Common Wildlife Issues in Manassas, VA

Many species of nuisance wildlife are found in urban and suburban areas of Manassas. This can become a problem if wild animals begin to rely on our homes, which may eventually lead to them moving in against our will. Some of the critters that most commonly cause issues for local homes include:

• Squirrels – These mischievous rodents often rely on neighborhood bird feeders for easy meals, which can easily escalate to them entering homes in Manassas. Within your home, squirrels can cause extensive damage by gnawing through wires, insulation, drywall, and woodwork. This destructive behavior has even been known to start house fires. You’ll know you have a squirrel infestation if you hear them scampering about in the attic and walls.
• Raccoons – Though most notorious for raiding outdoor garbage cans, raccoons are also known to break into attics and crawl spaces to build dens. Given their strength and persistence, raccoons can cause a huge amount of damage to your property. Raccoons are also known to attack people and pets if they feel threatened, which can prove dangerous – especially if a raccoon has rabies.
• Bats – Our attics provide the dark, warmth, and shelter that bats like to roost in, which can lead to a bat infestation in the attic of your Manassas home. With multiple bats roosting, their guano will quickly pile up to cause severe damage to your attic and the ceiling blow. Although bats are not generally aggressive, they may carry rabies and transmit the deadly virus by biting.
• Skunks – While they rarely come inside of homes, skunks often try to hole up in the crawl spaces underneath them. This is problematic because skunks are territorial and if one starts living on your property, it’s only a matter of time before someone gets sprayed. Skunks can also destroy your landscape by digging for grubs.