Tag Archives: hibernation

What Do Animals Do During Fall?

Where do animal pests go when the whether becomes chilly? Surprisingly, many of them stay active before the snowy, winter months hit. Read more to discover what do animals do during fall.

what do animals do during fall

What Do Animals Do During Fall: Migration

Many birds and insects migrate to warmer areas during the chillier months of fall. Because temperatures begin to drop during the fall season, these creatures begin to find more suitable conditions. For example, swallows migrate south once the weather begins to cool and their food sources dwindle. You may think that since some animal pests are leaving during this season you’ll see less activity, but it’s far from the truth. In fact, you may see more activity in your home at this time of year.

What Do Animals Do During Fall: Hibernation Preparation

Other animals prepare to hibernate during the fall. Squirrels, chipmunks, and groundhogs will gather food to store for the winter. Although chipmunks and squirrels do not go into a true hibernation state, they a relatively inactive during the winter. This leads them to frantically stockpile leftover food near your garbages or from your bird feeders. These small mammals can be quite pesky during the fall.

Bats will also hibernate during the cold months. You can expect their presence to taper off as the insect population dies down with the cool weather.

In addition, wasps and bees will still be active during the fall. They do not hibernate until winter. If there’s a nest near your home that needs to be removed, unfortunately the cold weather won’t be enough to detract them. Make sure to call pest control for assistance moving wasps or bee nests.

What Do Animals Do During Fall: Stay Active

Many other animals stay active during this time of year. Skunks, for example, stay in their dens but are awake during winter. You’ll see (and smell) plenty of skunks during the fall. Raccoons behave similarly, and will stay active year round. This means, you still have to be vigilant and remove outdoor food sources for these pests. In fact, you may notice more pest activity because homes have plentiful opportunities for food, while the cool weather limits natural sources.

Opossums are also active during the colder months. You may be surprised to know that they’ll even become active during the day, though they are nocturnal. Nonetheless, you should never take a chance with an opossum behaving strangely, as it may be infected with rabies or another disease.

Lastly, rodents remain highly active during the cold months. You may see more mice and rats in your home during the fall, as fields are plowed and they escape to your safe home. In addition, homes are full of food sources and provide shelter from the elements. Your rodent problem may be highest during the fall. Call Attic Solutions to remove your pests safely and efficiently, so you can enjoy the fall season without pests.

Skunks’ Winter Habits

Many people are under the impression that skunks hibernate during the winter. While skunks do typically go dormant for a month or so during the winter season, they do not truly hibernate.

skunk-46167True hibernators have a considerably lower heart rate, have almost no respiration and only take a couple of breaths per minute. Skunks do not have these drastic drops in heart rate or respiration. Skunks do prepare for winter in similar ways as hibernating animals though. They eat large amounts so that during the long naps they do take they can survive on their fat stores.

During their long winter naps, skunks can sense a rise a temperature. This easily wakes them and they usually immediately search for food. Males are typically more active than females, so if you happen to come across a skunk during the winter months, it is likely a male.

Where do Skunks Live in the Winter?

stinky-309834During the winter, skunks usually live in a burrowed den underground. They usually line their dens with grass, leaves, and other foliage in order to keep warm and they have several entrances/exits to quickly escape danger. Skunks have been known to move in to an open shed or garage as well. Skunks are excellent diggers and seek the easiest point of entry. If you’re concerned about skunks moving in during the winter, keep an eye out for any holes, typically 3-4 inches, in your garden, yard, and around your home exterior. Skunks may also move in under your deck or porch and build a den there to avoid the elements. If you smell a musky odor and hear noises at night, you might have a skunk.

Skunks can do damage to your property if they decide to seek refuge there during the winter. Their burrowing for a den and digging for food are usually the most common nuisance. Your yard and garden may be damaged by a skunk searching for food or burrowing. Attic Solutions specializes in locating and sealing burrows, trapping and removing skunks, and fixing damage to your home.

As soon as you suspect you may have a skunk infestation, contact us online or call us immediately at 847-464-1861 for removal. We are trained professionals and equipped to deal with wild animals.

Do Raccoons Hibernate?

If you’ve ever had your garbage can ransacked, you are familiar with raccoons! These creatures are highly adaptable and thrive in both urban areas and the wild. Becoming familiar with raccoons can save you both time and money since these rascals are known to occasionally cause trouble for homeowners. And raccoons, in fact, do not hibernate during winter, contrary to popular belief.

Raccoon Characteristics   raccoon-19625_640

Raccoons are typically known to be loners. Males usually only spend time with females in dens during mating season. One of the only times raccoons will band together is during a particularly cold or harsh winter to help keep warm. Once it warms up, the raccoons head their separate ways.

Raccoon Diet

raccoon-358153_640Raccoons are certainly not picky eaters; in fact they will eat just about anything. Raccoons are carnivores as well as scavengers. The mainstays of their diet include mice, crabs, fish, frogs, nuts, and seeds. They also love to get into food that humans leave behind. This is why you may find your garbage strewn about if you leave it out overnight.

Raccoon Habits

raccoon-78576_640Perhaps one of the most unusual habits raccoons have is dunking their food in water before eating it. The raccoon’s scientific name is procyon lotor, which actually means “washing bear.” This makes sense considering their odd food-washing habit and bear-like markings. Raccoons are nocturnal animals, meaning they are active at night. Most raccoons spend the day in their dens and as soon as dusk approaches, they head out in search of food. Some places raccoons like to search include farms (crops are a big hit with them), ponds, lakes, and of course your garbage can. As sunrise approaches, raccoons typically call it a night and head back to their den to sleep.

Raccoons and Hibernation

raccoon-86615_640Raccoons do not hibernate in winter. This myth may have started because during very cold days raccoons take refuge in their warm dens. Depending on the climate and weather, raccoons may spend weeks in their dens, living off of their fat stores, until the climate becomes somewhat more mild. When raccoons are sleeping off the cold temperatures, those fat stores keep them alive since they do not eat. This is why raccoons seem to be particularly troublesome in the spring; they’re starving and they want YOUR garbage!

If you suspect racoons may be a problem in your area, or are afraid a racoon has claimed a part of your home as its den, contact us today for a free estimate.

Our staff is trained in the most effective methods for dealing with raccoons, and will evaluate the situation, trap the pests, and repair the damage caused by their stay.