If you find yourself with a bat problem, do not fret. Apparently vampires are not real, who knew?

Although you are not in any real danger, you should act fast. If you see one bat, there is a chance an entire colony may be living in your attic. So call a professional at the first sign of an infestation. Most bats are harmless to people. However, some bats can carry rabies; therefore, bats should not be handled without protective measures.

So do not try to remove the bat yourself. This will just cause the bat to hide, making it even more difficult for animal control to rid your house of these pests. Your best course of action is to close any doors in the room where the bat is, confining the animal and not allowing it to escape. Then call for help.

The professionals will remove the bat and look for any signs of a bigger infestation. But do not worry about the bat; they use only non-lethal forms of extraction to ensure the animal is not harmed.

Before you know it, you will be bat free.

Bats are actually very helpful for the environment, so it is important that we protect our fury-winged friends. One brown bat can eat up to 3000 mosquitoes each night. Now doesn’t that sound nice? I bet you will think twice next time you see a bat flying around your house.

If you have any questions about pest removal, contact Shumaker Animal Control by calling (443) 854-8072 or click here today!

Rats like to live where people live. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for people living with rats. These unwanted pests are a major problem in residential areas and are difficult to get rid of. Rats can thrive on just a single ounce of food and water daily, so when they enter a neighborhood and gain access to meat, fish, vegetables and grains, they will stay.

Rats prefer to feed in and around homes, restaurants and businesses. But you would probably prefer that these rats dine far away from your family.

If you find your home infested with these unwelcome pests, then you should call a professional animal control company as soon as possible. Rats spread a variety of diseases; many of which are serious and life threatening. Rats have been linked to the bubonic plague, hantavirus and leptospirosis. Though you probably do not have to worry about an outbreak of the plague any time soon, it is still best to quickly rid yourself of these filthy creatures.

Both small and large rodent species can themselves be diseased, have droppings that spread disease, contaminate food, or be carriers of fleas and ticks that transmit disease. A rat and mouse proof house is a safer, healthier family environment.

The most common of these residentially residing rodents is the brown rat. Brown rats, being highly adaptive and considered to be one of the most difficult and aggressive of all animal pests, should be addressed by a trained professional.

Contact Shumaker’s Animal Control today by calling (443) 854-8072 or click here!

The snake is probably the most feared of all the reptiles. So it is no surprise that people tend to freak out when these slithering serpents invade their homes.

Snakes can be found almost anywhere – inhabiting Asia, Europe, North America, Africa, Australia and South America. And these creepy critters can live in several different locations including: rocks, rivers, water, grasslands, caves, and holes.

But if these dwellings do not suit our serpentine friends, snakes will occasionally enters homes, though it is generally by accident.

If you find yourself with a new reptilian roommate, you should act fast. Call a professional animal removal service, like Shumaker’s Animal Control, to get rid of the snake. Then inspect your home and seal any potential problem areas.

Snakes tend to enter houses from the ground. Make sure all cellar doors, windows and screens are tightly secured and search your walls and foundation for cracks. The masonry of foundations, fireplaces, and chimneys should be inspected and, if necessary, be plugged.

Snakes can fit through extremely small openings, so be thorough.

There are a number of different snakes that inhabit the Maryland area, including the Black Rat Snake, Eastern Garter Snake, Eastern Worm Snake, Northern Water Snake, Corn Snake (Red Rat Snake), Gray Rat Snake, Northern Brown and Eastern Ring Neck Snake and the Copperhead Snake.

To learn more about these types of snakes, watch these videos.

If you see any signs of snakes in your home, contact us immediately. You need to get invaders out of your house before they cause damage or threaten your family’s health.

This spring be aware of pests that may be entering your home. According to this article there are common ways that animals get into your home. This can possibly be prevented if you know how they enter.

Mice only need an entry hole about ¼ inch or larger. These are usually in the garage, basement or gaps around utility lines. Signs of infestation include droppings, smell of urine, noise at night and holes gnawed in food boxes. You can prevent this by sealing exterior gaps with mortar, weatherstipping the bottom of basement and garage doors and keeping all foodstuffs in hard plastic, glass or steel containers.

Rats entry holes are usually about ¾ inch or larger. They usually enter in garages, basements, foundations, or damaged and unused drain pipes. Sign of rats include greasy smudges around openings, the smell of urine, nests of discarded food, droppings, and gnawing or squeaking at night. You can prevent this by eliminating food and water sources around the house, and storing your food in airtight containers.

Squirrels need a hole of about 21/2 inches or larger to enter your home. They will most likely enter where dormers meet the roof or where roof shingles overhang. You can tell you have a squirrel problem if you hear scampering noises in the ceilings or attic, see insulation missing from spots near eaves, or notice signs of droppings and piles of nuts. You can stop this from happening by pruning trees away from your house, keeping your roof and trim in clean condition and removing any bird feeders.

For any help with animal control needs contact Shumaker’s Animal Control byclicking here or by dialing 443-854-8072.

Foxes have been very prevalent this year for residents in the area. Today we are going to discuss the different signs of rabies in foxes. Rabies is a viral disease and as this articles describes, it has some very easy to identify symptoms. Foxes are common carriers of the disease and it is transferred usually through animal bites.

One type of rabies is called “dumb rabies.” Human contact with a fox inflicted with this type of rabies is uncommon because the disease attacks the spinal chord and they usually retreat to their den.

“Furious rabies” is the other type. This strain causes the animal to act out. They lose sense of direction and fear. They can also experience paralysis in parts of their body or face– so look for a sagging jaw or drooping head. Aggression is another trait that goes along with this infection. Rabid foxes may attack inanimate objects and also bite themselves at this period of time. Death usually occurs after about three days of infection.

These symptoms among others are important to keep an eye out for if you see foxes or other animals in your vicinity. For any of your animal control needs contact Shumaker’s Animal Control by clicking here or by dialing 443-854-8072.

Besides the annoyances that a mouse infestation can cause—there are also health risks involved to exposure of both the mice and their droppings. As this article explains ridding your home of mice can prevent health issues. A disease known as Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is spread by contaminated dust from the mice’s droppings, urine and/or saliva. HPS is fatal in over half of its cases. Once exposed to the Hantavirus signs of sickness can take up to 5 weeks to appear. These symptoms include: fever, chills, muscle aches and pains, nausea and vomiting. After the initial symptoms, you could start to experience a shortness of breath and need to seek medical help.

Besides HPS there are also other dangers that are spread by mouse allergens. Mice (and rats) are a serious and very prevalent cause of allergies and asthma. Being exposed can lead to:

• Allergies
• Asthma symptoms (wheezing, difficulty breathing, etc.
• Full-blown asthma attack
• Asthma-related illnesses

Mouse allergen is found in the urine and dander and can be anywhere in your home if you have mice. Some indicators that you may have a mice infestation are cracks and holes in walls or doors, open food in the kitchen, and mouse droppings.

For all of these reasons it is important to keep your home free of mice and rodents. If you suspect you have an infestation or have any other animal control needs contact Shumaker Animal Control at 443-854-8072 or click here.

Today I want to discuss an issue a neighbor recently discovered: a red fox that had taken up residence in the neighborhood. This is not new, nor is it necessarily a bad thing. Foxes usually stay hidden from humans while hunting birds, rats, mice, small mammals, and just about anything they can digest. There are many wild animals around our neighborhood, and foxes are among them.

Problems arise, however, when foxes and humans interact. That interaction is often something as simple as a homeowner’s keeping dog or cat food out at night, not using metal trash cans with tight-fitting lids, or not cleaning up dog feces (for, yes, a fox will dine on feces). But other more “proactive” interaction occurs when people try to feed a fox, causing it to lose its natural fear of humans. I even know of instances where someone attempted to erect a temporary shelter for the neighborhood fox.

When any of us tries to treat a wild animal like a domestic pet, that goes against the natural order of things, and no good will result. By all means, to watch and enjoy the fox, but don’t interfere with Mother Nature.

Here are some tips and facts to help clear up any misconceptions you may have:

1. Wild animals do not attack for no reason; they attack when provoked. Give them space.
2. Wild animals do not need human help to stay warm and fed. Leave them alone.
3. A fox sees a small cat or dog as food. Keep pets indoors at night.
4. Wild animals are adept at finding trash. Keep trash in cans with tight lids.
5. Foxes and rats do relish dog feces. Pick up feces daily; it’s the law.
6. If a fox approaches you, clap your hands, stomp your feet, and it will disappear. Do not throw items at a fox since such action will cause the animal to become aggressive.
7. Wild animals love debris such as piles of brush or accumulated junk since they offer shelter. Keep your yard clean.
8. Finally, report any unusual behavior to Shumaker’s Animal Control. I’m always available to help. Dial 443-854-8072.

Stay safe and enjoy our wild America — from a distance!

Working in Columbia, MD in February can be very rewarding, however it can also be extremely cold up on a 32 foot ladder. Today it’s 28 degrees and windy with snow on the way! Squirrels are trying to find a warm place to deliver their babies and often end up in your attic. They are not pests; they’re wild animals to invading your home.

When you hear scampering and scratching, don’t wait, remember these pests are destroying your insulation, leaving droppings everywhere, and bring food into your attic which may attract rats later. Shumaker’s Animal Control will remove these pests and restore your peace of mind within 48 hours.

Never underestimate a squirrel or raccoon, they can destroy your home in just a few days, costing you thousands to clean up their mess, repair the damage and replace your insulation.

We are licensed in Maryland and serve the entire state and offer same-day service in the following areas: Aberdeen, Abingdon, Annapolis, Baldwin, Baltimore, Bel Air, Belcamp, Catonsville, Cockeysville, Crofton, Edgewood, Ellicott City, Glen Burnie, Laurel, Lutherville, White Marsh, Nottingham, Owings Mills, Pikesville, Perry Hall, Randallstown, Rosedale, Severna Park and Towson.

We stumbled upon this article from This Old House about nuisance animals invading homes. They break down dealing with problems into three basic solutions: poisoning, trapping, and preventing. We agree with what the article says and want to augment its comments.

We’ve already gone over the drawbacks of using poisons, and the article reinforces the dangers of poisoned animal pests dying inside the home. It gives advice for homeowners to trap the pests themselves, but homeowners will then have to monitor traps and still have to mess with releasing the nuisance animals outside, which can be difficult and dangerous.

Prevention is truly the best option. If you need help identifying vulnerable entry points into your home, contact us. And if you do wind up with a nuisance animal in the home, call us right away and save the hassle of trying to deal with it yourself.

When animal pests invade a home, it’s a problem. However, even if a nuisance animal doesn’t make it indoors, it can still cause a problem. Sometimes animals can die on a family’s property. Whether the animal was hit by a car or died because of disease, it should be removed quickly.

Of course as the animal starts to decompose, it will give off an odor that will encourage the homeowner to have it removed. But more importantly, any children around the home could catch a disease if they get too close to the carcass. The animal could also attract other unwanted pests such as vultures, foxes, possums, or rats. These and the rotting carcass can threaten family pets as well.

Along with trapping and removing animals inside the home, we’ll also remove dead animals outside the home. If you’ve had an animal die on your property, contact us to get rid of it immediately.