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Bats are one of the most interesting and helpful species we deal with in Florida. They are a protected species due to the benefits they provide each and every person living in Florida. It is said that an adult bat can consume its body weight in insects each time it leaves the colony to feed. Unfortunately, they usually choose a house or commercial structure in which to colonize. The colonies can reach numbers of several thousand in a very short period of time. This can cause health concerns due to the dangerously large accumulations of urine and droppings. |
Rats are probably the most common nuisance wildlife concern in Florida. Much like the bat, they have all kinds of negative baggage associated with their presence. It's a matter of bad public relations--hairless tail, not particularly cute, bulging eyes, visible teeth--and then there's the whole history of the plague.... They truly are amazing animals and deserve respect for their wonderful survival skills, agility, rapid learning ability, social behavior, and ability to reproduce at an incredible rate. They are every bit as cute as a squirrel-- they simply lack the fluffy tail. The problem, as with most nuisance wildlife, is that they choose not to be admired from a distance and want to share all their wonderful traits as closely as possible...by sharing your home with you. |
Squirrels are typically enjoyed by all as they play and make a neighborhood seem classic and bucolic--that is until they enter the eaves, soffit, or attic of your home. They are agile and sly and able to do a good deal of damage to the areas in which they choose to nest. Successive generations will return to the site to bear their offspring as well. |
Raccoons are strong, intelligent, and highly adaptable creatures. At one point in American history they were a rarity, but their population has boomed in more recent decades. They are superb climbers and make use of all their talents when seeking out a place of shelter. They will climb exterior surfaces of your home to reach the roofline where weak points can be exploited to gain entry into your attic space. Once there, they will happily raise young, play, sleep, and use your attic as a restroom. They are destructive, noisy, and hard to get along with as housemates. |
The opossum, like the rat, doesn't have too many fans. Much like the rat, there is much to admire concerning the opossum. They are the only marsupial found in the United States. They have a prehensile tail, their hind feet have an oposable digit, and they are said to possess more teeth than any other land mammal--which they will be happy to show you if cornered or suprised. Opossums will normally not damage a structure to find shelter, but will be more than happy to move into a hole made by a more industrious species. |
The Nine Banded Armadillo is a gentle and unusual animal that can make a mess of your landscaping in very short order. They are fantastic at digging and can completely burrow themselves underground in mere moments. They will typically have a home base near your property and venture out in the evenings to get some groceries from your yard--grubs and worms, mainly. They seem to like burrowing under homes, porches, pool pumps, and sheds but don't have a problem picking your favorite landscaping for a nice burrow. They are virtually harmless to humans (it is said that they carry the human form of leprosy, although rare), have litters of identical quadruplets, have very poor eyesight but possess a keen sense of smell, and can turn your yard into a cratered mess overnight. |
There are some 45 species of snakes known to populate the state of Florida. Of those, six species are venemous. Most of the snakes we see in the Orlando area are of the non-venemous variety, however, we do run into eastern diamondbacks, cotton-mouths, coral snakes, pygmy rattlers, and the occasional copperhead. The best and only rule to apply to all snakes is treat them as venemous and leave them alone. Never attempt to handle a snake on your own. A healty dose of respect goes a long way when it comes to snakes. Admire them, as they are a wonderful part of a balanced eco-system, just do it from a distance. |
Birds can also be a nuisance to humans. The pigeon in particular can be troublesome as they tend to roost in the same spots repeatedly and leave large accumulations of droppings and feathers. The main concern with birds is the noise level and the amount of excrement left behind. |