CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Squirrels, bees and snakes are the types of creatures that come along with spring and summer in our part of the country.
Typically they are no real bother, until they decide they'd rather live in your house instead of around and outside of it.
WBTV followed along with a pest removal expert for about four weeks to see just how busy a job he has. We learned that this year your home is an even bigger target on which these pests are setting their sights.
"We've had a mild winter, there was no real killing freeze. It just didn't get cold enough for enough nights to kill off some of the extra bugs and animals. So that means there will be more this year," said Shawn Irish.
His phone rings constantly. Customers are always calling him to remove one thing or another from their attic or crawl space.
It can happen to any of us, no matter how clean we think we are or how buttoned up we believe our houses to be. Ignoring those pets are the worst thing you can do.
"We've seen where they chew through shingles and wires and pipes," Irish said.
He's also seen how what the animals leave behind can hurt a family's health.
"Bats leave droppings that can cause a disease called histoplasmosis," Irish said.
You can watch either of the video links on this page to see what WBTV caught on tape while following Irish on the job. He took care of a family of squirrels, bats, bees, a dead mouse stinking up a family's bedroom, a snake and a coyote.
As for what happens to those animals once Irish catches them, the bees, squirrels, opossum and bats are relocated. The raccoons have to be put down by animal control because they are rabies carriers. The coyotes are put down in most cases.
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