June is Peak "Baby Season" for Central NY Wildlife: Is Your Home Protected?

Spring has fully blossomed across Central New York, and as we head toward summer, our local wildlife is in overdrive. Here in the Syracuse, Utica, and Finger Lakes regions, June means one primary thing for wild animals: Baby Season.

While seeing baby animals in their natural habitat is one of the joys of living in Upstate New York, it becomes a severe problem when their parents decide your attic, deck, or chimney is the perfect nursery. As human development continues to expand into natural areas, the line between woodland and neighborhood blurs, making residential properties highly attractive real estate for expectant wildlife mothers.

Why "Baby Season" is the Most Destructive Time of Year

During the spring and early summer, pregnant females are desperate for safe, warm, and predator-free environments to give birth and raise their young. Your home provides exactly that. Unfortunately, this maternal instinct drives animals to tear off roof shingles, rip through soffits, dig extensive burrows, and shred attic insulation.

Once the babies are born, the destruction multiplies. What starts as a single raccoon can turn into a family of five or six within weeks. Here are the top nuisance animals causing headaches for homeowners in Central New York right now, and what you need to look out for.

The Heavy Hitters: Raccoons in the Attic

Raccoon kits, typically born in April and May, are growing rapidly by June. They are becoming more mobile, playful, and loud. Mother raccoons prefer attics and chimneys because they are warm and elevated, keeping babies safe from ground predators like coyotes or loose dogs.

• Signs of Trouble: Heavy thumping, chattering, or crying sounds from the ceiling at night. You might also spot missing shingles, damaged roof vents, or muddy paw prints on downspouts.

• The Damage: Raccoons are incredibly strong and destructive. They will compress and tear up insulation, chew on wooden support beams, and establish "latrines" (designated bathroom areas) that can ruin drywall and introduce hazardous roundworm spores into your home's air supply.

The Odor Emitters: Skunks Under the Deck

Skunk litters arrive in late May and June. To protect her young, a mother skunk will excavate deep dens beneath porches, sheds, and concrete patios. They are also highly active foragers during this time.

• Signs of Trouble: A persistent musky odor around your property, even if you haven't seen a skunk. You may also notice hundreds of small, cone-shaped holes dug throughout your lawn—this is classic skunk behavior as they root for grubs and earthworms.

• The Risk: While skunks are generally docile, a mother will not hesitate to spray if she feels her babies are threatened. DIY eviction attempts often result in trapped, panicked animals and a smell that can linger for months.

• Click here to learn more about Skunks and their behaviors in Central New York.

The Fire Hazards: Squirrels in the Walls

Both Eastern Gray and Red squirrels are highly active right now. They often chew through siding, rotted fascia boards, and roof returns to access attics and wall voids where they can safely stash food and raise young.

• Signs of Trouble: Frantic scurrying, scratching, or rolling sounds in your ceiling or walls, primarily during the early morning and daylight hours.

• The Damage: Squirrel teeth never stop growing, which means they never stop chewing. Once inside, they frequently gnaw on electrical wiring, stripping the insulation and creating a severe fire hazard. They also bring in dried leaves and nesting materials, adding tinder to the danger.

Important NYS Law: Bat Maternity Season June marks the beginning of maternity season for bats in New York. Female Little Brown and Big Brown bats gather in hot, high places—often residential attics—to give birth to their pups.

Because bat pups cannot fly for their first few weeks of life, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) regulations strictly prohibit bat exclusion during the height of maternity season (typically late May through mid-August). Blocking an entrance now will trap flightless babies inside, leading to a much worse odor and health hazard, and forcing desperate mothers into your living space. If you suspect a bat colony, professional inspection is required to plan a legal and humane exclusion once the pups are flying.

The Excavators: Woodchucks Wrecking Gardens

Woodchucks (or groundhogs) are fully out of hibernation, highly active, and exceptionally hungry. They are notorious for digging extensive burrow systems right next to home foundations, under sheds, and beneath concrete slabs.

These burrow systems are not just an eyesore; they displace massive amounts of dirt. Over time, this can cause concrete patios to crack and sink, and even undermine the structural integrity of retaining walls. Furthermore, a family of woodchucks will decimate your spring vegetable garden or landscaping in a matter of days. Our Woodchuck page offers more insights about these animals.

Don't Let Wildlife Evict You From Your Own Home!

Handling wildlife during baby season is highly complex. Never attempt to seal an entry point yourself unless you are 100% certain there are no babies inside. Trapping mothers outside leaves babies to starve inside your walls, creating severe odor and fly issues. Furthermore, in New York State, it is illegal for an unlicensed homeowner to trap and relocate an animal off their property.

If you're hearing strange noises, smelling foul odors, or noticing property damage, let the professionals handle it. We are fully licensed by the NYS DEC to handle, remove, and exclude nuisance wildlife safely, legally, and humanely.

Call Us Today for a Humane Inspection: (315) 591-5094

Serving Syracuse, Oswego, Cortland, and surrounding counties.