It's that time of year again. Warmer weather... men wearing sandals, ladies wearing flip flops and kids going barefoot. This is the time of year in which everyone has to look out for poisonous snakes. The venomous snakes found in Virginia are Copperheads, Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin) and Timber Rattlesnake. Here are some precautions to take when it comes to venomous snakes: 1. The most important is to leave a snake alone. Bites occur when people try to kill or move the snake. 2. Keep vegetation thinned and trimmed by wearing heavy work gloves, shoes or boots.. 3. Remove piles of leaves and brush away from walkways and play areas. 4. Be alert when working around stacks of lumber. 5. When

Winter is almost gone. Imagine all the parties you're going to have because the evenings will be getting warmer. You'll be sitting around with all your friends planning out the rest of spring and into the summer when you start to hear the "zap" coming from your bug zapper hanging on the porch. Has it ever come across your mind why bugs are not smart enough to stay away from them.? Well, here's why. A theory behind the "why" is because they mistake the light for the moon. Evening bugs navigate by using moonlight by keeping the light at a constant angle to maintain a steady flight path and a straight course. Flies, moths, beetles and other flying insects that has a positive phototaxis are attr

Spring is right around the corner. You want to make sure you know what to look and listen for if you think you have squirrels in your attic. 1. Sounds are heard early in the morning and at dusk. The sounds are scampering which are louder than rats or mice. 2. Droppings from a squirrel is oblong shaped and rounded on the ends. Fresh droppings are dark brown and the older the droppings the lighter they are. 3. They make big and messy nests which is constructed of various materials. The materials can consist of insulation, rubber from wire casings, cardboard boxes, wood, duct work and other things inside your attic. Since squirrels can chew the rubber from around the wires in your attic, this

Animals have a way of getting into certain areas they don't belong. Your home is your castle and it's a place for you to enjoy without having to worry about any wildlife intruding on your enjoyment. Here are 4 common entry points wildlife find to gain access into your domain: 1. roof vents: it is easy for an animal to squeeze under a vent to gain access to your attic 2. chimneys: animals will climb down open chimneys 3. worn soffit or siding: soffits are the weak point of the exterior of your home. they are used to build airflow into the roof or attic; however, animals can chew through wood, aluminum, vinyl or plastic to gain access into your home 4. gaps in the foundation: gaps and cracks

Come feed the little birds, show them you care And you’ll be glad if you do Their young ones are hungry, their nests are so bare All it takes is tuppence from you” – Tuppence – Mary Poppins John Porter, (R-IL) read a resolution into the Congressional Record which proclaimed the month of February, National Bird Feeding Month. The reason behind this is to help the birds survive the harsh winter months by providing them food, water, and shelter. It also brings families together to enjoy the hobby and helps adults relax in a high stress lifestyle. Plus it gives children the opportunity to get off their electronics to learn about nature. There are also bad ideas on why not to feed birds near

The winter holidays have come and gone so the next big day is fast approaching. February 14th has been designated Valentine's Day or "Love Day". Many couples surprise their significant other with cards, candy, flowers, a nice dinner, or even a getaway for two. As we celebrate this day with our "honey", so do some animals celebrate their "love" during that timeframe as well. Once the harsh days of winter has passed, some animals can be seen coming out of their hibernating spots. There are many animals within our area who mate during this timeframe; however, squirrels and raccoons are two animals in which reproduces the most in our area. Squirrels mate two times per year with their first lit

The morning of February 2nd, the famous groundhog comes out its hole to determine if we have six more weeks of winter or if spring is around the corner. Listed are some fun facts regarding our famous animal on his special day. 1. Groundhog's Day didn't always involve groundhogs. The roots can be traced back to a Christian holiday called Candlemas Day. Members of the clergy would bless and distribute candles needed to put people through the remaining winter days. Tradition then was if Candlemas Day was sunny and clear then winter drag on but if the weather was cloudy then spring would come soon. 2. The official groundhog's name was Punxsutawney Phil. 3. Groundhog's day first came to Pennsylva