said.

The study recommends the nest boxes in addition to traditional capture methods such as live traps, snares and nooses, and also advises south Florida residents to "plant vegetation that lacks showy flowers and colorful fruit," because such ornamentals are preferred iguana food.

"People are just frustrated, having to wrap wire netting around their hibiscus and ornamentals, keeping their plants in jail so to speak," said Kim Gabel, a Monroe County environmental horticulture extension agent who also said she receives several calls a month from residents trying to figure out what to do about their yards.

Wild green iguanas were first found in Miami-Dade County in 1964. They were later documented in Collier (1998), Lee (2000), Monroe (2001), Palm Beach (2003) and Broward counties. Between 1992 and 2006, Krysko's team compiled 3,169 photographs and specimens of green iguanas in these counties.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission biologist and study co-author Kevin Enge said he was contacted by the Florida Keys Invasive Exotics Task Force in 2003, when the group was concerned with green iguana impacts in their area. He suggested the possibility of creating artificial nest mounds to capture iguana eggs as a control method in areas where suitable nesting habitat was limited because of underlying limestone.

"The nest-box idea evolved from this suggestion, and we hope it proves effective," Enge said.

Some people are more tolerant of iguanas than others said FWC Exotic Species Coordinator Scott Hardin.

"But green iguanas top my list of nuisance complaints from individuals and legislative calls in Palm Beach and Broward counties," Hardin said.

The study documents details about green iguana reproduction, possible ecological impacts and nuisance effects. Researchers say a combination of natural range expansion and illegal releases by pet owners fueled the species' migration from Miami to surrounding counties.

"Trapping and removing iguanas only works to a certain extent," Krysko said. "But the boxes are flexible because they can be used during nesting season from December to May to remove eggs, and year-round to catch both juveniles and adults. They also may be used for spiny-tailed iguanas, another type of large, non-native lizard in Florida."

One adult iguana can lay between 10 and 70 eggs per year, Krysko said.

"If a landowner is squeamish about euthanizing the lizards, then an iguanas' tendency to reuse a nest site in subsequent breeding seasons may increase the box's efficiency at capturing eggs, and helping to control population growth that way," Krysko said.

Green iguanas likely became established in south Florida due to a combination of mild weather and people releasing, protecting and feeding them. Releasing a captured non-native species is illegal, so those who use the artificial nest boxes are responsible for euthanizing the iguanas. The FWC approves of several methods, including freezing the reptile or having a veterinarian perform lethal injection.

The study's authors recommend a simple nest-box design: a 6-inch diameter pipe about 2 feet long leading below ground to a 15-by-8-by-4-inch chamber and a lid permitting above-ground access and monitoring. The box can be constructed from plastic, rubber or fiberglass to be lightweight, moveable and reusable.

"The biggest obstacle to overcome with iguanas is public education because people don't realize they are introduced and not native," said co-author Ellen Donlan of the South Florida Water Management District.

An independent scientist said he is eager to see how well the nest boxes work.

"The historical background for the green iguana invasion of Florida is interesting and the description of the problem itself is valuable," said Gregory Watkins-Colwell, a senior museum assistant in the division of vertebrate zoology at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. "I suspect it will not only be a valuable tool for controlling the invasive populations of iguanas in the Florida Keys, but also in other areas of Florida where high density of introduced fire ants may limit the available nest sites."

According to the study, green iguanas' largely plant-based diet, combined with their 5.6-square-mile territory, make them potentially significant seed-dispersers for non-native plants -- further complicating the enmeshed ecological web of non-native and native species in the region. Juvenile green iguanas eat insects, bird eggs, tree snails, carrion, vegetative shoots, leaves, blossoms and fruit whereas adults feed mostly on plants and flowers. Potential predators of green iguanas are raccoons, spotted skunks, fish crow, black and turkey vultures, feral pigs and domestic dogs.

"Don't forget, green iguanas are also good to eat," Krysko said. "There are a lot of good recipes floating around on the Internet for iguana entrées." Krysko cautioned that although non-indigenous species have no protection status in our state, they must be killed humanely. He also said people should be mindful to not trespass or collect them from a national or state park.

Additional co-authors include Jason Seitz of Creative Environmental Solutions, an environmental consulting firm, and Elizabeth Golden of Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, located on Key Biscayne in Miami-Dade County.

New Florida FWC Rules For Bat Control

CLARIFICATION OF THE NEW FLORIDA'S RULES RESTRICTING THE TAKING OF BATS
Effective July 2008, 68A-9.010).
Summary of http://www.floridaconservation.org/trappers/TakingBats.pdf




Robb Russell with a bat he rescued from inside a home. The bat was released back into the wild near its colony.



Other Guidelines Affecting The Trapping of Nuisance Animals Nuisance

Bats may not be trapped , and removed only by use of a exclusion device which allows escape from and blocks re-entry into a roost site located within a structure (including chemical repellents), at any time from August 15 to April 15 . The dates from April 16-August 14 are maternity periods for these protected mammals so that adult bats are not separated from flightless young trapped inside a structure, which would cause starvation and take of the young.

The use of netting that does not allow for ingress and egress of adult separating them from their flightless young is illegal. YThe use of chemicals such as Moth balls that kill bats is not illegal and can never be performed. Remember the killing of bats in Florida is against the law.

Permanent repairs during these maternity periods such as re-roofing will require proper exclusion methods first and work ceased if bats are present during this maternity period. Approved bat exclusion work can only be done during this period of time and only after the completion approved methods since the killing of bats is illegal in Florida.

No exclusion work may be conducted unless a minimum of four consecutive days/nights for which the low temperature is forecasted by the U.S. National Weather Service to remain above 50°F prior to repairs and during the time-period specified.

The Wildlife Pro, LLC fully supports this law, and is thankful for FWC's new steps to protect Florida's Bat Wildlife and has been performing under these guidelines for years. If you are concerned about a bat infestation, or invasion please give us a call for a thorough and complete inspection at our call Service Center 1-800-714-8727 or through our web sites, GainesvilleWildlifeRemoval.com , or AnytimeAnimalControl.Com

Don't Pick Up That Wild Animal Please

Rabies is just one of many communicable diseases that can be spread by something as simple as picking up and carrying for a hurt or orphaned animal. failure to take ample safety precautions can put you or your family at risk. Don't pick up wild animals please!



Rabies is one of the oldest known viral diseases, yet today it remains a significant wildlife-management and public-health challenge. Rabies affects the central nervous system of un-vaccinated animals that are exposed to the virus and is invariably fatal. many species of wildlife are known to be carriers or vectors of rabies-Raccoons, Fox, feral cats, bats, and lets not forget our own domesticated animals that may come in contact with them such as cats (rare) and dogs.

What to do if bitten by any animal

If you have been bitten or scratched by an animal that might
be rabid, do the following:

• Act promptly, but do not panic. It takes time for the rabies
virus to react in the body.

• Capture and kill the suspect animal, if possible, without
destroying the head.

• Wash the wound immediately and thoroughly with generous
amounts of soap and water. Then apply rubbing alcohol or
a strong solution of water and iodine to the exposed areas
(except for the eyes, of course).

• Contact a physician immediately after this first-aid treatment.
Rabies vaccine and antiserum will then be administered as
required.


The following are from The Center For Disease Control:

Rabies is a viral disease caused by infection of the central nervous systems of wild and domestic animals and humans. The initial symptoms of human rabies resemble those of other systemic viral infections, including fever, headache, malaise, and disorders of the upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Recognizing that a person has been exposed to the virus and prompt treatment are essential for preventing rabies. For once clinical symptoms have begun, there is no treatment for rabies and almost all patients will die from the disease or its complications within a few weeks of onset.

In the United States, wild animals (especially bats, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, and foxes) are the most important sources of rabies infection. Indigenous rabid bats have been reported from every state except Hawaii. Individual bats from most of the estimated 41 bat species in the United States have been found to be infected with rabies virus. Rabies virus associated with insectivorous bats (those that feed principally on insects) accounted for 32 of the 35 indigenous rabies cases in humans in the United States between 1958 and 2000.

Rabies is transmitted via an infected animal’s bite or by contamination of abrasions, open wounds, mucous membranes or theoretically, scratches, by infectious material such as saliva. Contact with the blood, urine, or manure of a rabid animal is not a risk factor for contracting rabies. Consequently, workers exposed to accumulations of bat droppings in environments from which bats have been excluded have no rabies risk. Although spelunkers seldom have direct contact with bats, they are included in a frequent-risk category by CDC because of potential for bite, nonbite, or aerosol exposure to the rabies virus. Two fatal cases of rabies in humans have been attributed to possible airborne exposures in caves containing millions of free-tailed bats. In addition, between 1990 and 2000, a bite was documented in only 2 of the 24 U.S. human rabies cases caused by bat-associated rabies virus variants. This suggests “that transmission of rabies virus can occur from minor, seemingly unimportant, or unrecognized bites from bats.” (144) While aerosol transmission of the rabies virus from bats to people is theoretically possible under extraordinary conditions, the risk is otherwise negligible.

The percentage of rabid bats in any colony is probably low (0.5% or less). However, a dead bat should still never be picked up with bare hands since its death may have been caused by an infectious agent. The rabies virus can remain infectious in a carcass until decomposition is well advanced. Thus, whenever possible, a shovel or some other tool should be used to pick up and dispose of a dead bat. If a dead bat must be handled, wearing heavy work gloves should minimize the risk of disease transmission because of an accidental scratch from the bat’s teeth or by contamination of existing scratches or abrasions on a worker’s hands.

For a complete description of rabies, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/