Other Mammals
Other Mammals
Armadillo
The nine-banded armadillo can be seen scurrying all over the Southeast. They don't have much body fat, so they prefer warm environments as we have here in Mississippi. They are a known carrier of leprosy, as well as many other viruses and fungi. Armadillos have poor eyesight but are skilled travelers. They're capable of swimming and can inflate their intestines to keep them afloat as they cross the water. They can also hold their breath for up to 6 minutes and sometimes simply walk across the bottom of waterways. Their road crossing skills are not good, as they often jump into the air when frightened and get hit by cars. The animals can also climb and dig. They tear out underground burrows, ripping up fencing, delving underneath driveways, and sometimes even damaging buildings' foundations. Getting rid of armadillos is a challenge, since they're adept hiders and diggers, and are nocturnal.
Opossum
Opossums
are extremely common in Mississippi and are frequently caught digging through people's garbage cans or destroying vegetable gardens. North America's only marsupial also has a prehensile tail that it uses to help it carry things around. The creatures use it to grab items for nests, which they often build under porches and decks, or inside sheds. They're about the size of a house cat and will make their way into basements and attics. Though they're known for playing dead, they can be quite vicious. They have sharp teeth that do significant damage if they attack. They also carry diseases
like leptospirosis, tuberculosis, and spotted fever, and carry around lice, fleas, and ticks, which they can bring into your home or business. These parasites carry their own host of health hazards. Opossums have litters of up to 20 babies at a time. Just one lurking around your home or business that could quickly erupt into dozens.
Skunks
The skunk population has been steadily rising in Mississippi. There are two types found in our area: The Striped Skunk, and the Spotted Skunk. Both are considered "opportunistic omnivores," meaning they'll eat nearly anything they can get their paws on. They often dig huge holes in lawns that destroy gardens and put people at risk of tripping. They also knock over garbage cans as they rummage for their next meal, sending waste spilling out over your driveway. As opportunists, skunks seek shelter anywhere they can find, which has led them to settle more frequently under porches and inside homes and businesses. As they claw their way through basements, sheds, attics, and other crawl spaces, they can cause severe damage to your property, even the foundation. Skunks release a foul odor in general, but also produce a disgusting sulfur-based chemical that leaves a putrid smell behind. They can carry rabies and other diseases, which are spread through their feces and urine.
Moles
If you notice your lawn has thin, curving, raised ridges that snake through your flowerbed and vegetable garden, you likely have a mole problem. Mississippi is home to the Eastern Mole, small creatures that are nearly blind, with comparatively gigantic claws. They feed on earthworms, beetles, and other grubs, and dig shallow tunnels in search of them. That digging ultimately destroys lawns and gardens all over the state, killing roots and bulbs, so the entire plant is wiped out. If you've dedicated time and money to improve your landscape, the work could be wiped out by a single mole. Once they've terrorized the place, they often go off on their merry way, leaving you with nothing but rot. Trapping moles
is extremely difficult since they spend so much time underground. If you see one at a particular location and try to take care of things there, there's no guarantee the mole will be back any time soon.
Raccoons
Raccoons are often caught rummaging through people's garbage cans. The bacteria they pick up in that trash is spread wherever they go. Raccoons
are also the single greatest carrier of rabies in the Magnolia State. They spread thirteen other pathogens and almost two dozen types of parasites that are harmful to humans. And since they like to sneak into people's attics, that becomes a big problem as they can produce extraordinary amounts of damage. Like humans, raccoons have four times as many sensory receptors in their front paws than they do in their "feet." That level of reception is what makes them so skilled at sneaking into people's homes. A study completed in Louisiana found that raccoon behavior varies seasonally. Their reproductive habits change based on food availability and habitat compared to temperature. If the animals find a good, cozy home within your attic where they're protected from wind, rain, and possible predators, they'll reproduce year-round.
