What Are the Most Common Nuisance Animals in Oklahoma?

Nuisance animals are a constant source of worry for Oklahoma residents. From wreaking havoc in the attic to destroying crops and lawns, these animals are notorious for the damages they cause. Are you currently battling a wildlife infestation in your Oklahoma house? For more professional help, visit wildlifeokc.com.

In this post, we quickly explore some of the most common nuisance animals in Oklahoma.

• Raccoons

These masked bandits are a common sight in Oklahoma. They have adapted to successfully live within cities. They frequently raid trash cans, steal pet food, and eat fruits from gardens. They also take advantage of the warmth and safety of places like attics, chimneys, and crawlspaces to build their nests.

The key to keeping raccoons away is to deny them access to food and shelter. Exclusion can be used to remove raccoons from your attic. Urban raccoon trapping is effective for getting rid of persistent raccoons that refuse to leave even after putting preventive measures in place.

• Squirrels

Squirrels might look small and cute, but they are highly destructive rodents. Because of their ever-growing incisors, they need to continuously chew on objects to trim them. This means they will chew on wood, pipes, wires, and other materials. Squirrels are notorious for chewing wires, which exposes your home to the risk of an electrical fire.

To keep squirrels away, ensure there is no easy access to food and shelter. Protect the plants in your garden. Remove bird seeds from underneath your birdfeeder. Take pet food indoors, especially at night. Trim tall bushes in your yard. Cut off tree branches overhanging your roof.

• Opossums

It’s not uncommon to find opossums rooting through your garbage in Oklahoma, especially at night. As opportunistic animals, they will also eat pet food or live under your crawlspace. Unfortunately, opossums produce an extreme amount of waste. Their feces and urine have terrible scents and can stain the ceiling and attic.

Ammonia and garlic are two common opossum repellents. Fencing is also effective for keeping them away. Just ensure that the fence extends a few inches into the ground, so they cannot burrow underneath it.

• Snakes

Oklahoma is home to over 46 species of snakes, of which only seven are venomous. These venomous species include copperhead, cottonmouth, and five species of rattlesnakes (western diamondback, timber, prairie, western massasauga, and western pygmy).

Snakes are generally good to have around because they help to keep the rodent population in check. However, they also pose danger to pets. What’s more, humans can also get bitten by them. If you get bitten by one, make sure you seek medical attention immediately, especially if you cannot tell if it’s a venomous or nonvenomous snake.

• Rats

Rats are everywhere that humans are. In the city of Oklahoma, rats eat rubbish, breed in buildings, and run through streets, especially at night.

Rats gain access to buildings because they can fit in through the smallest of holes. These nasty pests are highly destructive. They chew on wood, wires, pipes, and anything they can lay their teeth on. They also contaminate food sources with their saliva, droppings, and urine. What’s more, they are carriers of several diseases, including hantavirus, leptospirosis, tularemia, salmonella, and more. These diseases are harmful to pets and humans.

To keep rats away, ensure that you seal all potential entry holes into your house and property using steel wool, cement, or hardware cloth. What’s more, ensure you eliminate easy access to food and keep a clean yard.

• Bats

Bats are special animals found throughout Oklahoma. They are highly beneficial to the ecosystem because they feed on a lot of insects, helping to keep their population in check. Some bat species also help in the pollination of many fruits we love.

Although bats naturally reside in caves, tunnels, and trees, they can also reside in attics and chimneys because of its height, warmth, and the safety it provides. Bats do not actively damage objects, but their droppings are highly destructive.

Its acidic content makes it a strong corrosive agent, thereby weakening metallic structures. Also, the fungal spores in their droppings (guano) can result in histoplasmosis, which is a fungal infection that affects the respiratory system and can result in death if left untreated.

You can prevent bats from roosting in your attic or building by covering outside entry points.