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Heavy Rains Send Wild Animals Indoors
Flooding rains this spring have forced outdoor critters inside to roofs, attics and homes.
Exterminators and wildlife specialists are working overtime to catch everything from snakes to possums.
In both situations, wild animals, bugs and stinging pests started coming indoors.
In some cases they caused damage and even health concerns.
Heavy rains the past month have caused big problems.
Houses and fields are flooded, roads covered with water, and now there's the threat of unwanted pests.
'"Back behind Lee High School we were trapping for raccoons on this lady's property. She had them in her attic. We set a trap and possum got into it last night," said Wildlife Specialist Jeff Ponzini.
Jeff Ponzini with Critter Control says this possum, in a cage in the back of his truck, damaged the woman's attic.
This isn't the first time a wild animal has gone looking for shelter from the outdoor elements.
"A raccoon came, dropped from the top of my ceiling to the floor into the kitchen."
It had eaten its way through the wiring in a heating unit. Ponzini says the racoon was looking for a cool, damp place to hide out during the drought.
Now with all the rain they're looking for a dry spot.
"Right now we are getting a high influx of raccoon and possum calls, insects, ants termites are more common now," said Ponzini.
Mosquitoes are bad too.
Standing water in old tires and piles of junk make the perfect breeding ground. Wet weather has also got snakes on the move.
Wildlife Control Specialists warn you shouldn't try trapping creatures yourself.
"They can be bit wild animals do carry diseases," said Ponzini.
It's a good idea to check your property, especially roofs and crawl spaces. If you do find wild creatures nesting in your home, leave it to the professionals to trap them.
Credits: By Elizabeth Gentle - WAFF.com
