NWCO - Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Wildlife Damage Identification 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What damage pattern on fascia board most likely indicates squirrel gnawing for entry?
- Long, shallow vertical scratches
- Clean-edged, circular holes approximately 2-3 inches in diameter with tooth marks (Correct answer)
- Paint peeling in large sheets
- Small pinholes scattered across the surface
Correct answer: Clean-edged, circular holes approximately 2-3 inches in diameter with tooth marks
Squirrel gnaw holes are characteristically clean-edged, circular, approximately 2-3 inches, with visible parallel tooth marks.
Gray squirrels gnaw entry holes that are 2-3 inches in diameter, roughly circular, with clean-cut edges showing parallel incisor marks. Wood chips are found below. These differ from raccoon entry (larger, torn), rat holes (smaller, rougher edges), and woodpecker damage (pecked, splintered texture). Squirrels typically target areas near the roofline.
Question 2: Shallow surface tunnels with raised ridges just beneath the lawn are characteristic of which animal?
- Gopher
- Eastern mole (Correct answer)
- Vole
- Chipmunk
Correct answer: Eastern mole
Eastern moles create shallow feeding runs that appear as raised ridges in lawns as they push through soil searching for grubs.
Eastern moles create shallow feeding runs just below the surface appearing as raised ridges, and deeper permanent tunnels. Gophers create fan-shaped mounds. Voles create surface runways through grass. Chipmunks create clean burrow entrances without surface tunneling. Mole damage indicates healthy earthworm populations.
Question 3: Greasy dark marks along baseboards and at the edges of a small opening indicate which pest?
- Squirrel
- Rat or mouse (Correct answer)
- Bat
- Snake
Correct answer: Rat or mouse
Greasy rub marks along baseboards and entry points are characteristic of rodents that follow walls and leave oil from their fur.
Rats and mice are thigmotactic (wall-following) and deposit natural oils (sebum) on surfaces with repeated contact. These marks are especially visible along baseboards and at entry points. Heavier, darker marks indicate longer-established routes. Bats leave grease marks at exterior roost entries, not interior baseboards.
Question 4: Clean, 45-degree angled cuts on garden vegetable stems are characteristic of which animal?
- Deer (jagged torn edges)
- Rabbit (clean angled cuts from sharp incisors) (Correct answer)
- Slug or insect damage
- Complete plant removal by groundhog
Correct answer: Rabbit (clean angled cuts from sharp incisors)
Rabbits have sharp incisors creating distinctive clean, angled cuts at approximately 45 degrees on plant stems.
Rabbits create clean 45-degree cuts that look like pruning shears, at ground level to about 20 inches. Deer tear vegetation (no upper incisors). Groundhog feeding is similar but at higher levels. The cut characteristics directly reflect the animal's dental anatomy.
Question 5: Large areas of sod rolled back overnight most likely indicates foraging by which animal?
- Moles creating tunnels
- Raccoons or skunks digging for grubs (Correct answer)
- Groundhogs expanding burrows
- Deer pawing the ground
Correct answer: Raccoons or skunks digging for grubs
Raccoons and skunks peel back sod to access grub larvae, creating characteristic overturned turf patches overnight.
Raccoons use dexterous paws to grip and peel back loosened turf to reach grubs. This occurs overnight, in late summer through fall when grub populations peak, and in lawns weakened by grub feeding. The underlying grub infestation should be treated to resolve the root cause.
Question 6: A 'latrine' of accumulated feces on a flat attic surface most likely indicates which species?
- Rat infestation
- Raccoon den site (Correct answer)
- Squirrel nesting area
- Bat roost
Correct answer: Raccoon den site
Raccoons create communal latrines at consistent locations, and flat attic surfaces are common latrine sites.
Raccoon latrines are found on flat surfaces like insulation, HVAC ducts, or platforms. Feces are 2-3 inches long with visible seeds. These are a serious health concern from Baylisascaris procyonis roundworm eggs. Professional cleanup requires respiratory protection and treatment to destroy roundworm eggs.
NWCO - Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Wildlife Damage Identification 2
What damage pattern on fascia board most likely indicates squirrel gnawing for entry?