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How Many More Weeks of Winter – Groundhog Day is Right Around the Corner

February 1st, 2019


The Greater Cincinnati Area is experiencing one of the coldest weeks in recent history, and is headed for an unseasonably warm spell in just a few days. Right in the middle of this weather hiatus is Groundhogs Day. This time honored tradition is celebrated every year in the United States and Canada on February 2nd. The Lure states that if a groundhog sees its shadow upon exiting their burrow that it will retreat back to their burrow and there will be six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog on the other hand does not see its shadow spring will arrive early.

 

Saturday calls for decreasing clouds so there is a chance the groundhog will see his shadow and we will be in for another dip in temperatures.

 

The predicted warm up will ramp up animal activity for some local squirrels and raccoons who were hunkered down (in cozy attics) during the arctic temperatures. Be vigilant of suspicious noises coming from the roof or chimney. Also, be sure to take a walk around your home looking for minor damage possibly caused by the ice and snow. Such damage to roofs, soffits, and fascia can make a home vulnerable to opportunistic wildlife intruders. The best weapon against animal invasion is prevention.

If you have a nuisance groundhog, squirrel, or raccoon infiltrating your property give Tri-State Wildlife a call today! 859-635-0037 Let our experience be put to work for you!

Raccoons Keeping Warm in Your Chimney Or Attic

November 27th, 2018

Old man winter has decided to make an early appearance in the Tri State leaving us blanketed in an unexpected coat of fresh snow. Although, we may have been caught a little off guard, local wildlife has been scouting out their winter bungalow for weeks. You could very well be unknowingly hosting winter house guests. Could you possibly have squirrels and raccoons keeping warm in your chimney or attic. Often time local animals take advantage of loose or damaged soffit areas or uncapped chimneys to find a winter home. A nice insulated attic is much more appealing than a hollowed out tree. In addition, these housing arrangements provide easy access to a continued food source in the form of unsecured garbage cans, and cat and dog food left unattended by outdoor pets.

ice on roof and gutters

If you hear noises coming from above, know that it is too early for a visit from Santa, and that it could be squirrels or raccoon keeping warm in your chimney or attic. Tri-State Wildlife, in experienced in handling all of your wildlife problems. In addition to trapping the animals, Tri-State Wildlife provides individualized repairs which also includes chimney capping. If you feel that your home might be vulnerable to wildlife intrusion we can also be of assistance, identifying and repairing areas of potential entry.

Free up room for Santa in that chimney and give Tri-State Wildlife a call today. 859-635-0037. Serving Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati Area.

Squirrel Removal in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati

November 12th, 2018

For squirrel removal in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, call Tri-state Wildlife Management at (859) 635-0037.

squirrel removal Ft. Mitchell KY

Now that the weather is colder squirrels are seeking out new places to den. Don’t let your cozy attic be one of them.

Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati Squirrel Removal: The weather has turned colder, so there’s a mad rush by wildlife to finalize their plans for the winter. Squirrels are fattened, nuts are buried, and now, it’s time to find some nice, warm insulation to snuggle into. During the warm, summer months, squirrels are most comfortable residing in mature trees, but when the weather turns cold, squirrels take advantage of warmer, man-made structures. Squirrels gain access to the inside of homes (typically attics and walls) by chewing on construction material. Aside from stone, brick, and certain metals, no construction material can fully withstand the gnawing of a squirrel. Squirrels have incisors that grow continuously, and the only way to keep their teeth short and sharp is by chewing. Squirrels will take advantage of construction gaps, weakened areas, and even perfectly constructed and maintained areas on a home.

It is important to point out that squirrels not only chew holes to gain access into your home, but once inside, they continue to chew. This is a serious hazard, because squirrels tend to chew on electrical wires, which can cause fire. In addition, if squirrels have access to rafters over many years, the rafters can be weakened. If you use your attic for storage and have a squirrel invasion, whatever property is stored is susceptible to damage.

Unfortunately, squirrels are repeat violators – once they find a home in your home, they’ll stay there unless evicted. One of the most frustrating things for a homeowner with a squirrel issue is to repair entryways only to have a new entry chewed open by a squirrel. To prevent this situation, it is important to not only exclude violating squirrels by repairing entries and vulnerable areas, but also to trap and remove the squirrels that have made your house their home. It is important to make sure that all squirrels have excited the premises prior to making repairs. There’s nothing that can ruin a thanksgiving dinner worse than the smell of a rotting animal carcass in the attic. It is also vital to repair entries and vulnerable areas with wildlife grade construction materials to help deter future squirrel or wildlife problems.

Preventive maintenance can go a long way in keeping your family and property wildlife free this winter. Tri-State Wildlife Management offers affordable, but thorough, home inspections that can identify wildlife entries and potential entries. As a full service company, TSW offers exclusion, wildlife deterrent chimney cap installation, repairs, trapping, and removal. In addition, TSW educates customers on how to prevent future attempts by wildlife to enter your home, including habitat modification.

The amount of mature trees in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati suburbs make the area a squirrel haven. Squirrels can enjoy the coolness of a tree den site in the warmer months, an abundance of tree nuts in the fall, and nearby home attics provide squirrels with a comfortable den for the winter. Call Tri-State Wildlife Management if squirrels have invaded your home for the winter, or call for a preventive home inspection. TSW is fully licensed and insured, and we stand behind all our work.

Tri-State Wildlife Management – Protecting You, Your Property, and Your Investment

Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati Squirrel Removal: Call Tri-state Wildlife Management Today at (859) 635-0037.

Increase in Deer Hit by Cars

October 29th, 2018

For carcass removal or wildlife control in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, call Tri-State Wildlife Management at (859) 635-0037.

Dead Deer Removal

White-tailed Deer

October and November are important months regarding deer in the greater Cincinnati area. Three things can be observed in these months November, each having a common cause for an increase in deer hit by cars. To start with, Tri-State Wildlife Management receives a spike of calls from customers in need of deer carcass removal. Secondly, many deer are hit by vehicles. According to State Farm Insurance, “November is the No. 1 month for deer-vehicle collisions, followed by October and December.” Lastly, deer hunting seasons in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana all include October and November in some fashion, be it gun or bow season.

The cause of all three of these is found in the biology and behavior of white tailed deer. Mating season for deer occurs in the late fall, leading to an increase in movement, especially for bucks, in search of a doe. When a home or business owner calls Tri-State Wildlife Management about a deer carcass on their property, it’s usually due to the deer being seriously injured by a vehicle, only to walk nearby and die.

Tri-State Wildlife Management takes the burden of a decomposing deer (and the related stench) off the hands of property, home, and business owners. TSWM removes dear carcasses at all stages of decomposition and can deodorize the area.

Tri-State Wildlife Management is fully licensed and insured, and we stand behind all our work.

Dead Deer Removal: Tri-State Wildlife Management – Wildlife Control and Carcass Removal in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. For dead deer removal, call today at (859) 635-0037.

Timing Bat Exclusions

August 1st, 2018

Bat Exclusion Time is Just Around The Corner – Timing Bat Exclusions

When working with a customers who is experiencing an issue with wildlife in their home, there is nothing more frustrating for a customer to hear than, “We can not get rid of your bat issue at this time.” Although this may seem defeating one must understand the reasoning behind timing bat exclusions. Bats have a very unique biological make up that make them very different from most mammals found in the United States, and therefore making timing a critical element in removing them from someones home. The exclusion period for bats is based on the establishment of maternal and winter colonies. Since bats and their young (pups) are protected species it is necessary to follow state specific timelines based on the bats behavior.

We are quickly approaching the fall bat exclusion window which usually begins mid August and concludes near the end of October. The beginning of this window is marked by the pups taking flight and leaving the nest. Up until now most young, which were born in early summer have not yet left the maternity den (Those born earlier in late spring, have already taken flight). It is imperative to wait until all young have begun to leave the maternity colony to begin exclusion for two reasons. First and foremost they are a protected species. Secondly, if a flightless pup remains in the maternity den after its mother had left and is unable to return, the mother will exhaust all resources to try to access her pup. This includes entering ones home as a door or window opens. For this reason, Tri State Wildlife works closely with the Kentucky Department of Natural Resources biologists, to ensure that observed bat colonies are in fact taking flight.

The fall exclusion season typically lasts until late October depending on night time temperatures. If the area has had a mild fall and average night time temperatures remain above 50F exclusions can continue into mid to late November. Contrary to popular belief most bats do not fly south for winter. Most rather establish winter dens, in warm attics, away from the elements where they enter an altered state called torpor. Torpor, unlike hibernation, “is a state of decreased physiological activity in an animal, usually by a reduced body temperature and metabolic rate. Torpor enables animals to survive periods of reduced food availability,” in this case brought on by the falling temperatures. Since torpor is not a deep winter sleep, bats can occasionally venture outside during stretches of warmer winter nights.

Spring exclusion typically begins in late March/early April, depending on weather, and lasts until mid May, when the first pups are born. Due to the limited timings for bat exclusion it is important to seek help as soon as a bat issue is suspected. Although Tri State Wildlife is unable to exclude bats during the black out periods, there is still work to be done. While waiting for the go ahead to exclude bats, Tri State Wildlife technicians can begin the process of inspecting homes, and begin the time consuming task of preliminary sealing. By getting these things out of the way prior to the exclusion period you will expedite the exclusion process once the window of time is open.

If you are experiencing an issue with bats living in your attics or crawl spaces, give Tri State Wildlife a call today! 859-635-0037 Serving Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati Area.

Bats in Attic

July 10th, 2018

For bat control services in northern Kentucky or Cincinnati, call Tri-State Wildlife Management at (859) 635-0037

Tri-State Wildlife Management – Protecting You, Your Property, and Your Investment

Bats in Attic: Bats are great creatures to have around. If you’ve ever witnessed a bat feeding at twilight, you already know why – they eat a variety of flying insects, including mosquitoes. Despite the advantages of having bats around, there are many serious disadvantages to having them in your home. First, they can create significant damage to buildings. Bats create foul latrines, made up of both guano and urine that cause a horrible odor, soil insulation, and can weaken the structural integrity of a buildilng. When entering and exiting a structure, bats defecate, leaving staining along the home. In addition, they leave black, oily rub marks at entries.

Bats also pose health/hygiene concerns which include rabies, histoplasmosis, and bat bugs. When bats transmit rabies, it is most typically through a bite or scratch. If bitten, the bat should always be tested if it can be caught. If the bat is not caught, or if it tests positive for rabies, rabies shots must be taken. Without treatment, rabies ends in death. Sometimes a bat is found in the living space of a home. If the bat had access to children or anyone who may not know/may not be able to communicate that they’ve been bitten, rabies shots are encouraged. Although the most serious, rabies is not the most common threat that bats pose. Histoplasmosis is a common lung disease caused by a fungus that grows on guano. It is important to always wear the proper protective gear when in the same vicinity as bat guano, as the fungus is easily disturbed. Although bat bugs pose no serious health threat, just like bed bugs, they are a parasitic nuisance that nobody wants to live with.

Tri-State Wildlife will work for you to provide a cost effective solution to your bat or wildlife intrusion and/or damage issue. As a full service company, we initiate an Integrated Bat Management Plan beginning with an inspection followed by bat removal and exclusion of intrusive bats, clean-up, repair/restoration and prevention.

Tri-State Wildlife Management handles bat removal and exclusion differently than other home-invading species; instead of trapping, bats are removed only through an exclusion process. We use bat exclusion equipment that allows bats to leave your home, but the equipment makes reentry impossible. Bats can fit through the tiniest of gaps, so our experienced technician completes a thorough inspection of your home or business to determine all entry points and at risk areas. After we are sure all bats have left, entries are repaired with wildlife grade construction materials. Bats are very persistent creatures, and without all entries and at risk areas repaired, with bat deterrent materials, they will find a way back into your home.

We strive for the most humane and environmentally effective techniques for dealing with bats and wildlife problems. Tri-State Wildlife Management’s use of modern innovative methods provides sound wildlife management services to ensure the protection of our customers’ investments and health.

Tri-State Wildlife Management is Certified Bat Standard Compliant by the National Wildlife Control Operators Association.

Tri-State Wildlife Management is fully insured, and we stand behind all our work

For bat removal and exclusion services, call Tri-State Wildlife Management at (859) 635-0037. Put our experience and expertise to work for you!

Northern Kentucky Bat Removal

Why Can’t Bats Be Removed or Excluded During The Summer?

June 8th, 2018

Tri-State Wildlife Management works year round helping people in the Northern Kentucky Cincinnati area who are experiencing bat issues with their home or business. Customers often ask, “Why can’t bats be removed or excluded during the summer?” First off this statement is not entirely true.  If a customer calls with a bat in their living space, we are permitted to remove the bat from the home and either release it outside, or in the case that it may have been in contact with a person and there is a risk of exposure to zoonotic diseases the bat could be submitted to the health department for rabies testing. With that being said, bats roosting within a structure can not be excluded from a structure from mid May – Mid August because of the presence of pups.

Local bats begin gathering in maternity colonies in late spring and usually give birth to 1-2 pups any time from mid May through mid July. During this time the mother will leave the colony at night to feed but return to nurse their young for the first three weeks of their life. After this time the pups will learn to fly and begin leaving at dusk to feed on insects. For this reason no one is permitted to exclude bats while young are still unable to fly. If a mother bat is unable to access a structure to get to her nursing pup she will exhaust all efforts to try to enter the structure. This includes attempting to access briefly opened doors and windows.  In addition, leaving a flightless pup without access to its food source, its mother’s milk, is inhumane and would result in the pups death. Lastly, numerous bats are listed on state and federal endangered species lists, making it illegal to cause them harm and death, which a summer time exclusion would inherently do.

Although we are unable to exclude bats during this time, Tri State Wildlife is permitted to begin the process, so that exclusion can take place as soon as the black out period is lifted. Our technicians will perform a thorough  inspection of the structure, identifying all current and potential entry points. We can then begin preliminary sealing of the home, addressing all areas of potential future entry while still permitting the bats to access their current entry points. In addition, we can help identify at risk areas in the home that can reduce the likely hood of bats entering the living space of a home, for example blocking off knee wall and attic access.

Colony of bats in northern Kentucky home

If you are experiencing a bat issue in your home, let us begin the process of remedying you issue today.

 

Bats in my House

May 29th, 2018

Yesterday, across the United States we celebrated Memorial Day, remembering those who died while serving in our armed forces.  Many of us gathered at parades and backyard cookouts enjoying the company of friends and family.  It might have been the first time this season that you were outside your home at dusk or after dark and you may have noticed something unsettling coming from your house.  What first may have appeared as a little shadow out of the corner of your eye, soon became evidence of bats exiting the far reaches of your home. As the realization sets in the inner voice inside your head starts screaming, “I have bats in my house!” Followed by unsettling thoughts of safety and cost. If this is something that you or someone you know has recently experienced give Tri State Wildlife a call. More often than not we are able to put your mind at ease regarding both the safety and the cost of your situation. Tri State Wildlife is a full service company.  We can humanly eliminate bats from your home and also offer additional services for removing droppings left behind in attics or knee walls as well as re-insulation of contaminated areas (request a separate quote for such services).

Do Not Try to Get Rid of Bats on Your Own

Excluding bats from your home is not something that a Do-It-Yourselfer should undertake.  There are many series issues to consider when dealing with bats and your home. From a health stand point the risk of exposure to rabies from a bat scratch or bite has drastically increased over the past few years, with the number of bats testing positive for rabies increasing to 5-10%. In addition, particles from bat droppings can become airborne if mishandled, resulting in a histoplasmosis infection of your eyes or lungs.

In addition, Tri State Wildlife technicians are trained to thoroughly inspect a structure to identify all current and potential entry points. If the potential entry points are not addressed prior to exclusion, the bats will use them to reenter the structure. DIYers as well as general contractors commonly use the wrong products when attempting to exclude bats from a home. Often times this adds additional cost to the homeowner when Tri State Wildlife’s technicians have to undo some of the “repairs” that were previously attempted to fixed the problem.

So if you are finding yourself saying, “I have bats in my house!” Give us a call today. 859-635-0037

Tri State Wildlife – Bat Removal Specialist – 859-635-0037

 

Bats with Rabies

May 23rd, 2018

Warm summer nights are filled with many magical qualities including cookouts, late night campfires, evening swims and chasing fireflies. If you’re observant enough you can also spot bats emerging around dusk to eat up all of the pesky insects that would otherwise ruin an enjoyable evening outdoors. As a general rule bats are very beneficial in controlling insects. Watching their fluttering dance through the sky is somewhat magical until you see them emerging from your home or other structure on your property. Even more unsettling is finding a bat flying within your home. Occasionally a bat will enter a home through an open window or door, however, more often than not finding a bat within a home is indication that that its roost is in close proximity or even within the structure. If you encounter a situation such as this, don’t hesitate to contact Tri State Wildlife, 859-635-0037, to help evaluate your situation and prevent contact with bats with rabies.

The greatest risk associated with bats in someones home is exposure to the rabies virus. Just this week a bat found in a Lexington home tested positive for the rabies virus. The health department quickly took action and posted signs in the neighborhood alerting residence to the discovery of bats with rabies, but also reminding residence to keep an eye on their pets and to have them up to date on their rabies vaccine.

Rabies from bats is the most known source of human infection within the United States accounting for approximately 90% of rabies fatalities in recent years. 5-10% of Bats tested in the Northern Kentucky Cincinnati area have tested positive for rabies in recent years. Due to the fact that bats have tiny teeth and bat bites may be undetectable it is important to have any bat found in the room of a sleeping person, an unattended child or someone who is mentally impaired tested for the rabies virus. When dealing with such a situation it is best to contact someone trained in handling such situations, such as a nuisance wildlife control technician at Tri State Wildlife to locate and capture the bat. You should then contact your local health department to make arrangements for testing.

In the case that someone has been bitten, scratched or exposed to an animal’s saliva, the Northern Kentucky Health Department recommends the following:
-Wash the wound right away with soap and water for 10 minutes.
-Call your health care provider or go to a hospital emergency room depending on the severity of the wound. If you seek medical care, the health care provider treating your injury is required to report the bite to the Health Department.
-If possible, confine the bat so it can be quarantined or tested.
-Contact a trained nuisance wildlife professional to capture the bat .
-If you did not seek medical care, contact the Health Department at 859-341-4151 as soon as possible so steps can be taken to quarantine the animal or submit it for testing if warranted.

According to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services “Current post-exposure prophylaxis is nearly 100 percent successful in preventing rabies in humans. Most fatalities from rabies occur when people fail to seek prompt medical assistance or are unaware of the exposure, as with some of the cases associated with bat rabies.”

In addition to seeking help when a bat is found within the living space of a home, it is imperative to avoid contact with all bats especially those found in unusual places or during day light hours. Both of these situations are indicators of a sick bat. Just this past January a young boy in Florida past away from the rabies virus after being scratched by a sick bat and not seeking appropriate medical attention until symptoms developed.

A Scurry From Above – Noises in the Attic

April 3rd, 2018

It’s morning and you are enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee and you suspect you hear something in the attic above your head. You turn down the news and then there’s nothing. A few days later the same thing happens so you tell your spouse that you’ve been hearing noises in the attic. They glance up in the attic, but everything appears as normal and they haven’t heard anything strange, so the sounds are attributed to the house moving and settling as the temperatures outside change. Two weeks later you hear scurrying and a full-blown ruckus above your head. You have a problem. You have an animal intruder! Scenarios like this one are common during the months of April and May and are most likely attributed to squirrels. Female squirrels often use attics, chimneys, soffit areas, and gutter lines as nest sites and dens to raise their young. Squirrels are active during the day and sleep at night so noises from a family of squirrels are typically heard throughout the day.

Tree squirrels breed twice a year (December-January and May-June) with 1-7 young being born in February-March and July-August. Juvenile squirrels become active as early as six to seven weeks making their presence known to homeowners. Like many young children the normally quiet mother can’t keep her litter quiet and they can often be heard scurrying, scratching, and even barking from their living quarters. Tri-State Wildlife Management must take extra precaution when excluding squirrels out of attics and other structural voids to make sure there aren’t any juveniles trapped inside.

Tri-State Wildlife Management Cold Spring KY Squirrel Removal

Juvenile squirrels removed from local home.

 

 

Since squirrels are rodents and are notorious chewers they can cause a lot of damage to a structure. Although, squirrels prefer to chew on wood they are also known to chew on electrical wires. For this reason, it is imperative that squirrels are removed from a structure. Tri-State Wildlife is your squirrel removal specialist in the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati Tri-State area. It is our responsibility to provide our customers with a comprehensive service which includes, trapping and removal, exclusion and repair, as preventative services.

If you suspect that you have a squirrel issue call Tri-State Wildlife today 859-635-0037!

We are confident that you will be satisfied with our work!


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