Condo Media - September 2013 - 25

by Steve Davies

found in and around buildings. In the
summer months, colonies are very
active; individuals often roost in dark,
hot attics and roof spaces, congregating around chimneys. Many bats stay
through the winter in a non-active
state. The most common complaint
from homeowners about bats is the
unpleasant odor created by their
droppings, known as guano. This can
quickly pile up and produce a strong,
rancid, ammonia-like stench while
it decomposes. In addition, guano
contains H-capsulatum spores that, if
inhaled by humans, can develop into
histoplasmosis, an infectious respiratory disease.

Raccoons Afoot

Raccoons are clever and relentless
critters who have adapted extremely
well to urban living, often residing in
accessible areas of your condo or townhouse, including the attic, chimney, or
underneath a deck. Because raccoons
are nocturnal, they may be hard to
detect and it might take time to realize
you have a problem. However, once
they enter your attic, you can hear
the scratching as they walk
about the area. Upon
further inspection, you’ll
likely find torn insulation
and building materials, destroyed air ducts, and the telltale
sign of latrines — huge piles of
raccoon feces in areas away from their
nest. The most common disease
carried by raccoons is rabies, but
they also carry roundworms, a transferable parasitic disease, in their feces.

Squirrels can Get In

Flying squirrels only need a hole the size
of a quarter to get into your home, so
they have many opportunities to enter
condos and townhouses, via construction gaps, dormer and louver vents,
fascia boards, and soffits. During the
winter months, flying squirrels will seek

shelter in your condo and it’s not unusual to find large colonies living in your
attic, sometimes as many as 40 to 50
individual animals. Common complaints
with squirrels include chewed electrical
wires, noise disturbances (especially at
night), and stains and bad odor produced from urine and feces. Leptospirosis and salmonella are diseases associated
with squirrel droppings.

fications for condo associations. It’s
important to do your research when
selecting the best pest control company to identify and remove nuisance wildlife from your property, as
services and levels of expertise vary
greatly. When partnering with a pest
management company or individual
wildlife professional, keep the following points in mind:

Birds can be Pests

• Experience with exclusion, remediation, damage repair, and preventative
services (see details on page 26)
• Proper licensing in animal damage
control from state regulatory officials
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local wildlife control regulations and
requirements
• Close working relationship with state
wardens and biologists
• Training in wildlife identification, behavior, habits, biology, management
procedures, and safety techniques
(OSHA 10 certification)
• Use of humane and responsible wildlife trapping and removal methods
• Experience working with condo associations and/or property management companies
• Experience handling wildlife-related
insurance claims
• Commitment to resolving your

Non-migratory birds such as pigeons,
European starlings, and house sparrows
are cited as nuisance pests for some
condo owners and associations. These
hearty species of birds have become
well adapted to urban communities and
may thrive in the rafters of your roof,
causing many issues including noise
disruption, troublesome nests (starlings
in particular can produce huge winter
roosts), and the spread of cryptococcosis, a fungal disease associated with
their droppings.

Finding the Right
Professionals

Nuisance wildlife can bring problems, damage, and health hazards, all with
potentially
costly rami-

Problems, Damage, and Health
Hazards Associated with Nuisance Wildlife
• Soiling or tearing up insulation or other building materials
• Chewing through electrical wires
• Clogging chimneys, drains, vents, air ducts, etc.
• Building nests in soffit areas, insulation, wall voids, etc.
• Urinating or defecating on any surface
• Noise disturbance and unpleasant odors
• Spread of diseases including, but not limited to, baylisascarisprocyonis (raccoon
roundworm), histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, leptospirosis, rabies, and salmonella
• Spread of parasites such as lice, mites, fleas, and ticks

Condo Media • September 2013

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Condo Media - September 2013

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