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Groundhog Digs Up Garden in Jackson, NJ

This homeowner in Jackson, NJ has had enough of a couple of groundhogs destroying everything she plants every spring. We could do a simple trapping, but that would only temporarily solve the problem. Before long other groundhogs would show up, and the vicious, expensive cycle would begin again. I offered her a more permanent solution to her problem.  I’m going to install Dig Defense® around the entire perimeter of the shed. Dig Defense® is a below-ground fence system that protects structures against invasive wildlife and keeps pets from digging out of yards. The fence is 15 inches deep and 4 feet across. Groundhogs dig at a 45-degree angle — they cannot dig straight down. So once this fence is installed, they are unable to go around it. Once the Dig Defense® is installed, I going to set-up a nose cone into a multi-catch device over the main access point. We were unable to set the trap straight out, because of the tree. So we had to install the trap at a 90-degree angle. Nose cones are used as an extension to a device to guide animals directly from the access point into the device. A multi-catch device is similar to a placement trap. The only difference between a placement trap and a multi-catch is a multi-catch can catch multiple critters. I also set-up a placement trap on the outer perimeter. In no time at all, we’ll have our groundhog. 

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Recently, I went out on a service call for a homeowner in Freehold, NJ who believed he had groundhogs infesting his yard. Once I arrived and began my inspection, I came across a small hole near the foundation in the backyard. As I took a closer look, I discovered that it wasn't groundhogs invading the homeowner's property — it was skunks. How did I know that? Holes left by groundhog are usually 6 to 8 inches in diameter, and this hole is only about 3 inches — the perfect size for a skunk. Many people don’t think of skunks as burrowing animals. Usually, when they see a pile of dirt and a hole going underground they automatically think it’s a groundhog. Skunks actually have very long and sharp claws they use very well for digging.  To safely retrieve the skunk I’ll cover the hole with a nose cone and then set-up a one-way exclusion device. Nose cones are used as an extension to the device to guide the animals directly from the access point into the device. The “one-way” has a spring door that allows the skunk to exit but prevents their return. In a short amount of time, we will retrieve the skunk and the home will be pest free!  
Skunks Are Expert Diggers in Freehold, NJ
Recently, I went on a service call to a home in Whiting, NJ, to resolve a wildlife infestation for a homeowner. The homeowner believed that he had groundhogs because of burrowing activity in his backyard.  Upon arrival, I inspected the backyard for any signs of active wildlife and soon found a hole underneath the A/C condenser slab. Groundhogs are only one of many types of burrowing wildlife that can cause lawn damage, and turn into a nightmare for homeowners. Based on a close examination of the hole, I determined that the invading wildlife here were not groundhogs. This was a skunk problem! Chubby groundhogs form holes 6-8 inches wide. This cone-shaped hole was far too small for a groundhog. Skunks commonly dig for insects and grubs (insect larvae) in yards, and they are notorious for digging under slabs. Their holes tend to be shallow and perfectly circular. Sometimes you will be able to smell a faint skunk odor. Many homeowners don’t realize that skunks are as skilled diggers as groundhogs. Skunks have large, strong claws with long nails on their forefeet that are tailor-made for digging.  Over time, skunks burrowing under concrete slabs, decks, porches, or other residential structures can cause structural damage, not to mention ruin lawns.   For treatment, I’ll cover the hole and then set up a one-way exclusion device behind the A/C Condenser unit. The “one-way” has a spring door that allows the animals to exit but prevents their return. With skunks, if you get rid of the insects and food sources attracting them in the first place, they’ll leave to look for food elsewhere.
Skunks Hide Underneath A Concrete Slab in Whiting, NJ
Recently, I went out on a service call in Brielle, NJ, for a homeowner who had an unexpected run-in with raccoons in his backyard. While he was getting ready for a late night cookout with his family, his grandkids saw a party crasher: a raccoon was sniffing around the backyard fireplace looking for some goodies. Kids aren’t the only ones who love s’mores! For this homeowner, the raccoon was too close for comfort, and he did not want these large, often vicious, animals roaming around his property. Free-range chickens are great; free-roaming raccoons are not! I began a thorough inspection of the exterior perimeter of the home to determine if there were any exposed areas indicating that raccoons have entered the home. Raccoon moms are clever, strong and extremely determined when it comes to finding a den for their young. Attics are a favorite of raccoons, but they will also nest in crawl spaces, basements, and other out-of-the-way private spaces. They will not hesitate to exploit weaknesses in a structure to gain access into a home. Fortunately, there were no signs of raccoon entry into the home.  Since no raccoons had yet entered the home, this particular job is what we consider to be a free-roaming animal trapping scenario. When nuisance wildlife are actively using a yard, I will strategically place traps throughout the backyard to safely trap any raccoons before they do damage to the property.   Here, I first set up a placement trap near the fence in the backyard where the raccoon ran off to when it was first spotted. Often, with wildlife, especially raccoons, they can be skittish with traps. When they step into a trap and feel the metal flooring, they will back out and move on. For this reason, I like to place mulch in the trap leading all the way up to the trip pan to give the trap a more natural feel; that is until the trap door shuts! I placed another placement trap where the raccoon was the first seen near the fireplace. Once again I placed mulch all the way up to the trip pan to disguise the metal flooring. This home also had a deck near the fireplace that would be an attractive nesting area and set a trap there as well. I scheduled a follow-up inspection to monitor the traps, and the homeowner will be contacting me immediately once a raccoon is captured. Once captured, I’ll relocate the raccoon to a more appropriate environment far away from human habitats.
Free Roaming Raccoon in Brielle, NJ
Recently, we went on a service call to a home in Red Bank, NJ after the homeowner contacted us after hearing strange wildlife noises in his attic late at night. After the homeowner described what he was hearing, our instincts told us that this was a raccoon infestation. Why? He was hearing a wide variety of sounds, and raccoons are extremely vocal creatures. With raccoons, you may hear purring chittering, growling, snarling, hissing, and even screeching. Also, the timing of the noises is important. Although raccoons can be active during the day, they are primarily nocturnal.  Of course,  a thorough inspection was still needed to confirm our suspicions. Based on the type of damage and the droppings, we had no doubt. Once we began our inspection in the attic, we immediately discovered a ripped hole in the floorboard that the raccoons were using for access. Due to the location of the access point, we needed a different approach to safely catch the critters. We set-up a nose cone, which is a one-way directional door that leads the raccoon to the trap, and then connected a Comstock trap to the cone. A Comstock trap is a heavy duty trap that has an opening on both ends of the trap. When placed over an access point, the raccoon,  thinking that it is a straight path, will walk through the device. However, once the raccoon passes through the trap, they’ll trigger a swing release that closes the trap. And for that raccoon, end of story! In fact, a short twenty minutes after setting up the trap, we heard it go off. We found a baby raccoon inside. We also noticed that the mother raccoon was peeking out of the access point looking at its now helpless baby. We decided that if we left the room,  the mother would enter the trap to reunite with her baby. We were right. Within minutes, the mother raccoon was stuck in the trap right next to her baby. Now, we could safely and humanely relocate the entire raccoon family to a safe location. 
Raccoon Family Sticks Together in Red Bank, NJ
I received a call from a homeowner in Deal, NJ who had a raccoon issue. The homeowner kept hearing noises in the middle of the night and actually saw a raccoon climb down his drainage pipe. Trapping raccoons this time of year is a slippery slope. We have no way of knowing if we are dealing with a pregnant female, a female that has already had her babies, or a male. We won’t find out until they are trapped. If we do capture a raccoon that is a mother and it cannot get back to its babies, then we have a bigger problem than before. The mother raccoon will do anything to get back to its young and cause more severe property damage than before. If you HEAR or SUSPECT something living in the attic, and it is NOT the DEAD OF WINTER, please assume that there are babies present! As I inspected the exterior of the home I came across several muddy paw prints leading up the drainage pipe to the soffit. The soffit had a nice size hole in it as well. You could tell that the soffit was ripped apart. Raccoons are extremely intelligent, but they are also extremely predictable. They will always take the least resistant path and follow that same path over and over again. Their razor-sharp claws can rip apart roofs, sidings, and soffits, but they leave the evidence behind.   There are scenarios we come across where a “positive set” or one-way device isn’t possible or would be difficult. A
Wildlife Removal in Deal, NJ
I got a call from a homeowner out in Monroe, NJ who was hearing noises in their attic during the day. The homeowner told me that they literally just had their roof and gutters repaired. When I did my inspection, I saw that 3/4 of the house’s drip edge was not installed, or not installed properly leaving a large gap, between the fascia and the roof edge. If you plan on having your roof and gutters repaired, it's important to make sure it is done properly and that there are no gaps. If not done properly, you're going to have a lot of extra
New Roof No Problem for Squirrel in Monroe, NJ
Recently, I got a call from a homeowner in Point Pleasant, NJ who had an issue with raccoons. This job was a unique one because the homeowner told me that they actually had put up a piece of plywood by the entry point to block off all raccoons. What was wrong, is they didn’t place the plywood all the way to the end and left a gap in the entry point — so raccoons were STILL getting in. What’s worse is, now the raccoons actually recognize that someone is trying to prevent them from re-entering their new home and are more cautious about their surroundings.  This is a prime example of why you should always use a professional when it comes to pest removal. By attempting to fix the situation yourself, you could make the situation more dangerous for yourself and potentially cause a bigger issue than you originally had. Luckily, we have come across this situation before and know exactly what to do.  We needed to set up what’s called a “positive set.” This is a setup where we set the trap so the only way out is into the trap. Hence “positive.” Some of the reasons would be, if we are dealing with a trap shy raccoon that has been trapped before, and will not go into the trap or if we are dealing with a mother raccoon (or squirrel) that has babies inside which aren’t mobile yet. This enables us to trap the mother, then retrieve her babies, and they can all be released together. It certainly is not a good idea to try to remove the babies, if mom isn’t in a trap. As you can see in the video I completely closed off the hole, so if there are any raccoons inside, it will come out via the trap.  If the raccoon isn’t inside, I set up another trap right next to it. Even if the raccoon does try to get in, it won’t be able to. Once it’s in the trap, we will be able to humanely relocate to a safe location. 
A Positive Setup for Raccoon in Point Pleasant, NJ
Yesterday, I received a call from a homeowner in Bridgewater, NJ who was complaining that she was hearing noises in her attic at night. What makes this situation stand out from the rest, is that the homeowner just so happened to see a raccoon on top of her roof while she was coming home from work at night! Crazy, huh?! So, needless to say, the homeowner was a little frantic telling me this. I reassured her that I will handle the situation professionally and humanely. This job is a perfect example of how well raccoons can climb. You can see from the smear print how far up the raccoon climbed without the assistance of any nearby trees or branches. Raccoons have thumbs, which enable them to climb extremely well, however, they aren’t very discreet — hence the number of smear prints all over the pillar.  Since we had a little bit of snow in Bridgewater yesterday, before I set-up a one-way device and placement traps, I needed to clean off a portion of the roof — not just for my safety, but for the raccoons as well and to make sure the traps are secured and don’t slip off the roof. Once the one-way was set up, I secured the entry point nice and tight with hardwire cloth. This makes it easier for the raccoon to enter the one-way safely and leaves no room for the raccoon to slip by. I then set up two placement traps near the entry point. Soon, I will be getting a call from the homeowner that the raccoon is humanely trapped and we will return to humanely remove the critter. 
Raccoon Situation in Bridgewater, NJ
This homeowner in Howell, NJ, has had work done in the past — from exclusions to just free roaming trapping in general. His porch was harboring just about every type of animal that seeks shelter at ground level in the state of New Jersey due to its large area. I assumed that he was having another issue with animals around the back deck area. Once I arrived at the location, it turns out, it wasn’t the back deck area were the issue was, it was his living room in his basement!  As soon as I walked into the basement, it was crystal clear that a wild animal was here (either that or they had one insane party). You can actually see little “handprints” on various walls throughout the basement. This situation is exceptionally dangerous because raccoons bring fleas, ticks, and other parasites into your home. Not to mention they leave feces and urine as they explore, and unless your Bret Michaels from Poison, you’re not accustomed to that type of environment.  It was clear that the raccoon was walking on the drop ceiling tiles and fell through while navigating. There was some good news — once I walked around the corner and saw how open the drop ceiling was in areas, I was confident that the raccoon made its way back outside. You could see where it climbed various areas leading to the ceiling and was hanging on the wiring to move across the basement. After fully inspecting the basement, and helping the homeowner clean up, I walked around to the exterior of the home and did find an access point at the rear of the house underneath a picture window overhang. Definitely not an access point that you see that often. Being the fact that there was a wild animal roaming around someone’s living space, this issue needed to be taken care of immediately! We carefully set up traps and a one-way near the access point. Two days later, we received a call from the homeowner that the raccoon was successfully captured in one of our traps. We then humanely relocated the raccoon and will return to repair and help the homeowner find a permanent solution to this problem. 
Raccoon Breaks Into Basement in Howell, NJ
A homeowner in Holmdel, NJ recently contacted Cowleys to resolve a wildlife infestation along the roofline. Most commonly, when we get a call for a wildlife problem in the attic or roofline area it is either squirrels, raccoons, or mice. Raccoons are, by far, the largest nuisance wildlife we regularly deal with, and they can make a lot of noise and cause a lot of damage. Here, the homeowner was complaining of disturbing wildlife noises at night, such as dropping sounds and thuds. Because mice are so small, you may hear light scampering sounds from up above but you won’t hear dropping sounds or large thuds. Also, since these noises were happening at night, the animals were not likely to be squirrels. As a general rule, since squirrels are diurnal, active primarily during the daytime, if you hear noises during the day, it’s like a squirrel infestation. However, if you hear noises at night, you are dealing with some nocturnal animal like a raccoon, flying squirrel, or a rat or mouse. Based on the type of noises and when they were being heard, I suspected that this was a raccoon problem. My suspicions were confirmed during my inspection of the home’s exterior. I observed paw prints on the foundation that were from a raccoon. Raccoon prints are eerily similar to the print of a baby human hand. Raccoons have five toes on both their front and back feet. The only difference is that instead of fingernails, they have razor-sharp claws at the end of each finer. Raccoons, just like people, have “thumbs,” which gives them amazing manual dexterity when compared to most other animals. Raccoons have been known to open latches, turn doorknobs, and open jars. Following their prints, I saw that they went straight up toward the fascia along the roofline.  Some wily raccoon actually grabbed onto the corner siding of this home and shimmied its way up, reaching an opening of missing flashing over the fascia. This opening was not made by a raccoon. Raccoons will chew and claw out an opening and their “construction work” is messy.  Here, a blocked segment of material was missing as though it were cut out. This opening was caused by some pre-existing damage, likely by some severe winds that blew off a piece of the roofline. Roof damage is an open invitation for wildlife. Unfortunately, it’s quite common for homeowners to find themselves with a wildlife infestation following some roof damage after a storm or some severe weather. A good lesson here is that after heavy winds, it is always a good idea to do a visual check your facia, soffits, and shingles for missing building materials. With the wildlife travel route and entry point identified, it was time to get rid of the trespassing animal with a temporary one-way device installed over the opening and some baited traps. I put in some temporary flashing in place so that the raccoon could not rip off any more soffit, and then installed a one-way device that allows animals to exit the home, but prevent their return. I put a piece of tape on the one-way so I would know whether an animal has exited the home. Finally, I secured a couple of baited traps on the roof nearby the pathway being used to go to and from the roofline opening, If history is any indication, I would not be at all surprised if, by tomorrow, I have one or more trapped raccoons ready to be relocated to a safe location.
Acrobatic Raccoon in Holmdel, NJ
I recently completed a set-up for a homeowner in Holmdel, NJ to trap and relocate invading raccoons. As shown in the video, there were muddy raccoon tracks showing their pathway to the roof. As a general rule, we try to secure traps as close to the access point as possible. This gives us the highest likelihood of successful capture since the baited trap is right on the animals’ route to and from the home. Also, close placement of the trap to the access point minimizes the likelihood of trapping a “non-target” animal.  However, there are sometimes circumstances where we need to make adjustments. Right now, we were dealing with harsh winter weather in the forecast. We were concerned that we could potentially trap an animal and not be able to timely reach the trap. It would be highly unethical and inhumane to leave a distressed animal in a cage for any extended period of time. Here, the access point happened to be located right above a synthetic Trex-Type deck board. These boards become extremely slippery if covered in snow or gets wet, and it would be a safety issue to place a ladder there in order to reach the roof access point. In this circumstance, it was safer to secure the traps where they would be readily accessible regardless of weather conditions. We can always secure a one-way device over the entry points and move the traps near the access later after the forecasted bad weather has passed if the animals have not yet been captured.
Stormy Weather and a Rooftop Raccoon in Holmdel, NJ
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