Large Predators

Coyotes are mainly carnivores but will also eat fruit and insects.  Their diet mainly consists of rodents, such as mice, rats and occasionally rabbits.  Coyotes will also eat dead animal carcasses that other carnivores have eaten off all they want and left it to rot.

Coyotes have excellent hearing and sense of smell.

Coyotes can run up to 40 miles per hour.

Foxes are the only type of dog that can retract their claws like cats do.  Foxes are smaller than coyotes but bigger than most domestic cats.

Foxes will eat just about anything, including worms, spiders, berries and small animals such as birds and mice.

Grey foxes live in North America and they are the only type of dog that can climb trees.

Foxes are nocturnal, meaning they only go out at night to hunt for prey.

Foxes tend to live about 6-7 years.

There are 2 species of beaver in the world, the North American beaver is the one we deal with in the Carolinas.

Beavers are large semi-aquatic rodents that build dams.  The dams can create wetlands that support other wildlife but they can also cause ecological damage.

Beavers are nocturnal and they do their work at night.

Beavers can stay underwater for up to 15 minutes.

Beavers have very sharp teeth which continue to grow throughout their lifetimes.  Chewing on trees helps to file down their incisors.

Beavers hate the sound of running water.

A beaver home is called a lodge which is made of sticks and mud.  The entrance to the lodge is underwater.

Many people that live in the Lake Norman or Lake Wylie area have experienced problems with muskrats.

Muskrats have been known to burrow into shorelines while weakening the ground above.  They chew on the underside of boats ruining wires and liners.

There are many types of snakes in Charlotte and the Carolinas.  Identification is always a key component because while most are beneficial to the environment, some are very poisonous like the copperhead.

Snakes are very active in the spring and early fall.

Skunks in our area have been known to scavenge though trash cans and even invade attics of homes and buildings.

Skunks have the ability to produce a foul pungent odor from their rear end when they feel threatened or scared.

Skunks are carnivores, they hunt small birds, insects and other mammals.

The opossum is North America only marsupial.

Opossums are mostly immune to rabies.

A large portion of an opossum’s diet is insects.

Management:

• All of these large predators/animals can become a nuisance wildlife problem when they enter your home or business.
• PCA offers an individual comprehensive program for each situation that starts with a thorough inspection, removing the animal and then excluding any areas to ensure the animal does not return.
• Contact our office so we can set up your inspection today.