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Squirrels: Colorado has three species of arboreal squirrels. We mainly deal with fox squirrels, though the pine squirrels can cause trouble in the foothill/mtn. regions. Squirrels may be relocated.
Skunks: Striped skunks can undermine concrete porches with their digging ability and their mercaptan essence can drive you out of your own home. Three species in Colorado. Relocation is not permitted. Vector of rabies and distemper.
Raccoons: Abilities beyond most to access places and obtain food, garbage, etc. Feces carries B. procyonis bacteria and extreme caution should be used in dealing with raccoons and their feces. Vector of rabies and distemper among other diseases.
Packrat: Small native species of rodent. Common in suburban and rural areas, near scrub oak and foothills. Different species exist. Most notable on front range is Eastern woodrat. Lives in attics, barns, crawl spaces. Found up high or down low.
Voles: Over 14 species in Colorado. Identification can be difficult. Montane voles much larger. Overall, a small field rodent that damages turf and landscape. Lives underground, feeds above ground. Populations cyclical. Rodenticides and some trapping works best.
Pocket Gophers: Often mistaken for vole damage. Gophers live almost entirely underground. Mounds of dirt with no entry noticable is a common sign of activity. Will kill landscape plants and small trees with small root systems. Hates sunlight. Baiting must occur underground. Special traps work well.
Bats: Often roost in attics and may find there way into homes. Carriers of rabies, they are still relatively harmless. Droppings contain a fungus that may cause respiratory disease (histoplasmosis) though probably rare. Urine and feces accumulation may result in pungent odor in human living spaces. Removal is non lethal and non trapping. Extensive and tedious repair work may be needed. We don't use expandable foams but rather safe products conducive to construction.
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