In the spirit of Thanksgiving, let’s take a moment to appreciate some of our state’s most common critters. Although we don’t want them in our attic or walls, there are still several reasons to be grateful for Alabama’s common critters, from rats and mice to snakes and squirrels.
Rats and mice play important roles in the health of grasslands and forests.
First, they are a major food source for many predators, including hawks, foxes and bobcats. But they also eat smaller animals, helping keep those animal populations in check. As omnivores, rats and mice distribute seeds along the route to their nest, leading to more plant growth.
Raccoons help with seed dispersal.
Raccoons play a significant role in zoochory, or animals distributing seeds across the landscape. Their diet includes a variety of fruits, nuts, and grains. As they gather food, they inadvertently spread seeds. After consumption, the seeds pass through their digestive system, promoting healthy ecosystems by depositing seeds enriched with extra nutrients and organic matter.
Raccoons are a good clean-up crew.
Not only do raccoons feast on larger insects like caterpillars, beetles and grasshoppers, but they also feed on the remains of dead animals. So, raccoons help reduce insect infestations and damage caused by those and promote healthy soil by helping break down animal carcasses quickly.
Opossums provide natural pest control.
More specifically, opossums are credited with eating more than 95% of the ticks that land on them. Therefore, opossums are responsible for eliminating thousands of ticks a week. Hence, opossums help fight against Lyme disease!
They also eat other garden pests like snails, slugs and beetles. What’s more, they are immune to snake venom and they will kill and eat snakes, including rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths.
Bats are good pollinators and insect eaters.
Did you know bats are the only true flying mammals? They are, which helps them eat plenty of insects.
Bats can eat up to 4,500 insects—such as pesky mosquitoes—in one night! They also help pollinate specific flowers, including agave used to make tequila. In addition to insect control and pollination, bat guano is a soil fertilizer for some forest plants.
Squirrels plant trees.
Squirrels don’t dig up every nut they bury, meaning they have accidentally planted countless trees—especially oak—in our national forests and beyond.
Snakes help maintain a balanced ecosystem.
Like many of Alabama’s common critters, snakes are vital to a well-balanced ecosystem. As predators, snakes consume rodents, amphibians, and insects, which helps control these populations. They also serve as prey for animals like skunks, hawks and opossums in the food chain.
Snake venom has medical benefits.
Did you know snakes help save lives every day? Snake venom has been used for medicinal purposes for years. It contains neurotoxic, cardiotoxic, lectins and various enzymes that can treat diseases like arthritis and cancer.
Summary
To summarize, Alabama’s common critters play an important role in a healthy ecosystem which is the number one reason to be grateful for rats, mice, raccoons, opossums, bats, squirrels and snakes. However, they should thrive in a safe, natural environment, not your family residence!
So, if a cute critter is more of a nuisance than help around your home or property, contact Pesty Critters Wildlife to come out for catch-and-release removal. Keep reading our blogs to learn more about us, our services and wildlife control.
