Record Summer Heat Brings Record Rodent and Wildlife Activity

What Burlington County Homeowners in Mount Laurel and Moorestown Should Watch For

Stepping outside your home or office in New Jersey this summer is like walking into an oven. You’re instantly met with dangerously oppressive heat. With high temperatures hitting 104 degrees Fahrenheit and multiple days well over 90 degrees, Burlington County, New Jersey residents aren’t the only ones being affected.

Rodents and wildlife feel the effects of the heat as well.

Hotter grounds, scarce water supplies, and a lack of food has stirred up an abundance of rodent and wildlife activity throughout Burlington County. New Jersey has seen roughly a 36 percent increase in days over 90 degrees since 1949, according to NJDEP climate trend data, and those longer stretches of heat change animal behavior. Always in tune with the migration of nuisance wildlife in the Jersey area, here’s what we know:

• Rodent Migration: Rats, mice, and other rodents cannot tolerate this summer’s extreme heat. Seeking cooler shelter, they are targeting crawl spaces, basements, garages, and attics. Mice and rats only need a dime-sized opening to intrude your home, which is why rodent control and exclusion work starts with a full inspection of the structure.
• Wildlife Intrusion: Wildlife, such as raccoons, squirrels, foxes, and skunks need far more water than small rodents. Therefore, this nuisance wildlife is attracted to any outdoor water sources, trash cans, and air-conditioned living spaces. They have no problem entering your Burlington County home as a means for survival, and most of the wildlife removal calls we take in July and August trace back to exactly that.
• Greater Breeding Cycles: Longer and hotter summers in cities like Evesham Township, Mount Laurel Township, and Willingboro Township allow wildlife populations to breed more frequently. Increased breeding activity multiplies the problems. The Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist tracks these seasonal temperature patterns month by month, and the trend line has been moving in one direction for years.

Which Wildlife and Rodents Call Burlington County Home

One of the most remarkable qualities about living in Burlington County, New Jersey, is its diverse landscape. While the eastern half of the county is deeply rural and dominated by the dense and forested New Jersey Pinelands, the western half is very developed. Both areas are known for an abundance of both wildlife and rodents, which is why we built out a dedicated page for wildlife removal services in Burlington County.

Here are the common rodents and nuisance wildlife found throughout areas, such as Medford Township, Burlington Township, and Moorestown Township.

Norway Rats & Roof Rats: Often found in urban areas, these rats thrive during summer months and will chew through building materials and wiring to get inside your home. Roof rats have a distinguished pointed nose, while a Norway rat has a blunt nose. But both can wreak havoc inside your home.

House Mice: House mice are far too common throughout Burlington County. The ROSS Environmental team gets a lot of calls regarding house mice in basements, garages, attics, and even inside living areas.

Squirrels: Yes, squirrels are considered rodents. Both gray squirrels and flying squirrels (they actually glide) are common throughout New Jersey. During warm months, they frequently nest in attics, raid bird feeders, and chew through electrical cables.

Raccoons: Notorious for rummaging through your trash, raccoons seek water, food, and shelter at night. This nuisance wildlife will invade your attic or chimney to raise their young. Raccoons are also one of the primary rabies carriers in New Jersey, so never approach one directly. The New Jersey Department of Health asks residents to report any bite or saliva contact to their local health department right away.

Bats: Besides the immense fear that these flying critters cause, bats can create significant waste and health hazards. Often found in attics and wall voids, bats can quickly turn your home into their haven. Bats are protected in New Jersey and there are specific windows of the year when exclusion work can legally be performed, which is one more reason this is not a do-it-yourself project.

Skunks: Nothing turns your day into an emergency like a skunk that invaded your living area. Burrowing under porches and decks, skunks make their presence known with an unforgettable pungent odor. Even in your yard, skunks pose a threat to your pets and children.

Groundhogs (Woodchucks): While the groundhog is celebrated on February 2nd, this nuisance wildlife is cursed throughout the summer in Burlington County. They can quickly damage yards, landscaping, and building foundations due to their need to burrow.

Canada Geese: Beautiful birds when they’re flying in formation, they aren’t as attractive when they’re on the ground. Frequently found around waterfronts, these troublesome geese leave slippery, nasty droppings behind.

Every one of these animals is covered under the ROSS Wildlife Control Program, from trapping and removal through full exclusion of the entry points that let them in.

How to Best Protect Your Home and Yard from Wildlife and Rodents

It’s your sanctuary. It’s probably where you and your family feel safest. Yet, when your Burlington County home is invaded by rats, mice, bats, skunks, raccoons or other wildlife, suddenly it’s not just your home any longer. It’s now their home, too.

Here are a few of our professional recommendations when you have a rodent problem in your home or yard:

• First, block entry points: If your home has been invaded by mice or rats, they got in somehow. You need to find that entry point and block it. Mice don’t need a cartoon-style mousehole to enter. All they need is a dime-sized crack. So, inspect your foundation, rooflines, soffits, and areas where pipes enter your home. Then, use chew-proof materials to block the entryway. Steel wool, caulk, or expandable foam should do the trick. The CDC’s rodent control guidance walks through every spot worth checking inside and outside the house.
• Set traps: Mice and rats have been invading homes, from Medford Township to Moorestown Township. We recommend setting traps rather than poisoning rodents, so they don’t die inside your walls and create foul odors. Make sure you set your traps in dark, quiet areas where you notice droppings or gnaw marks. Baits like peanut butter or bacon work great to attract both mice and rats.
• Keep it clean: The real threat with both mice and rats is the harmful diseases found in their urine and feces. If you see visible areas of droppings, spray the affected areas with a mixture of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. Then wipe up the waste and dispose of it in sealed plastic bags. If any waste gets on bedding or clothing, wash the affected articles on high heat with a heavy-duty detergent. When droppings are widespread or you are dealing with a heavy infestation, call for professional rodent service instead of handling it yourself.

Of course a small mouse seems like a small problem compared to an infestation of bats, raccoons, or a skunk. When it comes to wildlife removal, deter them from their three main goals: food, water, and shelter.

Here is our advice if you know your Burlington County home or yard has been invaded by wildlife.

• Remove food sources: Most wildlife invasions start with exposed food in the yard or near the home. Make sure your trash cans are secured with lockable lids. Feed your pets indoors. And remove any bird feeders from your yard.
• Eliminate possible shelter options: Start by sealing any entry points into your home. Next, pay attention to your yard and surroundings. Clear brush piles, remove wood piles, keep grass mowed short, and trim tree branches so squirrels can’t leap onto your house. Our wildlife exclusion work covers screening, wood repair, gutter guards, and bird spike installation.
• Use creative deterrents: Motion-activated lights or even sprinklers can gently scare away wildlife vermin.

Your Best Course of Action: Call ROSS Environmental Solutions

In the sweltering heat of Burlington County, New Jersey, the ROSS Environmental Solutions team gets a lot of calls about wildlife and rodents. Many of them have tried everything and are at their wit’s end. Then, we come to their home or place of business and address the wildlife or rodent problem like professionals. We have been doing this across South Jersey since 1992, and we are one of fewer than 500 companies nationwide to earn the Quality Pro designation from the National Pest Management Association.

Whether you have rats, mice, squirrels, bats, skunks or any type of wildlife either in or around your home, we have just the right wildlife removal solution you need. We serve Burlington County and the surrounding areas, and you can find the location nearest you on our service area page.

Get a 100% guaranteed wildlife removal solution. Call ROSS Environmental Solutions of South Jersey at 1-866-981-1322 for a free estimate.