Wildlife Damage Inspection Process

This decision tree will ask you various questions to help you identify the animal(s) causing damage to your property. While the creators have endeavored to be thorough, they make no claims in that regard. We request that readers see this page as ONLY a guide which contains principles and insights that may prove helpful in identifying the cause of wildlife damage to one's property. Please note that this guide doesn't take into account damage caused by machines, people, or insects. Please read the information carefully.

Where is the problem occurring?

Indoors	Outdoors	Livestock/Animals	Vehicles
What signs of wildlife are present?
Smells/Odors	Skull/Bones	Scat/Feces	Tracks

Inspecting Specific Wildlife Signs

Observation Skills	Calendar		Noises	Odor

Inspection Techniques & Strategies

• Hole Paper Stuffing-So you don't trap animals inside your house!
• How to Observe--You can't identify without noticing the clues!

Inspection Principles & Techniques--A free course that guides you through the inspection process.

Taking Good Inspection Photos

• Thermal Imaging--Population Studies--Tennessee State Wildlife Dept.

Wildlife Identification

Freshwater Fish Guide 25mg

Reptile Identification

Identifying reptiles can be quite difficult as coloration can vary greatly even between snakes of the same species. Here are some questions to keep in mind when you see an unfamiliar snake:

1. Was the snake solid or plain colored?
2. Did the snake have stripes?
3. Did the snake have crossbands or blotched coloration?
4. What kind of habitat or environment did you see the snake? Rocks, wetlands? Woods? Attic, Town and state?

Reptile Identification-Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln

Snakes of Massachusetts (A Key to Identification)