Mice and rats have long been known to find food and cozy nesting places in barns and farmhouses. However, they carry disease and can contaminate farm feed and water supplies, spreading disease to other animals.

When rodents move from barn to house, they can cause homeowners thousands in damage to insulation and wiring. Chewing on wiring can even cause fires. They are known to breed plentifully; a female rat can have up to six litters in one year.

Squirrels are a nuisance pest everywhere across the United States, and Virginia is no exception. There are five species of squirrels in Virginia – Carolina northern flying squirrel, fox squirrel, gray squirrel, northern gray squirrel, and the Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel. Hosts to a variety of parasites and diseases, squirrels are best left outdoors.

Adorable when jumping from tree to tree outdoors, they can wreak havoc in your attic, shed, dormers or barn. Tearing up insulation, gnawing on wires, and making a lot of noise are some of their favorite activities. They mate two to three times per year and have litters of three to five young per litter.

Opossums are not only the only marsupial in the country, but a beneficial animal to have in the wild since they eat insects, mice, and snakes. In residential or farmland areas, they become a nuisance because they can also destroy poultry, bird feeders, and garbage cans.

They are sensitive to the colder weather and do look for shelter under homes and barns. They also carry a variety of parasites and diseases including Lyme, and Protozoal Myelitis that affects horses.