Wildlife, Rodent, & Pest Control Services

Wherever people and nature meet, conflict seems destined to ensue. Wild animals – particularly those that live in urban areas – have adapted to be survivors that are accustomed to living around humans, and your home presents great opportunities for these daring critters to find shelter and food.

When wildlife invades your home in Knoxville, it can result in many issues, including widespread property damage and serious threats to the health and safety of your family. Continue reading if you’d like to learn more about the dangers of a wildlife infestation inside your home.

Top 5 Threats of Wildlife in Your Home

1. Waste Bacteria – Wild animals will freely use any area of your home in Knoxville as a toilet. While wildlife usually hides in areas of a home we rarely visit, such as the attic or inside the walls, animal urine and feces may still spread harmful bacteria to us. Dangerous bacteria that is known to spread through wildlife waste includes salmonella, E. coli, and leptospirosis. If you enter areas where critters have been urinating and defecating, you might wind up contracting one of these serious bacterial illnesses. Make sure to always wear a mask and gloves if you need to clean up the droppings of wild animals in your home.
2. Fire Hazards – Rodents’ teeth are always growing, forcing them to continually gnaw at everything around them in order to file their teeth down. Not only does this result in damage throughout your home, it can also lead to danger. Mice, rats, and squirrels all have a bad habit of gnawing on electrical wiring in walls. This leads to exposed wires, which creates a major fire hazard that you might not even be aware of until it’s too late. It is estimated that rodent damage to wiring is responsible for as many as 25% of all house fires without a determinable cause.
3. Rabies – One of the most feared viruses in the world, rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. Bats are the most common rabies carriers in Knoxville, but raccoons and skunks are also known to spread the virus. When a rabid animal begins living on your property, the risk that you will be bitten increases drastically. Fortunately, rabies can be reliably prevented with immunization shortly after being infected, which is why it’s important to call a doctor immediately if you’re bitten by an animal that may be rabid.
4. Parasites – Often, the parasites carried by critters are much more dangerous than the animals themselves. Most mammals, including all rodents, are frequent carriers of fleas, ticks, and mites which they can introduce into your home, allowing these tiny blood-sucking pests to terrorize your family and your pets. Raccoons commonly carry roundworms, which can spread to both humans and other animals, causing serious health complications.
5. Venom – The Knoxville area is home to several species of venomous snakes that are known to invade houses, including copperheads and rattlesnakes. Snakes often live under porches or in crawl spaces and they may invade basements and garages in search of shelter. While venomous snakes don’t tend to be aggressive, they’re prone to bite if you threaten them – or even just step too close by accident – and their venom can land you in the emergency room.

Protect Your Home from Wild Animals with Professional Solutions

Between their destructive behaviors and their propensity to spread disease and parasites, wildlife should never be allowed to move in under your roof. If you’ve discovered wild animals living in your home, get in touch with Critter Wranglers today to schedule wildlife control services in the Knoxville area!