The Complete List
Wildlife of Tennessee: Every Animal We Deal With
59 animals with photos, signs, risks and what we do about each one, from squirrels and raccoons to bats, snakes, birds and wasps.
Call us today615-357-7797- We Remove ItRemoval service
- Humane ExclusionExclusion and deterrence
- Protected SpeciesProtected: advice and exclusion
- Call TWRA FirstReport to TWRA, we help prevent conflict
- Identify FirstUsually harmless, we identify it
Showing all 59 animals
We Remove ItSquirrels and Rodents
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
Chews wiring and ducts, and a wire fire is the biggest danger.
We Remove ItSquirrels and Rodents
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
Bigger and bolder than a gray squirrel, with the same chewing habit.
We Remove ItSquirrels and Rodents
Southern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys volans
Often in groups, they soil insulation and are rarely noticed until the attic is full.
We Remove ItSquirrels and Rodents
Eastern Chipmunk
Tamias striatus
Burrows can undermine walls and steps, and they raid gardens.
We Remove ItSquirrels and Rodents
Norway Rat
Rattus norvegicus
Spreads disease and breeds quickly, and one pair can become dozens in months.
We Remove ItSquirrels and Rodents
Roof Rat
Rattus rattus
A climber that gets into attics from tree limbs and wires.
We Remove ItSquirrels and Rodents
House Mouse
Mus musculus
Contaminates food and chews wiring, and a female can have many litters a year.
We Remove ItSquirrels and Rodents
White-footed and Deer Mouse
Peromyscus
Can carry hantavirus, so droppings must be cleaned with care.
We Remove ItYard and Garden
Groundhog (Woodchuck)
Marmota monax
Burrows weaken foundations, slabs and equipment paths.
We Remove It
We Remove ItYard and Garden
Meadow Vole
Microtus pennsylvanicus
Girdling can kill young trees and ornamental shrubs.
We Remove ItYard and Garden
Nine-banded Armadillo
Dasypus novemcinctus
Digging damages lawns and foundations, and they can carry leprosy bacteria.
Humane ExclusionYard and Garden
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
Sylvilagus floridanus
Strip gardens and girdle young shrubs, and nests are easy to disturb by mistake.
We Remove ItYard and Garden
Feral Hog (Wild Boar)
Sus scrofa
Destroy crops and ponds, and spread disease to livestock.
We Remove ItRaccoons and Skunks
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Carries rabies and roundworm, and can rip open roofs to nest.
We Remove ItRaccoons and Skunks
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
Rarely aggressive, but they can bring fleas and ticks and den under homes.
We Remove ItRaccoons and Skunks
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
Spray is hard to remove, and skunks can carry rabies.
We Remove ItRaccoons and Skunks
Eastern Spotted Skunk
Spilogale putorius
Small and secretive, and it can spray from a handstand.
Humane ExclusionPredators and Large
Coyote
Canis latrans
A danger to small pets and poultry, and they lose fear of people when fed.
Humane ExclusionPredators and Large
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
Prey on poultry and small pets, and foxes can carry mange and rabies.
Humane ExclusionPredators and Large
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
It climbs, so it can reach poultry and low roofs.
Call TWRA FirstPredators and Large
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
Shy and rarely a danger to people, but poultry and small pets are at risk.
Call TWRA FirstPredators and Large
Black Bear
Ursus americanus
Bears that find food lose their fear, so secure trash and feeders and call TWRA.
Call TWRA FirstPredators and Large
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Strip landscaping, and collisions are a real danger on Tennessee roads.
We Remove ItPredators and Large
Long-tailed Weasel
Mustela frenata
A fast predator that can squeeze through small gaps into coops.
We Remove ItWater Animals
North American Beaver
Castor canadensis
Flood roads and fields and kill valuable trees.
We Remove It
Call TWRA FirstWater Animals
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
Can empty a stocked pond in a night, and the species is regulated.
Humane Exclusion
Identify FirstWater Animals
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
Has a strong bite and a long neck, so never lift one by the tail.
Humane ExclusionBats
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
Droppings (guano) can carry fungus spores, and bites can carry rabies.
Humane ExclusionBats
Little Brown Bat
Myotis lucifugus
Populations have dropped from white-nose syndrome, and exclusion has to be timed with care.
Humane ExclusionBats
Tricolored Bat
Perimyotis subflavus
A species of concern, so handling must follow state and federal guidance.
Protected Species
Protected Species
Protected SpeciesBats
Northern Long-eared Bat
Myotis septentrionalis
A federally protected species, so get guidance before any exclusion.
We Remove ItBirds
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
Droppings carry fungus and corrode roofing, and stain vehicles and walkways.
We Remove ItBirds
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Block vents with nests, which is a fire hazard, and flocks leave heavy droppings.
We Remove It
Protected SpeciesBirds
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Protected by federal law, so nests that are in use can’t be disturbed.
Protected SpeciesBirds
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
Protected by federal law, and a nest has to be left alone while it is active.
Protected SpeciesBirds
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
Protected by federal law, and damage to siding invites moisture and insects.
Protected SpeciesBirds
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Protected by federal law, and drumming and holes lead to roof and trim damage.
Humane ExclusionBirds
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Lawns and walkways are fouled, and nesting geese can be aggressive.
Protected SpeciesBirds
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
Protected by federal law, and groups can damage roofs and harm livestock.
Protected SpeciesBirds
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Protected by federal law, and roosts can stain roofs and smell strong.
Protected SpeciesBirds
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
Protected by federal law, and a nesting owl can defend its nest.
Call TWRA FirstBirds
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Males can act aggressively toward people and vehicles in spring.
We Remove ItSnakes
Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix
Venomous: bites are painful and need medical care, so keep people and pets away.
Call TWRA FirstSnakes
Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
Venomous and a species of special concern, so keep your distance and call for help.
We Remove ItSnakes
Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin)
Agkistrodon piscivorus
Venomous, and it is often mistaken for harmless water snakes.
Identify FirstSnakes
Black Rat Snake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
Harmless to people and good at rodent control, but it can startle people in attics.
Identify First
Identify FirstSnakes
Northern Water Snake
Nerodia sipedon
Non-venomous but bites when handled, and it is commonly mistaken for a cottonmouth.
We Remove It
We Remove ItStinging Insects
Bald-faced Hornet
Dolichovespula maculata
Defend nests in force and can sting repeatedly.
We Remove ItStinging Insects
Yellowjacket
Vespula
Aggressive and sting repeatedly, and ground nests are often stepped on by accident.
Humane ExclusionStinging Insects
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Bees are valuable, so live relocation is best, and honey left in walls draws pests.
We Remove ItStinging Insects
Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginica
Tunnels weaken wood over time, and woodpeckers tear it up chasing larvae.
Not Sure Which Animal?
Identify It With Three Questions
Pick where it is, when you notice it and what you see, and the tool ranks the likely animals.
Nothing you enter is sent anywhere until you choose to send it to us.
Protected and Regulated Wildlife
Some Animals Need Special Care
Protected species
Many Tennessee animals are protected by state or federal law, including songbirds, woodpeckers, swifts, swallows, vultures, owls and several bats. Nests and roosts can be off limits. We advise, prevent and use exclusion only where it is allowed and at the right time.
Call TWRA
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency manages bears, deer, turkeys and other regulated animals. If one is injured or poses a danger, call TWRA. We can help you protect your property.
Not sure?
Call us at 615-357-7797. We will tell you what applies and what to do next. See our guide to Tennessee wildlife rules.
How many animals are on the list?
59 animals that Tennessee homeowners and businesses commonly deal with, and we add to it over time.
Is every animal removed?
No. Some are protected, some are best left alone and some are handled by TWRA. Each page explains what we do.
Is it a complete list of every animal in Tennessee?
It covers the wildlife that people most often ask about around homes and properties, not every species in the state.
What should I do if I hear noises in my attic?
Do not seal anything. Note the time of day and the type of sound and call us. A daytime scratch is often a squirrel, while night thumping can be a raccoon, a rodent or bats.
Will baby animals be left behind?
No. We check for young before any work and time removals so mothers and babies are removed or reunited together.
Free Estimate
Tell Us What Is Going On
Describe what you see, hear or smell and we will get back to you quickly with a plan and a free estimate. For an animal in the house or any emergency, skip the form and call 615-357-7797 any hour.
Get Your Free Estimate
Music City Wildlife removes and prevents wildlife problems in homes and businesses across Nashville and Middle Tennessee, from squirrels in the attic to bats in the walls, with humane methods, careful sealing and cleanup.
- 615-357-7797
- Open 24 hours for emergencies
- Nashville, Tennessee · Servicing Middle Tennessee
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