Summer Time Fun

Memorial Day is the start of summer time fun. The pools and beaches open to the public. Our area schools end for the summer months and the kids run wild throughout the neighborhood to go to their friend’s home. It’s the start of many cookouts with family and friends.

Here is some facts about Memorial Day and why it’s celebrated.

1. This day was a response to the carnage of the Civil War.

Women placed flowers on the graves of their fallen soldiers at the Battle of Gettysburg. The following year, women decorated the graves of soldiers buried in Vicksburg, MS. Women laid flowers on the graves of both the Union and Confederate soldiers in 1866. The same months, Civil War veterans marched through Carbondale, IL where an address was presented. This started the first Memorial Day observance.

2. Originally known as Decoration Day

3. Memorial Day was only allowed to as a federal holiday. The northern states adopted Memorial Day by 1890; however, the southern states didn’t adopt this holiday until after WWI.

4. The Monday Holiday Law shifted Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday in May.

5. In 1988, 2500 motorcyclists rode to Washington D.C. for the first Rolling Thunder rally. This rally is to draw attention to Vietnam War soldiers still missing in action or prisoners of war.

6. It’s custom to fly the flag half-staff until noon then raise it to the top of the staff until sunset on this day.

7. The poem “In Flanders Fields” written in WWI inspired the wearing red artificial poppies.

It may be the start of fun for the summer months to come; however, wildlife pests have fun of their own. Raccoons, squirrels, and foxes to name a few have already dropped a litter of babies. These babies will start making their presence be known as they are growing bigger. That means more damage can be done than just having a mother with newborns around.

Raccoons and squirrels are known to tear up duct work, insulation and wires within an attic causing a significant amount of damage. All it takes is one pest to do hundreds of dollars of damage; however, what amount of damage can four or five cause? Bats are known to live in a pack. These pests can enter your attic and leave a significant amount of guano for the homeowner to clean up.

Groundhogs can cause hundreds of dollars of damage to your yard. They tunnel up to five chambers which can be 45 feet in length and up to five feet below the earth’s surface. These tunnels can run under gardens, sheds, fences and even the foundation of the home.

If you have seen any wildlife pest around your home and you suspect it is residing on your property, give Elite Wildlife Removal a call at 804-867-7184. Our licensed technicians will be more than happy to conduct a thorough inspection which will determine the animal in question and how much activity there is. The inspection also shows the entry areas the animal is entering the home and a plan to clean up their mess.