Tag Archives: trapping

Leave It To Beaver

Property damage caused by beavers at a northern Michigan client’s home.

In recent years, beaver populations have been relatively high. This is due to a lack of extensive trapping and an abundance of food. These animals can cause considerable problems for county road commissions, private landowners, and waterfront landowners. They create these problems by tree cutting, building dams, flooding property, and blocking culverts. We most often receive calls from property owners experiencing issues due to beaver damage of trees and flooding of waterways, which interferes with land uses. This can cause devastating structural and landscaping damage if untreated.

Beaver Trapping and Removal

Beaver are especially aggressive in the late summer and fall, but do not hibernate in the winter months so a problem may persist. There is one overwhelming fact of dealing with them – you must remove all of the beaver to solve the problem. Any attempt to control these problems without removing the beaver is futile. It is possible to unplug a culvert and draw the water down with them still in place; however, in most cases, the dam will be rebuilt, and the water will flood the next day again.

Ideally, if the problems are not too extreme, an experienced trapper can remove all the beaver in the area during the licensed trapping season. Unfortunately, beaver problems often crop up well before the late fall trapping season. If the problem is pressing, a free Beaver Damage Control Permit can be obtained from the DNR. This allows the landowner to remove the beaver outside of the trapping season if there is proven damage (road washout, flooding, etc.).

Catching these animals during the offseason is more difficult; this is due to their behavior being somewhat different from what many trappers most commonly deal with. Inexperienced trappers will often create more of a problem for you in the long run. They can sometimes only catch one or two of the young beaver; this results in the rest of the colony with adults becoming much warier.

Removal Mistakes

A common mistake we hear of is landowners stating their intention to remove the beaver by shooting them. Research indicates the average colony is about five animals. Anyone trying to shoot all the beaver in a colony one time will quickly find that is impossible. The most likely scenario is that one or two of the young may be vulnerable to shooting; the rest of the colony will become completely nocturnal. Shooting these animals is not easy since there is very little visible when they are swimming. Shooting should only be a last resort for wildlife professionals.

In years past, conservation officers and fire officers would blast beaver dams out with dynamite. Times have changed, and dams are not blasted anymore. Another danger of blasting the dams is the likelihood of washing out downstream roads, culverts, and stream crossings. When a large dam (some up over six feet high) is suddenly breached, a large head of water rushes downstream. Anyone who intends to breach a beaver dam should keep in mind that it can do considerable damage downstream; it is important to scout out any potential crossings downstream ahead of time. The danger of washout is even greater if there is a significant gradient downstream.

Successful Removal

As stated, if downstream stream crossings are a concern for removing a large head of water, the dam can typically be removed gradually. The best practice is to remove a section of the upper portion of the dam and then let the water flow out down to the level cleared overnight. The next day another part of the dam can be removed, which allows the entire impoundment of water behind the dam to drain more gradually, hopefully avoiding any downstream water damage. If the impoundment behind the dam is vast, greater care needs to be taken breaching the dam. When removing a large dam, great care should be taken only to remove just enough of the dam. This will relieve some of the water pressure over several days.

One thing to remember is the easiest way to minimize beaver problems in Northern Michigan is not to create an ideal habitat next to stream crossings. Of course, beaver are in the rodent family, and they are incredibly prolific. If a suitable food habitat is present near water, landowners will likely have decades of reoccurring problems. The only long-term solution to minimize beaver problems outside of trapping is converting nearshore stream habitat to conifer that beaver don’t utilize for food.

We specialize in the trapping and removal of these animals, so call us to set up an inspection today!

V(Ermine)

The stoat, also known as the ermine (or the short-tailed weasel) is a mammal native to Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the weasel by its more substantial body and longer tail with a noticeable black tip. Originally from Eurasia, ermine crossed into North America some 500,000 years ago, where they naturalized and joined the closely related, native long-tailed weasel.

The name ermine is for any species in the genus Mustela, most notably the stoat, identified by its pure white coat in the winter months. In the late 19th century, stoats were first introduced into New Zealand to control rabbits, where they have since had a devastating effect on native bird populations.

Appearance

At its full adult size, an ermine’s total body length from crown to rump will be about 6.5 inches to 13 inches. Males are typically twice as large as their female counterparts. The tail length is, in most cases, about 35% of an ermine’s total body length, ranging from 2 inches to 5 inches. They have the classic weasel form: lengthy body, squat legs, long neck supporting a triangular head, slightly protruding round ears, bright black eyes, and long whiskers. Their short, moderately fine fur is white in the winter, and the tip of the tail is black. In the summer, the fur on the back is chocolate brown, while the fur on the belly extending to the upper lip is yellowish-white.

Where do they live?

Ermine are distributed around the northern part of the world. They are found in the temperate regions of Eurasia and North America and are absent from the Great Plains.

They prefer woodlands near marshes, rivers, shrubby fences, and open areas adjacent to forests. Although ermine reside primarily on the ground, they swim well and can climb trees.

Ermine make their dens in hollow logs, tree roots, rodent burrows, and holes stone walls. Most commonly, these dens are nearly a foot below ground. Ermine will line their nests with fur and feathers from their prey, and dry plant material. Burrows will have side cavities that are used for storing food and as bathrooms.

Reproduction

Both male and female ermine will have many different mates throughout their lives. They will mate in the late spring to early summer months, with females producing only one litter each year. Their young are born in April to May, after an average pregnancy of 280 days; this includes an 8 to 9 month time period in which the offspring are dormant More hours of daylight beginning in March trigger the young to start their development. Litter size will range anywhere from 3 to 18 offspring but averages 4 to 9. The young are born blind and helpless, and are covered with fine white hair; a prominent, dense mane of dark fur develops around the neck by their third week (the function of which is unknown).

The young grow quickly and can hunt with their mothers within eight weeks. Although females do not reach their full adult size until a least six weeks after birth, they can mate when they are only 60 to 70 days old, which is often before they are even weaned, whereas males do not breed or grow to adult size until their second summer. Only the female ermine care for the young— they nurse and protect them until they can achieve independence.

Females may survive for two or more breeding seasons in nature, while males generally do not survive that long. The total number of offspring that each ermine has in its life ultimately depends on the amount of food that is available.

Behavior

The slender, agile bodies of the ermine allow them to move swiftly both above ground and through their burrows. Females hunt in the tunnels more than males, which may explain the higher number of males that end up being trapped. Ermine can also run smoothly and quickly across the snow. They are ideal predators, hunting in zig-zag patterns, moving by a series of leaps, each of up to one-half inch. Ermine are curious creatures, investigating every hole and crevice, often stopping to survey surroundings by raising their heads and standing upright on their hind legs. They may travel up to 9 miles in one night!

Adult males dominate females and young. Females tend to remain in their birthplace throughout their lives. Males ermine spread out and claim vast territories that usually contain or overlap subsequent females’ territories; however, interestingly enough males females only associate with one another during the breeding season.

Range

Ermine territories change size with prey abundance. The maximum home range size is about 50 acres. When food is abundant, they can live in smaller areas of only around 25 acres. The ranges of males are usually twice the size of female ranges. These are solitary mammals, keeping others out by patrolling their territory boundaries and marking them with scent.

Communication

Ermine have a keen sense of smell, vision, hearing, and touch that help them to locate prey. Most members of the weasel family are relatively quiet mammals, but some vocalizations may be used for communication. Ermine likely use a specific odor to let other ermine know they are ready to mate.

Diet and Predators

Ermine are mostly nocturnal carnivores. They prey on small, warm-blooded vertebrates, preferably mammals rabbit-sized and under. When mammalian prey is scarce, ermine eat insects, frogs, fish, birds, and eggs. In more severe climates, ermine often hunt underneath the snow and survive entirely on small rodents. It is a requirement that ermine eat every day to meet their extremely high energy demands. They will store leftover meals as a way of managing these demands.

When an ermine senses prey, it will approach as closely as possible. With incredible speed, it will grasp the back of the victim’s head and neck with their sharp teeth and wrap itself around the victim. The victim will die from repeated bites to the base of their skull. Ermine have very keen senses that help them locate prey. Rabbits and rodents are mainly followed by their scent, insects by sound, and fish by sight.

Ermine are aggressive and fierce, although small animals. However, potential predators are larger carnivores, including red fox, gray fox, fishers, martens, badgers, raptors, and occasionally, domestic cats.

Role in the ecosystem

Ermine are essential predators on the small mammal communities in the ecosystems in which they live.

Unfortunately, many ermine die from a parasitic worm that infects them through their noses. Eventually, the worm causes holes in the skull, putting pressure on the brain, which causes death. Shrews are believed to carry this parasite.

Associated Problems

Ermine can take domestic poultry when they can gain access to them, which can become a problem for farmers. The primary damage they cause is raiding chicken coops and injuring or killing other domestic birds. However, ermine are excellent at catching mice, which makes them valuable to humans.

How do they interact with us?

Humans have trapped thousands of ermine each season for centuries, but the demand for their pelts has decreased in recent years. They are not considered endangered or even threatened, although hunting in some areas may impact populations severely.

Ermine can become a nuisance pest to farmers and domestic bird owners. We will determine the severity of the problem by inspecting the damage, taking note of how any poultry has been killed, and by droppings. Since ermine pose the most significant problem to domestic fowl, we will concentrate on the exclusion of coops, barns, and any other enclosures by sealing up any access points. Ermine may also be trapped and removed from the area. If you believe to be experiencing problems associated with ermine on your property, do not hesitate to give us a call today!

Squirrels: Rats With Better Outfits

Squirrels, some of nature’s cheekiest creatures. We can agree that they are furry, cute, and quite entertaining to watch; however, these animals are rodents and ultimately cause health and safety issues for property owners. Squirrels can cause extensive structural damage to homes and other buildings, ruin crops, even harm other animals by raiding bird’s nests for eggs and chicks. Their droppings spread salmonella and can make humans sick. Our great state of Michigan has six species: the Eastern Chipmunk, Flying, Red, Grey, Fox, and the Thirteen-lined Ground. Proper identification is key in eradicating a squirrel issue, and there are many traits that distinguish one species from another. Apart from damaging crops and threatening bird populations, each species has specific tendencies when taking over a property or structure.

Eastern Chipmunk

Unlike other species, Chipmunk tend to stay on the ground. These squirrels do not use trees or wires for access into a structure. They prefer to exploit an open gap at the base of the structure or chew in through the garage door seal. Once inside they will begin to rummage through things, looking for bird seed or other food storage in the garage. They also chew on wires in the garage or on a car. Chipmunks are carnivorous and known to raid bird nests for eggs and chicks. Chipmunks are typically not hard to control, unlike Red, Grey, and Flying Squirrels.

Flying Squirrel

The most carnivorous, these squirrels are nocturnal and are rarely seen during the day. Flying Squirrels can be very loud in attics; they can also be mistook for a larger animals, such as a raccoon. They enter homes through holes in the soffit, window and door frames, and can chew holes in siding. Flying Squirrels can have multiple den sites; a reason some homeowners believe the problem is gone for good after not hearing any movement for awhile. It is best to trap double digits before declaring the problem eradicated.

Red Squirrel

Nicknamed “red devils” these squirrels nest inside structures and are one of Northern Michigan’s most common problems. Once this happens, it will typically turn into a generational situation and continue for years until something is done. Red Squirrels are excellent climbers; they will use anything close to the home to obtain access to a structure. Red Squirrels will even jump off close access points if nothing is touching! They will chew into the home through the ridge vent, soffit, dormer, crawl space vent, or any other pipe or open gap on a home. Red Squirrels are even known to chew into cedar sided and log homes to obtain direct access.

Grey Squirrel

Grey Squirrels do not tend to chew into structures as much as other species, but they do tend to exploit pre-existing gaps. Once inside, they begin to nest and reproduce, however it is to be noted that Grey Squirrels have multiple den sites and will live elsewhere when not reproducing. Northern Michigan does not see as big of an issue with Grey Squirrels as it does with other species, but they can still cause a disturbance once inside. Like the Eastern Chipmunk, Grey Squirrels are known to be nest-raiders and will consume bird eggs and chicks.

Fox Squirrel

The Fox Squirrel spends more time on the ground than other squirrels and is most active during the day. They enjoy raiding birdhouses to eat eggs and hatchlings but also invade bird feeders, attics, sheds, and garages.

Thirteen-Lined Ground

It is extremely rare to find the Thirteen-Lined Ground squirrel inside of structures. Rather than chewing inside, these squirrels will do their damage outside in the yard. They cause problems with erosion, tear up gardens, and create burrows and holes around the property.

Despite all of their differences, the best method for eradication is by trapping, removing, and maintaining by a licensed wildlife professional. We pride ourselves in staying on the cutting-edge of this type of trapping and have recently implemented new technology that allows customers to get a never-before-seen view of our work. The Arlo camera provides us with a live feed whenever movement is detected in an infested space— we share the videos with the customer which is both an extremely effective tool, but a bonus other trappers do not provide (but more on the Arlo later!). If you are hearing noises in your attic or walls, seeing new or larger than usual holes on the exterior of a structure, or seeing squirrels ransacking your bird feeders, please give us a call.

Voles

There are several different types of Voles in our Northern Michigan region. People often confuse them with with mice and/or moles. Voles are dark brown or black in color with grey or silver on the surface. They have small rounded ears that are hidden behind fur.

The Vole is capable of mating year-round and can produce offspring up to 17 times in a year. On average, Voles have six young in their litter. Voles typically have a home range of about ¼ acre of land with a single burrow system with several young and adults. They constantly groom these trails and leave grass cuttings along the way. They can be active at any time of the day, albeit they are most active at dusk and dawn.

Voles are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants, and they are capable of finding food sources year-round. They feed on sprouting shoots in the spring, tips and seeds in the summer/fall, and roots in the winter—all of which can cause damage to your landscaping and trees.

Contracting a pest control technician to place professional products in your yard is the best way to eliminate voles and other rodents from damaging shrubs and other greenery.

If you’ve started to notice damage to your shrubs and grass, check out this video we found on voles. Click here to view.

Skunks

Skunks are very common throughout Michigan and are known to cause damage to lawns due to their burrowing and digging for grubs. They can often be found under decks and on occasion, can get into homes and buildings without proper exclusion. Though most people think skunks spray anything they come in contact with, they typically only spray when they feel extremely threatened. To avoid the wrath of their spray, it is best to keep your distance to avoid making the animal feel like it’s in danger.

Preventing Skunks

Trapping skunks are one of the easiest ways to control. This prevents further lawn damage while relocating them to a different area. It’s best to cover the trap with a blanket or burlap; skunks tend to avoid spraying if they can’t see their target. However, it’s always best to call a professional when dealing with the trapping and relocation of skunks. This is mainly avoid being sprayed or bitten, as skunks can carry rabies. It’s also important to make sure your home has proper exclusion (fences and sealing under decks).

Skunks don’t have many predators apart from the Great Horned owl. Juveniles are occasionally taken on by foxes, coyotes, and large dogs. Males are slightly larger than females. They are comparable in size to a domestic cat. Females usually reproduce once a year, although males may reproduce with multiple females, and some will travel upwards of 2 to 10 miles to find a female to breed with. Breeding starts in February and March and usually produces a litter between 4 and 7 babies. Males become independent from their mother by July, while the females continue to follow their mother until the following spring. Both males and females become sexually mature around 10 months of age. Most skunks do not survive their first year due to harsh weather conditions or diseases. After their first year they can live up to seven years in the wild and up to ten years in captivity, considering they stay clear of predators, cars and hunters.

Wildlife Services

We receive calls everyday regarding customers dealing with skunks, raccoons, and various other critters around their homes. It is our top priority to address wildlife jobs as soon as possible. This works to ensure the animals don’t cause damage to the customer’s homes and yards. We specialize in trapping these animals and relocating them away from the original location. The law requires us to relocate the animals at least 25 miles away to ensure they don’t return.

Raccoons and skunks are two of the main wildlife issues that we deal with here in Northern Michigan. In most cases, they have young with them as well. These animals can cause an enormous amount of destruction to a home, as the mothers are trying to make a safe home for young to keep them away from the males, who will actually resort to eating them if they have no other food source. Raccoons can be extremely mean creatures and do not appreciate tampering with their homes and young! This is why we always advise having a professional come to trap and relocate any wildlife critters you may have. Heres a photo of a juvenile raccoon we recently trapped and relocated: