McMillan Wildlife Control Service

Common Pests


	RACCOONS are small, very adaptable mammals found all around East Tennessee. They are found in a variety of habitats including forests, cities and suburbs. They are most active at night and have a life span of about 6 years in the wild. They have distinctive black patches around the eyes making them appear as if they wear a mask. Their long fingers and toes have a very keen sense of touch. They will eat most anything and become a nuisance when they invade the home garden.


	The SKUNK is a stout-bodied animal with two white stripes on sides of back that join each other in the neck region and extend onto the head anteriorly and onto each side of the tail posteriorly. The tip of tail is usually black and skunks have two scent glands. They are inhabitants of wooded or brushy areas and their associated farmlands. Skunks are largely nocturnal and seldom venture forth until late in the day and they retire to their hideouts early in the morning. When a skunk feels threatened by a predator or person, they will spray the predator or person with a strong-smelling fluid. The animals can be trapped and re-located, but it is best to contract with a wildlife specialist to avoid getting sprayed with the offensive fluid.

	Most SNAKES found in East Tennessee are harmless and actually help control rodents. There are only two kinds of poisonous snakes and they are the copperhead and rattlesnake. With the rattlesnake's habitat being in higher elevations, it is likely the only poisonous snake in the Knoxville area would be the copperhead.

	BEAVERS are very intriguing animals with flat tails and lustrous fur. Their long incisor teeth help them to cut down trees by gnawing their way all the way around the tree trunk. Since beavers prefer to dam streams in shallow valleys, much of the flooded area becomes wetlands. While the wetland may be suitable for certain other species of wildlife, the wetland is undesirable when the wetland takes the place of the home garden or the wetland creeps into the basement of a home.

	The OPOSSUM is the only animal in North America with a pouch in which they carry their young. The opossum is nocturnal and eats just about anything, including lots of different plants and animals like fruits, insects, and other small animals.The opossum has many behavioral adaptations it uses to survive. Sometimes they will "play possum." and roll over, become stiff and their breathing will become slow and shallow. They can stay in this state for up to four hours making some predators to think they are dead and will go away.

	The BAT is the only mammal that can fly. They become a nuisance when they take up residence in the attic of your home. It is much more common to find them in barns and caves and like any place that is dark.They are very different than birds because their wings are so much different than birds. Most bats will fly at night and can eat half their weight in insects in one night. The best way to keep bats out of attic is by exclusion.

	The COYOTE is found through out Tennessee and is a member of the dog family. If is about the size of a collie dog and is known by its howl or high quavering cry. They become a nuisance when they threaten domesticated animals by attacking them for their own food. The coyote is another mammal that is capable of carrying rabies. If a person is bitten by a coyote, a series of rabies shots is required.

	The FOX is the smallest member of the dog family. They like to prey on poultry and pea fowl. They become a nuisance when they dig around residential areas. They are mainly nocturnal and are not likely seen during the day.

	The MOLE is about the size of a chipmunk and is common all across Tennessee. Moles eat insects and become a nuisance when they plow under the grass in your lawn looking for insects. There is a lot of conflicting information on controlling moles in your lawn. Mothballs, pickle juice, razor blades and other methods my make a person think they are declaring war on moles, however, these methods are not going to be very effective in controlling this pest. Trapping is the most effective method of eliminating moles from your lawn.

	The GROUNDHOG is also known as woodchuck and whistle pig. Groundhogs eat a wide variety of vegetation, and especially favor domestic legumes. Your beans and peas in the garden make great meals for them. Groundhogs prefer to construct their burrows on or near farmland where crops grow, but they may also be found in urban areas where the combination of food and cover provides satisfactory habitat.

	The FLYING SQUIRREL is probably the smallest of the tree squirrels. They make their nests in old cavities and sometimes take over leaf nests and gather together in the winter months. They are usually active at night and are rarely seen during the day.

	The GRAY SQUIRREL is native to the Eastern United States and present in all Tennessee counties. They often build their nests in the forks of trees using small branches and leaves. They will also find comfort in the attics of homes and interior walls if not excluded from the air vents and other openings. They are hoarders and will hoard up food often robbing bird feeders for their easy cache.