Skunks in Central PA

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The striped skunk is most commonly found in Pennsylvania and belongs to the Mephitidae family.

About Skunks

Adult skunks are about 2 feet long, including their 7-10 inch tail. They can weigh between 3 and 12 lbs, depending on age, sex, physical condition, and time of the year.

Moreover, males are about 15% heavier than female skunks. They have small heads with small eyes and ears, pointed noses, short legs, and wide rear ends. The claws of the skunk’s forefeet are long and sharp, well-adapted to digging. The striped skunk is most commonly found in Pennsylvania.

What do they do?

Skunks make a variety of sounds, including hisses, growls, squeals, cooing, and churring. Skunks are placid and sluggish; they walk in a slow and clumsy gallop, and they can swim but are poor climbers. Their senses of sight, smell, and sound have been judged poor to fair.

Their defense mechanism is their potent scent that sprays from 2 large scent glands. Musk, or their spray, is an oily liquid that is highly repellent to all mammals. Their musk can spray up to 12 feet, but it is their last resort in the line of defense. They will drum their forefeet on the ground while growling, hissing, arching their back, and flicking their tails.

Striped skunks are omnivores! In summer, they feed heavily on insects: grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and wasps. They also dig out bumblebee nests and scratch at the entrance of beehives, catching and eating honeybees that fly out. They often leave remnants of their feeding; small cone-shaped holes in the soil, pine needles, leaf duff, or suburban lawns mark where they’ve dug for grubs. They also eat spiders, toads, frogs, lizards, snakes, mice, chipmunks, turtle eggs, and ground-nesting birds. In fall and winter, skunks eat fruits such as wild grapes, cherries, moles, mice, voles, shrews, grasses, leaves, buds, mast, and carrion.

They are nocturnal animals; they hunt from dusk until dawn. They den in ground burrows, beneath buildings, stumps, wood, rock piles, and overhanging creek banks. Skunks will use abandoned woodchuck burrows. They like sloped spaces for dens, most likely because they drain well. Their breeding season runs from February to March.

Skunks do not hibernate, although they might remain dormant underground all winter. Skunks like to live in a variety of habitats. They like mixed woods and brushland, rolling weedy fields, fencerows, wooded ravines, and rocky outcrops in or near agricultural areas. They use hayfields, pastures, fencerows, and brush borders of waterways. Corn fields are ideal feeding habitats.

What Damage Do They Cause?

Skunks are burrowers and diggers, using these skills to find any weak spots in your foundation and crawl spaces they can use to find an entrance to their new home. They can damage electrical wiring and plumbing. Due to skunks preferring to den together, there may be a family living in your home. They also like areas under sheds and decks.

How To Get Rid of Skunks

We offer skunk removal! We start all jobs with an interior and exterior inspection of the home so we can determine where the animals are entering and living. Physical removal is the best approach, as we only use traps and methods approved by the PA Game Commission. We also offer exclusion services to prevent skunks from coming back.

We’re your licensed and insured skunk removal experts in Pennsylvania. Give us a call or use our contact form if you believe you have skunks living near your home!

Snake Season in Pennsylvania

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Snake Season in Pennsylvania: What’s Normal and When to Call for Snake Removal

It’s a common June scene in Lancaster County: you’re clearing brush in the backyard or reaching for a tool in the garage, and you see that unmistakable slither.

Panic is the most common reaction, but in Pennsylvania, most of our snakes are harmless. However, that doesn’t mean you want them nesting under your porch or entering your basement. Here is your guide to staying “snake-safe” this summer and knowing when it’s time to bring in a professional.

Common Neighbors: Identifying Local Snakes

Most of the calls we receive in Ephrata, Lititz, and Manheim involve three common (and non-venomous) species:

  • Eastern Garter Snake: Often found in gardens; usually green or brown with yellow stripes.

  • Black Rat Snake: These can grow quite large (up to 6 feet!) and are excellent climbers. They are often the culprits if you find a snake in your attic or rafters.

  • Northern Water Snake: Frequently seen near local creeks and ponds; often mistaken for the venomous Cottonmouth (which actually doesn’t live in our part of PA!).

Learn more about the types of snakes in Pennsylvania

The Real Question: Is it Dangerous?

While Pennsylvania is home to the Copperhead and the Timber Rattlesnake, these are much less common in residential backyards than the species listed above. However, if you see a snake with a distinct triangular head and “cat-like” elliptical pupils, keep your distance. Even a non-venomous bite can cause infection or significant stress. Most of the time, if you leave a snake alone, it will leave you alone.

Why Are Snakes on My Property?

Snakes come onto your property looking for food and shelter.

  1. Rodent Problems: If you have mice or other small critters, snakes will follow.

  2. Tall Grass and Debris: Overgrown lawns, woodpiles, and leaf piles are optimal cover for snakes.

  3. Cool Shelters: In the June heat, snakes seek out cool shade found under your shed, porch, or in your basement.

How We Can Help

At Backyard Wildlife Solutions, we don’t just remove the snake; we solve the “why.” Our snake intervention services include:

  • Safe Removal & Relocation: We capture and move snakes away from your living spaces.

  • Habitat Modification: We advise you on how to make your yard less attractive to wildlife.

  • Entry Point Sealing: We inspect your foundation and crawlspace to ensure snakes (and the mice they hunt) can’t get inside.

See a Snake? Stay Calm and Call the Pros.

Don’t spend your summer looking over your shoulder in your own backyard. Whether you have a single “visitor” or a recurring problem, we’re here to help.

Contact us for a snake inspection

Expert wildlife removal for Lancaster County. Call us at 717-419-0781 or fill out our Contact Form.

Rodent Droppings Health Risks and Hantavirus: What You Need to Know

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Hantavirus in the News: What Homeowners Should Know About Rodent Health Risks

Understanding health risks surrounding rodent droppings can help protect your home and family from hidden hazards like hantavirus and other rodent-borne illnesses. Recent news about a hantavirus exposure on a cruise ship has raised new concerns about the health risks associated with rodents and their droppings. While most people associate mice with nuisance issues like scratching sounds or chewed materials, rodents can also pose serious health concerns, especially when infestations go unnoticed.

Although hantavirus remains rare in Pennsylvania, understanding how it spreads and how to safely respond to rodent activity can help protect your home and family.

What Is Hantavirus?

Hantavirus is a virus primarily carried by certain species of wild rodents, most commonly deer mice. People can become exposed when they inhale tiny airborne particles contaminated by rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.

This often happens during activities like sweeping out sheds, cleaning garages, opening seasonal cabins, or disturbing hidden nesting materials in attics and crawlspaces.

Unlike direct rodent sightings, hantavirus risk can remain even after the animal is gone—making proper cleanup especially important.

Understanding the Health Risks of Rodent Droppings

Many homeowners don’t realize they have a rodent problem until they hear scratching in the walls or discover droppings in storage areas. By that point, mice may have already created nests in insulation, behind appliances, or inside crawlspaces.

Rodent droppings can contaminate surfaces, stored belongings, and even indoor air when disturbed. Attempting to clean heavily contaminated areas without proper precautions can increase exposure to airborne particles.

While hantavirus is uncommon in the eastern U.S., mice and other rodents can also spread additional illnesses and trigger allergies, making prompt removal and cleanup essential.

Signs You May Have a Rodent Problem

Rodents are often active at night, which means infestations can increase before homeowners notice them. Common warning signs include droppings, gnaw marks, shredded nesting materials, and scratching or scurrying sounds in walls or ceilings.

You may also notice unusual odors, especially in attics, basements, garages, or storage sheds. A foul odor can indicate dead animals in the walls, which requires professional dead animal removal.

Addressing these signs early can help prevent larger infestations and reduce health risks.

Avoid These Common Cleanup Mistakes

If you discover rodent droppings, avoid sweeping or vacuuming the area. These actions can stir contaminated dust into the air.

Professional remediation may be necessary. Licensed and insured technicians understand the practices and risks associated with dropping clean up, and can safely restore the affected area.

The most important part is identifying how rodents entered your home in the first place.

Prevention Starts with Rodent Exclusion

The best way to reduce rodent-related health risks is to prevent rodents from entering your home altogether. Small gaps around foundations, utility lines, vents, and garage doors can all provide easy access.

Professional wildlife and rodent exclusion focuses on sealing potential or active entry points, removing active infestations, and addressing contaminated nesting areas safely.

As temperatures fluctuate and rodents seek shelter indoors, proactive prevention can make all the difference.

Rodent Removal and Wildlife Prevention in Lancaster County

At Backyard Wildlife Solutions, we help homeowners throughout Lancaster County identify rodent activity, remove nuisance wildlife, and secure homes against future intrusions.

While hantavirus remains rare, recent headlines serve as an important reminder that rodents can pose more than just structural concerns. Taking early action protects both your property and your health.

If you’ve noticed signs of mice or rodent activity in your home, professional inspection and exclusion can provide peace of mind before a small issue becomes a larger problem. Give us a call or use our contact form for rodent removal, including mice and rats.

Professional Groundhog Exterminator Services in Spring

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Expert Groundhog Pest Control Near Me in Lancaster County

If you’re noticing large holes near your shed, deck, or foundation, you probably need professional groundhog removal services. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, become active in the spring, digging extensive tunneling systems that can damage lawns and compromise your home’s foundation. While they may seem harmless, an established groundhog can result in costly property repairs. If you are searching for a groundhog exterminator near me, it’s important to choose an experienced technician who focuses on physical removal and long-term exclusion.

Why Groundhogs Choose Your Property

Groundhogs are burrowing rodents that seek out sheltered areas to build underground dens. Residential properties provide ideal conditions, especially under sheds, decks, porches, and concrete slabs, where soil is protected and easy to excavate. A single groundhog can create a tunnel network stretching 20 to 40 feet with multiple entrances! Over time, tunneling can weaken support posts, compromise foundations, and create uneven areas in your yard. Spring is the busiest season for groundhogs as they emerge from hibernation to prepare nesting sites.

Signs You Need Groundhog Removal Services

Groundhog infestations are usually identifiable by the size and location of the burrow openings. Holes are typically eight to twelve inches wide and surrounded by mounds of displaced soil. You may also notice chewed lattice, wooden siding, or flattened grass leading towards your home’s structure. If a burrow is located under a foundation or structural footing, professional groundhog pest control is strongly recommended. Attempting to collapse tunnels without proper trapping can cause the animal to dig deeper or relocate further beneath your property.

The Risks of Ignoring a Groundhog Problem

Left untreated, a groundhog’s digging leads to structural instability under decks and sheds, as well as soil erosion and sinkholes near foundations. These burrow systems also invite re-entry by other burrowing wildlife once the original animal leaves. Because the damage becomes more expensive the longer a burrow system remains active, addressing the problem early is the most cost-effective solution for homeowners.

Why Professional Removal Outperforms DIY

Homeowners often try repellents, smoke bombs, or flooding tunnels, but these temporary fixes rarely solve the problem long-term. Effective groundhog removal services include humane trapping performed in accordance with Pennsylvania wildlife regulations, outlined by the Pennsylvania State Game Commission and the NWCOA. It also includes a thorough inspection, identifying all active burrow entrances. Once the animal is removed, the process continues with the installation of underground exclusion barriers. Without heavy-duty fencing installed, a new groundhog can quickly move into the existing tunnel system.

Your Local Groundhog Exterminator in Lancaster County

Backyard Wildlife Solutions provides professional groundhog extermination services throughout Lancaster County. We don’t just remove the critter; we ensure they don’t come back. Once the groundhog is removed, we reinforce vulnerable areas like decks and sheds with professional-grade exclusion fencing. This approach ensures long-term protection for your yard and home.

Schedule Your Service Before Damage Escalates

Groundhogs are most active from early spring through late summer. Addressing the issue early can prevent expensive structural repairs and the loss of expensive landscaping. If you suspect activity, contact Backyard Wildlife Solutions, the trusted choice for groundhog pest control in Lancaster County. 

 

Bird Nesting in Lancaster: What Homeowners Should Know

Spring Bird Nesting Season in Lancaster County: What Homeowners Should Know

Spring nesting season brings increased bird activity throughout Lancaster County, and homes offer many appealing nesting locations, especially behind shutters, inside vents, and chimneys. As temperatures rise, birds begin searching for warm, protected spaces to raise their young, and residential structures often provide the perfect shelter.

Starlings, sparrows, and other common species frequently build a bird nest in small exterior gaps that homeowners don’t always notice right away. A single birds nest can quickly turn into a larger problem if it blocks airflow, traps moisture, or attracts insects and mites.

Common Signs Birds Are Nesting on Your Home

Many homeowners first realize there’s an issue when they notice nesting debris on porches or walkways, hear chirping near windows or walls, or see birds repeatedly flying to the same spot on their house. These are all strong indicators that a nest may be present behind shutters, inside vents, or near rooflines.

In Lititz and Ephrata, birds nesting behind shutters is one of the most common service calls we receive during spring. These concealed areas provide excellent protection from predators and weather, making them prime nesting sites.

Why Bird Nests Can Become a Bigger Problem

While birds may seem harmless, nesting on your home can lead to several issues:

Blocked dryer or bathroom vents can reduce airflow and increase moisture buildup. Nests inside chimneys can create fire hazards. Accumulated nesting material may damage siding or trim, and droppings can stain exterior surfaces. Certain birds, including the starling, are also known to return to the same nesting spots yearly if they aren’t properly sealed.

Homeowners searching for bird removal near me are often surprised to learn that simply removing a nest doesn’t solve the problem long-term. Without professional exclusion, birds are likely to rebuild.

Deterrent and Exclusion: Preventing Future Nesting

Effective bird deterrent strategies focus on blocking access rather than relocating birds repeatedly. At Backyard Wildlife Solutions, we provide professional bird exclusion services designed to prevent nesting before it starts. These include:

For homes experiencing woodpecker activity, we also offer woodpecker deterrent solutions that help protect siding and trim from repeated drilling.

Our approach is humane and preventative – stopping birds from entering while protecting your home from ongoing damage.

Professional Pest Bird Control in Lancaster County

Backyard Wildlife Solutions specializes in customized bird exclusion for homes throughout Lancaster County, including Lititz, Ephrata, and surrounding areas. Whether you’re dealing with a single nest or recurring bird activity, professional pest bird control ensures the issue is handled safely and permanently.

If you’re noticing signs of nesting or searching for reliable bird control near me, now is the best time to act. Early intervention during the spring nesting season can prevent costly repairs and recurring problems later in the year.

Contact us today to schedule an inspection and learn how our bird deterrent and exclusion services can help protect your home this season.

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