Farm Pests

These pests and animals are known to cause damage to crops, stores, property, or cause harm to livestock in the Southeast Texas, Southwest Louisiana, Gulf Coast region.

Norway Rat

The Norway rat is also called the brown rat, gray rat, sewer rat, water rat, wharf rat and barn rat. This rat will grow up to 16 inches from nose to tail. The tail is shorter in length than the body. These rats are typically a grayish-brown color, but can be a blackish or reddish-brown. Norway rats will nest in burrows in the ground. Burrows that have a smooth appearance at entrances are usually active burrows. These rats often feed on grains, seeds and vegetation, but will feed on anything provided in urban settings. These rats will also separate undigested food particles from animal … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crop Damaging Pests, Disease Carriers, Fabric & Paper Pests, Fall and Winter Pests, Farm Pests, Nuisance Animals, Property Damaging Pests, Rodents

Raccoon

Size: Body length 16-28” Color: Grayish coat The raccoon is usually nocturnal and is omnivorous, with a diet consisting of about 40% invertebrates, 33% plant foods, and 27% vertebrates. Two of its most distinctive features are its extremely dexterous front paws and its facial mask. Raccoons are noted for their intelligence, with studies showing that they are able to remember the solution to tasks up to three years later. Though usually nocturnal, the raccoon is sometimes active in daylight to take advantage of available food sources. Although they have thrived in sparsely wooded areas in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Disease Carriers, Farm Pests, Nuisance Animals, Property Damaging Pests, Raccoons

Roof Rat

AKA: Black Rat This rat also takes the names of ship rat and house rat. They are an arboreal, or tree-dwelling, species. Roof rats are medium sized and around 16 inches from nose to tail. Their tail is longer than its body. These rats are black or brown with a whitish or gray belly. Roof rats tend to nest in trees and vegetation, but will also nest in attics or wall voids. Roof rats also nest in the ground, if Norway rats are not in the same area. Roof rats will feed on snails, nuts or fruit. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Disease Carriers, Fabric & Paper Pests, Fall and Winter Pests, Farm Pests, Nuisance Animals, Property Damaging Pests, Rodents

Skunk

Size: 15-37” Color: Black and white to brown and cream colored Shape: Elongated body relatively short, well-muscled legs, long front claws Skunks are members of the weasel family. Skunks are pests because they dig under foundations and take up residence under homes or in other buildings. They sometimes eat poultry and eggs, garden vegetables, and fruit. They can also damage beehives as they feed on adult and larval bees. Skunks commonly damage lawns when they dig in search of insect larvae, rolling back the sod. Of course skunks are disliked primarily because of their ability to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crop Damaging Pests, Farm Pests, Nuisance Animals, Skunks

Formosan Termites

(Coptotermes formosanus) Swarming usually follows a warm rainy day in late spring/summer and occurs in the evening hours, starting at sundown and ending before midnight. The swarmers are attracted to lights. Formosans do have the capability of establishing secondary nests above ground if a constant moisture supply is available. An above ground nest is made of material called carton. It consists of soil and wood cemented together with saliva and feces. Suspended colonies of Formosan termites are more often encountered than the Native Eastern Subterranean termites.
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