Other Mammals
Armadillos
The armadillo is a common sight in the southern states. Though they are considered a nuisance, some can see them as beneficial because their diet consists of destructive pests like grubs. However, this makes them an unwelcome addition to your yard. They are avid diggers and, in their constant search for grubs, continually make new burrows. If left unchecked, your lawn may soon look like a pock-marked war zone full of craters. While armadillos are not aggressive towards humans, they can be difficult to remove, and this is a task that is usually best for a professional animal removal service. The prehistoric-looking creature is a carrier of leprosy. They may run when frightened, but don’t chase them into the water. The Nine-banded Armadillo can walk on river bottoms and hold its breath for 6 minutes.
Bats
Arkansas is home to 16 bat species; fortunately, none of them are of the blood-sucking variety. These small critters have a voracious appetite, and saying they love bugs is an understatement. They can consume up to half their body weight in a single night. It should come as no surprise that bats are sometimes used as natural pest control, and people sometimes build “bat caves” to encourage them to roost on their property. Stick with conventional pest control as they frequently make themselves at home in a dark attic or shed. Being social animals, where there is one, there are usually many. They can carry rabies and bat bugs. Their droppings can pose a health hazard as they frequently contain fungus spores and parasites.
Moles
Known for their prolific burrowing, you probably won’t see them, but if dirt mounds and burrows suddenly appear in your yard, chances are a mole recently moved in. They spend most of their time underground, constantly digging new tunnels searching for food. A common misnomer associated with moles is they eat roots when in fact, they dine on grubs and earthworms. However, their constant tunnel-making can damage the roots of plants that are in the way and cause cave-ins. As they spend most of their time underground and their burrows can be quite extensive, locating and removing moles can be challenging. If you block off one entrance, another one pops up elsewhere; as such, removing moles is usually a task best left to the professionals.
Opossums
Often mistaken for giant rats, seeing one of these guys scurrying through your yard may send you running. These nocturnal scavengers are not aggressive and are quite resistant to rabies. However, they carry a whole host of other diseases such as relapsing fever, tularemia, and tuberculosis. They can be infested with Lyme disease-carrying ticks, and increasingly in urban settings, dog, and cat fleas. As such, they are not an ideal house guest. They are scavengers, so removing them can be quite difficult. Due to their immunity to most snake venom, science has been looking to them for a universal anti-venom. Their knack for playing dead is not an act; it is an uncontrolled reaction when threatened, as is their protruding tongue and the green, smelly ooze they secrete.
Raccoons
These mammals are found throughout the U.S., and they eat just about everything. What humans call trash; raccoons call a meal. Being skilled climbers, they are adaptable and can live in a wide range of habitats. It is not uncommon to find them living in your attic or shed, wreaking havoc, and removing them can be challenging. While some people try and keep them as pets, that is a bad idea. They carry many diseases like rabies and canine distemper, which can be dangerous to dogs. Also, their feces are frequently infested with parasites that can infect humans like roundworms. As humanlike as they sometimes appear, they have a nasty streak and will attack when threatened. They are not the type of animal you want moving in.
Skunks
While you may not see them, you can certainly smell them. These black and white mammals are notorious for the foul odor they emit when threatened. Like raccoons, they eat almost anything like fruits, carrion, and pet food. Skunks can carry rabies, although transmission to humans is rare. Generally speaking, they avoid confrontation but have been known to charge at anyone (or a pet) that gets too close. The results can be unpleasant, with the curious family dog being the most common victim. Not only is the smell noxious, but it is also difficult to remove and can cause an irritation if it gets into your eyes. As such, it is usually best to keep your distance from a skunk.