Animal Invaders Wildlife Relocation Services

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Humboldt, TN
Animal Invaders Wildlife Relocation Services

We specialize in live trapping, relocation, exclusion barriers, decontamination/odor control. We also provide dead animal removal services.

Servicing most counties in West TN, we are licensed and insured. We offer complete home inspections, live animal removal, removal of nesting materials, exclusion barrier application, decontamination and odor control, dead animal removal, and minor aesthetic repairs. Animal Invaders works on set fees, once we quote a price that is all you pay. There is no "per animal" fee regardless of how many ani

mals we catch or how long it takes. also guarantees it's barrier work or we repair it at no additional cost to you. We are licensed and insured with over 20 years trapping experience to effectively solve your nuisance wildlife problems.

10/25/2024

FRIDAY FACT: Tennessee is lucky to have a spring and summer filled with a variety of songbirds. Some birds are year long residents of our great state, such as the common Field Sparrow, House Finch, Eastern Bluebird, Downy Woodpecker and Tufted Titmouse to name a few.

There are also many birds that pass through in the fall on their way to even warmer climates such as the Dark-eyed Junco, American Kestrel Falcon, Grey-cheeked Thrushes, Belted Kingfishers, and a variety of Warblers.

Of the birds who pass through, some choose to stop and make Tennessee their winter home such as the pictured Yellow-rumped Warbler (photo courtesy Friends of Warner Parks).

Many birds who migrate south will feed during the day and fly at night. They need lots of energy to travel the hundreds of miles they go each year in search of warmer weather. The birds who stay must build up fat stores to protect against the cool Tennessee winters. You can help our feathered friends by keeping bird feeders stocked with high fat content nuts and worms (such as dried mealworms) throughout the winter.

10/11/2024

FRIDAY FACT: We are coming to the end of groundhog season.

As primarily vegetarians, once the foliage is gone so are groundhogs. While they will munch on eggs, insects and the occasional small critter their preference and the vast bulk of their diet is grass, flowers, roots, nuts, and berries.

Groundhogs are among the few true hibernators. Unlike snakes and armadillo which burmate (sleep on cold days but awaken and become active on nice warm days), once cold temperatures set in these large rodents will head to their dens not to be seen again until spring when they emerge to mate and start snacking on the fresh greenery.

10/04/2024

FRIDAY FACT: It's baby snake season! Snake give birth or have their eggs hatch in August/September so now is the time of year to see snake babies roaming around.

However seeing a young snake is not an indicator of a "nest" of snakes. Unless you stumble onto a nest of snakes within a few hours of hatching, you will not see them together as they will not return to their nesting site. Likewise snakes that are live birthed are not raised by their mother. The female snake will take a few hours to rest and watch over her clutch as they dry and mobilize then each snake will go it's own way and live independently of each other.

09/13/2024

FRIDAY FACT: When opossum play dead they not only fall over and lie still. They also drool and release a scent from their glands that resembles decaying flesh.

09/06/2024

FRIDAY FACT: Grey squirrels, whether you love or hate them, you have to give grey squirrels credit for their ability to thrive. Despite being more intelligent and resourceful than given credit for though they do not make good attic tenants. In addition to carrying fleas, chewing holes in your roof, and trimming their teeth on your electrical wires, they are just plain noisy and get up early even on the weekends!

Grey squirrels are also social creatures so they don't mind sharing space with other squirrels. While most of the time when we take squirrels out of an attic it is one female and a current litter there are occasional house parties. Our current "Most Squirrels in an Attic" award winner is a home in North Jackson where we removed 17 squirrels over a three week trapping period.

Breeding for these animals occurs twice a year. Once in early winter and once in mid summer. The gestational period is roughly 44 days, so at a month and a half after breeding there will be usually two to six new squirrels per nest which will be weaned at a mere 7 weeks. Those babies will be juveniles half the size of their parents when they leave the nest at 10 weeks and begin scampering around on their own.

Once a female squirrel finds a safe place to rear her young she will return there to raise her future litters, especially a cozy attic which is climate controlled and wind/rain free. If you know or even think you have had squirrels in the past, we offer home inspections to look over your attic for proof of squirrel activity/damage or to give you peace of mind that your attic is squirrel free. We can also remove any old nesting material, spray to remove the pheromones which would attract a squirrel to the area, and put up preventative barriers over previous entry points as needed.

08/09/2024

FRIDAY FACT: When wildlife invade we often tell people that the animal in their attic or crawlspace doesn't want into the main living area of the house, and that is true. Wild animals are fearful of people and generally don't want face to face encounters.

We've had animals wander in through open doors or windows, be chased in by the family pet, or sometimes simply fall in through weak ceilings. Most often when an animal comes in voluntarily it's because the critter is either curious or it smells food and thinks it might be able to grab a quick snack and will leave on their own once their curiosity is satisfied or they've eaten their fill.

However sometimes you get that odd character who can't resist the idea of a hot bath!

07/12/2024

FRIDAY FACT: Baby opossums. It's that time of year when we get lots of calls about "baby" opossums. In the animal world, being small or even young isn't the same as being a baby.

Opossums are only babies while they are in their mother's pouch. At approximately 2-3 months of age they will begin to leave the mother's pouch to ride on her back. At this stage, despite only being about the size of the palm of your hand, they are weaned and ready to start life on their own.

They will ride along with her for roughly another month before they begin to fall off and venture out on life as an adult despite only being 1/4 the size of their parents.

06/07/2024

FRIDAY FACT: It's that time of year again to share the recipe to remove skunk odor. Test a small area of fabric before applying it to fabric. It is safe for human hair but may discolor color treated hair. Avoid getting mixtures in dogs eyes and mouth.

16 oz 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
1/4 c baking soda
1 Tbsp dish liquid

Do not mix in advance, mixture only remains effective for about an hour. Do not store in sealed container.

05/31/2024

FRIDAY FACT: West Tennessee is home to many different kinds of snakes. We have a beautiful assortment. Unfortunately the majority of that assortment comes in a very limited color pallet.

Snake identification is difficult unless you are extremely familiar with local snakes. Thankfully that doesn't mean you should be afraid of the snakes you encounter because of all the snakes we have, only three are venomous so most likely you are seeing one of the many harmless varieties.

Most people who are bitten by snakes receive that bite when the snake feel threatened, generally because the human is swinging something at it's head and putting themselves in the snakes strike range. Almost all snakes, even the dangerous ones, will happily go the opposite direction if you walk away. They don't want an encounter with you any more than you want an encounter with them.

Since most snakes look very similar and most people can't tell a DeKay's Brown Snake from a Copperhead, the safest option is to slowly back away and give the snake half an hour to feel safe and leave. Don't put yourself in harms way unnecessarily.

*Pictured is a DeKay's Brown Snake. It is rare to see one of these small and completely harmless beauties. If you need a snake identified and you can send us a CLEAR picture, we are happy to identify it for you.

05/17/2024

FRIDAY FACT: Squirrels breed twice a year. If you think you have squirrels in your attic and you think you will wait for them to leave then patch the holes, the next breeding season you will have even more squirrels the next breeding season.

Putting a board over the hole will not encourage a squirrel to leave. It would be the same as you going to the store and coming home to find you locked your keys in the house. You don't stand at the locked door and accept defeat and move. No, you either find or create another way in. Squirrels will do the same thing.

Squirrels are also not territorial so if a female successfully raises a litter in your attic she will return to her safe haven to rear her next litter. Her breeding age female offspring may also return to their safe, happy childhood home to raise their own babies.

05/10/2024

FRIDAY FACT: Don't underestimate raccoons. These furry little creatures are often misunderstood, especially with the onslaught of cute videos on facebook from people who have tried to turn these animals into pets. Wild raccoons are an entirely different animal.

When a raccoon stands on it's hind legs and stretches out it's 'arms', it is not an invitation to pick it up. This is a defensive pose designed to make itself look larger and more intimidating. When a raccoon attacks it is quite vicious.

Despite having a stiff looking, shuffling style walk, raccoons are extremely limber. They have very slender and extremely flexible skeletons which provide them with the ability to turn those thick bodies almost in on themselves. This allows them the ability to wrap themselves around the head of a much larger attacker.

This translates to an inability to pick a raccoon up by the scruff of it's neck as it will simply twist itself until it has dug it's long claws designed to dig into tree bark into your arm. Being deceptively strong it will then often be able to free itself from your grasp enough to dig a mouth full of sharp teeth into your flesh. Even very young, small raccoons have an impressive bite force. So if you encounter a raccoon "reaching for you", it is not an invitation to cuddle!

05/03/2024

FRIDAY FACT: Despite their common contribution to the landscape today, armadillos, these now common armored lawn destroyers weren't always in Tennessee. The first reports of armadillo only date back to the mid 1990's.

Armadillo have a lifespan of 8-9 years in the wild and produce 4 offspring per year which accounts for their rapid over population abilities. Breeding occurs in late summer/early fall and four same-sex quadruplets are born approximately 7 months later. The young aren't born with a shell, they have a tough smooth skin which will harden as they mature to adulthood.

There are rumors that armadillo carry leprosy, this is essentially true. Armadillos have a low body temperature which the bacteria that causes leprosy thrives in. The transmission to humans is rare and is most often a result of eating the meat but it is also possible to transmit from contact so never pick up an armadillo (even a dead one) with bare hands.

04/26/2024

FRIDAY FACT: With the arrival of spring comes the arrival of all of our beautiful feathered friends that vacationed in warmer climates through the winter.

It is also breeding season for most birds and occasionally that causes unwanted conflicts with humans. Once birds have taken up residence, there is nothing legally that can be done to remove them until after breeding season is over because of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 makes it a Federal crime.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 implements four international conservation treaties that the U.S. entered into with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia. It is intended to ensure the sustainability of populations of all protected migratory bird species.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) prohibits the taking (including killing, capturing, selling, trading, and transport) of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization by the Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additionally it bans the removal of nests, nesting materials, eggs, egg shells, feathers, birds living or dead, and bird skeletons from an active nesting site.

If you encounter unwanted birds, it is best to wait them out for a few months until all the occupants have left the nest and then have the area cleaned and secured to prevent the birds from returning to that spot next year. This law does not apply to sparrows or crows.

*Photo curtsey of massaudubon

04/12/2024

FRIDAY FACT: Not all snakes are bad! Snakes seem to elicit fear like no other creature on earth but not all of these legless reptiles are dangerous. Not only do they control pests like mice and insects, but some even control venomous snake populations.

Enter the King Snake. It got it's name for a reason. Full grown, these beauties come in just under seven feet in length. However, don't fear them for their size. Not only are these giants non venomous but it will actually attack and eat venomous snakes like copperheads. While most people don't want snakes, if you must have one, this is the one to have around.

King snakes come in an assortment of colors and patterns from solid black to colorfully striped. The ones in this region are the black king snake and, the common Eastern king snake, and the pictured speckled king snake.

04/05/2024

FRIDAY FACT: What's that sound? As spring settles in we start getting the phone calls with people hearing "noises" and immediately rush to the internet to try and identify them. Here's the fact, the internet can be your best friend and your worst enemy all rolled into one click of a mouse.

First, it's very difficult to identify sounds from audio clips on the internet. Sometimes that is because the entities posting them are incorrect in what they post and sometimes it's simply because the sounds inside a house are too muffled and too similar to identify accurately.

However, even if you are able to say "Yes, this is the noise!", that knowledge doesn't really help very much because regardless of what the animal is, there's still an animal in the house that doesn't belong there.

Regardless, for the inquiring minds that want to Sherlock Holmes the noises they hear: Squirrels are often heard from above and it sounds like a soft scurrying or scratching sound. You will not often hear the cries of the babies, but they are frequently described as sounding like birds.

Raccoons are the loudest and rowdiest of the bunch, particularly as the kits reach juvenile age. Raccoon sounds progress from a 'walking' noise and possibly a chittering sound to what is described often as a hear of elephants playing football. Raccoons nest both in attics and crawlspaces.

The other animal which will occupy both attics and crawlspaces are the stealthiest of them, the opossum. Opossums are very light on their feet and quiet. The young make virtually zero noise and are contained inside the mothers pouch so there is no need to cry out for her. Hearing an opossum is more of a soft padding sound.

Skunks cannot climb and, like armadillo and groundhogs, will only be found in a crawlspace. Skunks will be smelled long before they are heard. Likewise, armadillo and groundhogs, are very quite houseguests most often noticed by the disturbed dirt from their digging rather than their house parties.

03/29/2024

FRIDAY FACT: The Virginia Opossum has lots of amazing characteristics, however it is probably best known for it's acting skill of playing dead. What you might not know is that opossums don't have any control at all over that performance.

When the animal experiences intense fear in the face of danger, it seizes up and flops to the ground where it can remain for hours staring blankly ahead and sticking out its tongue and even emitting a foul smelling odor from it's a**l glands that mimics rotting flesh. Though It’s an impressive defensive mechanism, opossums have no control over when they play dead or for how long they do it. The comatose-like state is a completely involuntary response triggered by stress, much like that of fainting goats.

Thanks to their whole acting-and-smelling-like-a-corpse routine, opossums aren’t credited with being very sanitary. This is an inaccurate perception. Opossums are much like house cats in the respect they frequently bathe themselves. Lacking sweat glands, the constant grooming is believed to help them cool down.

03/15/2024

FRIDAY FACT: Snakes are on the move. With the beautiful weather taking over the region, snakes are coming out of their winter stupor and looking to fill their rumbling tummies.

This means human/snake encounters are on the rise. However unless you are a mouse, bird, young bunny, frog or lizard you aren't in much danger as long as you exercise a little caution. If you see a snake, just move away and the snake will proceed along in search of it's next meal. People are almost exclusively bitten reaching for snakes (usually trying to kill them).

Snake pictured is the first snake call of the season and is in fact a copperhead. 93% of the calls we get are for rat snakes, these guys are the third most common being only 2% of the calls we receive. The second most common snake we get calls on are king snakes.

03/08/2024

FRIDAY FACT: Breeding season for skunks begins in February and continues through the end of March so we are the peak of skunk active season right now. This means more skunks roaming around your yard to spray the family dog or the HVAC unit if they are startled.

Female skunks will be pregnant for roughly three months, eventually giving birth to four - eight bald, blind kits in late May to early June.

Address

Humboldt, TN

Telephone

(731) 618-9550

Website

http://animalinvaders.net/

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