Common Summer Wildlife Pests in Central Pennsylvania
Summer wildlife pests in Central Pennsylvania include animals and insects that can become nuisances in gardens and homes. Rodents such as chipmunks, squirrels, gophers, groundhogs, mice, moles, opossums, raccoons, skunks, and more can all cause significant damage to your home and property. Bees are also a common summer pest in PA.
Rodents are a common summer and often year-round pest in central PA. Here are a few common rodents that can cause significant damage to your property:
Squirrels: There are over 200 species of squirrels classified as ground, tree, or flying squirrels in the United States. The Eastern Gray Squirrel is very common in Pennsylvania. These rodents are known for their love of nuts and birdseed, often causing battles at backyard bird feeders. 1 These squirrels will use your home as shelter causing significant damage inside and outside. They can also carry fleas and diseases.
Our professional wildlife specialists will thoroughly inspect and build a custom plan to trap, remove, and seal all entry points to your home. This ensures that squirrels cannot simply re-enter your home after removal. To learn more about Critter Control’s squirrel removal process, visit Humane Squirrel Removal Guaranteed – Critter Control – Get Rid of Squirrels.
Groundhogs
These animals are known for raiding and destroying gardens and can be a significant problem for homeowners. When you see dirt mounds and burrow holes in your garden or under your foundation, deck or shed, you know a groundhog has moved into your neighborhood.
Did you know that groundhogs are also known as “whistle-pigs”? They can grow to 2 feed in length and 10 pounds in weight. Primarily herbivores, they will thrive on your garden. They have ever-growing teeth and very sharp claws used for digging their burrows.
Groundhogs can be deterred using some natural repellants such as coyote/fog/dog urine, dog or human hair clippings, red pepper. Some plants with strong fragrances also deter groundhogs – lavender, sage, mint and others. They are often caught using live traps, but care must be taken due to the potential for rabies. 2 There are rules in PA and every state when trapping wildlife, so make sure you understand these rules or hire a professional.
Did you know? The best time to remove a groundhog is between July and September when they are not hibernating and females are not pregnant.
Wasps, Bees, and Hornets
These are common pests in central Pennsylvania during the summer months.
- Carpenter Bees resemble bumblebees but can cause damage by boring into wood to create their nests.
- Paper Wasps can become aggressive if disturbed. They build umbrella-shaped nests in sheltered areas like under eaves, in soffits, and under porches around your home.
- Yellowjackets are highly aggressive and are identified by their yellow and black stripes. Yellowjacket nests are typically built underground or in voids in walls.
- Hornets are an aggressive type of wasp and can deliver painful stings if their nests, typically found in trees or shrubs, are disturbed. 4 Hornets are similar in appearance to yellowjackets but are larger. They build a large egg-shaped nest that looks like it is made of paper. Nests are typically in trees, bushes, under eaves, or in your attic.
Honey bees, hornets, yellowjackets, and paper wasps can build colonies containing thousands of workers. These colonies will aggressively protect the nests as one large swarm.4
Critter Control’s wildlife experts can safely remove stinging insect nests and hives.
It’s important to handle these pests carefully to avoid harm and to consider humane and effective methods of control. For instance, using fences to protect gardens from groundhogs or employing squirrel-proof bird feeders can be helpful strategies2,1. If you’re dealing with an infestation or damage, consulting with a local wildlife control service may be the best course of action.
Professional Removal
For professional removal of common summer wildlife pests such as squirrels, groundhogs, and bees in central Pennsylvania, contact Carlisle Critter Control today for a free estimate.
1 birdwatchinghq.com (https://birdwatchinghq.com/squirrels-in-pennsylvania/)
2 pgc.pa.gov ( https://www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/Pages/NuisanceWildlife.aspx)
3 entension.psu.edu ( https://extension.psu.edu/identifying-common-household-insects-in-pennsylvania)
4 crittercontrol.com (Bees, Wasps, Hornets, Stinging Insects Service (crittercontrol.com)