The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), NPMA’s consumer and media outreach arm, created National Pest Management Month (April), Termite Awareness Week... read more
A full-grown opossum huddled down between stray items in the basement of a residence, taking shelter from the storm outside. Opossums are nocturnal creatures, and will generally seek out darker areas for security.
While it is not an especially frequent occurrence, a squirrel bite should be treated in the same fashion as most other small animal bite. Like most rodents, squirrels rarely are carriers of rabies, which is actually found more commonly in skunks, bats, foxes and raccoons. Here’s what to do if you should happen to cross paths with the wrong rodent.
Suffering a Minor Wound If the skin is barely broken from the bite, you can treat the injury as you would with any minor wound. First, wash it thoroughly with soap and water, and then apply antibiotic cream to protect against infection. Cover the cleaned wound with a sterile bandage to heal. Dealing with a Deep Wound For bites which penetrate the skin deeper, or if the skin is otherwise torn and bleeding, first apply pressure with a clean and dry cloth. The first priority is to stop the bleeding. Once this is done, contact your doctor for further assistance. Cases of Infection Symptoms of an infected animal bite can include swelling and redness around the bite area, an increase in soreness, or discharge oozing from the site of the wound. Please consult your doctor immediately if you notice any of these signs of infection. It is also important that you seek medical attention if you have not had a tetanus shot in the past five years and you suffer a deep bite, or if the wound is dirty. For more information on wildlife removal in Raleigh, please visit this website. This adult North American raccoon seems to have been caught on camera unexpectedly, as he inspects a fallen tree branch for sustenance. Common raccoons subsist on a variety of food sources, including plant material and nuts.
With over 25,000 species stretching across every continent except Antarctica, bees are one of the more common flying insects that most people will encounter. Although they usually will not employ their defenses unless provoked, a bee sting nevertheless can produce pain and various side effects depending on the individual.
Common Reactions Bee, wasp, hornet, or yellow jacket stings can be painful, but that is typically the extent of the injury. Symptoms usually subside within hours. The most common reactions to stings are mild:
Less commonly, people stung by bees suffer more severe reactions. These symptoms tend to resolve themselves within five to 10 days, and don’t necessarily indicate a dangerous allergy. If reactions become more severe with subsequent stings, consult your doctor. Some symptoms of a moderate reaction can include:
People who are allergic to the venom from bee stings can experience a potentially life-threatening reaction if stung, called anaphylaxis. Signs of a severe allergic reaction are as follows:
The North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA) has opened the NCPMA PestLine, an electronic hotline that allows consumers to receive answers to their pest management questions directly from pest management experts... read more
Indigenous to continents besides Antarctica, the squirrel is a common animal in most of the world, known for their quick, acrobatic capabilities. Usually small in size with slender bodies, large eyes, and long, bushy tails, squirrels are also distinctive and can often be seen scurrying up and down trees. However, tree squirrels are just one common type that can be found in the wild.
Ground Squirrels As their name implies, ground squirrels are less agile than their tree-based brethren. These animals subsist mostly on leaves, roots, and nuts, but will also prey on insects and small animals. With a lesser defensive capability, ground squirrels often remain in groups to alert one another if one notices danger. Tree Squirrels Perhaps the most well-known variety, tree squirrels are common in woods, parks, and anywhere with plenty of trees. This squirrel type will also forage for nuts and plants on the ground, but also can eat tree bark, bird eggs, or even smaller baby birds. Certain species even consider tree sap to be a delicacy. Flying Squirrels Although they do not truly fly, these squirrels live much like birds, in nests or tree holes and gliding across the sky. Without wings, flying squirrels rely on skin connected between outstretched limbs, which creates a wing-like glider effect that allows them to soar over 150 feet at a time. Female squirrels will usually give birth to up to eight offspring at once, and may produce several litters each year, making for a robust population in most parts of the world. To learn more about squirrels control in Raleigh, please visit this website. This adult tree squirrel might look to be stuck, but don’t worry—it seems to have found a comfortable spot inside of an old blackened stump. Squirrels rely on trees for nutrition, including bark, nuts, and even sap.
The Association of American Pesticide Control Officials was formed in 1947, the same year that Congress enacted the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)... read more
The only mammal that is able to fly, the bat is also one of the most widespread and varied animals in the world. With around 1,200 different types living today, they represent the second largest order of mammals, only ranking behind rodents. Bats are divided into two primary groups: megachiroptera, or megabats, and microchiroptera, or microbats.
Megabats typically do not rely on echolocation, as microbats do. They subsist on nectar, pollen, and fruits. Species include:
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