Trapper / Licensed Wildlife Control Agent - near Bogue, NC

06/05/2026

05/02/2026

Coyote den under porch in Atlantic Beach. Unclear if it is active - under observation. Will be gradually filled. Abandoned dens will be used by other critters.

05/02/2026

Squirrel 4/30/26
#7

04/21/2026

04/13/2026

Squirrel. 4/13/26
#5

04/13/2026

I put this note on my work monitor and it turns out people actually have brains. Even Karen in accounting started thinking for herself

04/13/2026

The groundhog under your shed is a better engineer than most contractors.

Groundhog (woodchuck) burrow specs:

→ 25-45 feet of total tunnel length
→ Up to 5 feet deep
→ Multiple entrances/exits
→ Separate chambers for: sleeping, hibernation, and bathroom
→ Summer burrow vs winter burrow (different locations!)
→ One entrance always faces south (for solar warming in spring)
→ A single groundhog moves 35 cubic feet of dirt (710+ pounds) building one burrow

Engineering features:
→ The main entrance has a large dirt mound (lookout platform)
→ Hidden "plunge holes" — secret vertical escape exits with no dirt mound
→ Burrows naturally drain (slope engineering!)
→ Abandoned groundhog burrows are used by 20+ other species (foxes, rabbits, skunks, snakes, chipmunks)

Groundhog hibernation:
→ Heart rate: drops from 80 bpm to 4-5 bpm
→ Body temperature: drops from 99°F to 37°F
→ Breathing: 2 breaths per minute
→ Duration: October through February
→ Weight loss: 30-40% of body mass

RIGHT NOW, groundhogs are emerging, eating ravenously, and beginning their spring breeding season.

"He's eating my garden!"

Yes. Yes he is. And he's also:
→ Aerating your soil (extensive tunneling = better water absorption)
→ Mixing soil layers (nutrients get redistributed)
→ Creating housing for 20+ other species
→ Being the reason you had a Groundhog Day in February

He's not a pest.

He's a landscape architect with a PhD in Civil Engineering.

And a very healthy appetite. 🐿️

04/10/2026

4/7 marks World Health Day. Ticks, especially in the northeast, pose a risk to the health of humans and pets alike. Lyme disease is not the only tickborne pathogen, and not all ticks spread it! Our testing services aim to help people understand their exposure risks, which can help in more comprehensive treatment plans.

01/18/2026

Damp hawk up in a tree, near Bogue, NC on a grey, rainy day