Why is a raccoon hanging around my house?

• <div><p>A raccoon may be hanging around your house for convenient access to food, water, or shelter. They may drink water out of puddles, pools, ponds, fountains, or your pet’s water bowls. Raccoons are also known to eat just about anything, including food from gardens and waste from unsecured trash cans.</p></div>

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Q: Are moles dangerous?

• <div><p>Ground moles are not typically dangerous. They're not known to carry rabies like many other wild animals, such as raccoons, skunks, and bats. And they don't typically bite humans, although it's possible if they feel threatened. If you do get bitten by a mole, it's best to see a physician to be safe, but most often, the bite will heal on its own unless it gets infected.</p></div>

Q: What shouldn’t you do when trying to get rid of squirrels?

• <div><p>Unlike for rats and mice, poisonous baits and fumigants aren&rsquo;t a legal option for dealing with squirrel invasions. So, don&rsquo;t set any traps up using standard rodenticides. Remember that you typically need a permit for trapping and relocating squirrels found on your property. Some states even specify the types of traps you need to use.</p></div>

Q: How often do voles breed?

• <div><p>Voles are pretty prolific breeders, managing to squeeze in 5 to 10 litters a year, and each litter usually has around 3 to 5 little ones. These furry creatures are flexible with their love lives, as they can breed all year round, though spring and summer are their prime times. If they're living it up in warmer areas, voles don't take a break and keep reproducing non-stop.</p></div>

Q: What are the best smells for keeping squirrels away?

• <div><p>Some of the best smells for keeping squirrels away are those that have a spicy or pungent odor. This includes pepper, garlic powder, vinegar, mint, and coffee. Just be careful when handling cayenne or chili pepper. Don&rsquo;t touch your face to prevent getting some in your eyes, and be sure to keep it away from children and pets.</p></div>

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Animal Fencing questions, answered by experts

Ground moles are not typically dangerous. They're not known to carry rabies like many other wild animals, such as raccoons, skunks, and bats. And they don't typically bite humans, although it's possible if they feel threatened. If you do get bitten by a mole, it's best to see a physician to be safe, but most often, the bite will heal on its own unless it gets infected.

Unlike for rats and mice, poisonous baits and fumigants aren’t a legal option for dealing with squirrel invasions. So, don’t set any traps up using standard rodenticides. Remember that you typically need a permit for trapping and relocating squirrels found on your property. Some states even specify the types of traps you need to use.

A raccoon may be hanging around your house for convenient access to food, water, or shelter. They may drink water out of puddles, pools, ponds, fountains, or your pet’s water bowls. Raccoons are also known to eat just about anything, including food from gardens and waste from unsecured trash cans.

Voles are pretty prolific breeders, managing to squeeze in 5 to 10 litters a year, and each litter usually has around 3 to 5 little ones. These furry creatures are flexible with their love lives, as they can breed all year round, though spring and summer are their prime times. If they're living it up in warmer areas, voles don't take a break and keep reproducing non-stop.

Some of the best smells for keeping squirrels away are those that have a spicy or pungent odor. This includes pepper, garlic powder, vinegar, mint, and coffee. Just be careful when handling cayenne or chili pepper. Don’t touch your face to prevent getting some in your eyes, and be sure to keep it away from children and pets.

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