Why do you need a wildlife specialist?
Updated: Sep 7, 2020
People often wonder how private wildlife companies differ from your local municipal animal control. If there's a squirrel in your attic, shouldn't an animal control officer be able to get it out? Unless it’s an emergency (e.g.- a raccoon in your kitchen holding a pie hostage), the city animal control probably can't help with these issues inside your house. They shouldn't be your first call when animals have entered the attic. Those invasions are generally a result of needed home maintenance; repairs are required to permanently solve the animal problem. You can find wildlife control operators to get the animal out of the house safety, but simply removing the animal is usually not a solution. You have to find how they got in and make sure nobody else does.
Choose a company that specializes in animal behavior and repairs, not poisoning. General pest control companies (exterminators) are not well suited for these issues as they are licensed for insects and chemical use. Being educated in construction and wildlife biology is an important factor when working with vertebrates. By the same token, a general handyman is not the best way to go. We are commonly called to come behind handymen or pest control companies to redo their work once the repair has failed to keep animals out, or worse, when it has trapped animals inside.
The best defense is a good offense. Areas on the house to take note of include the chimney; attic exhaust fan opening; attic end louvers (vents) and soffit vents; roof, soffit and fascia gaps; and porches and decks.
Here are a few tips to help keep the critters from invading your space:
Stack firewood away from buildings or fences. Stack it on a frame that keeps the wood at least 2 feet above ground, and store only as much as you will use in a reasonable amount of time. Firewood stacks are a favorite hideout for rodents and snakes.
Remove tall grass, brush piles and debris from your yard.
Remove dead trees.
Deny access to your roof by trimming nearby tree branches. There should be a minimum of 10 feet between tree limbs and your home.
Check your home regularly to make sure it is in good repair. Wildlife often enter through gaps adjacent to the roof and siding.
Prevent access to abandoned or infrequently used buildings.
Don't leave pet or bird food outside.
As much as we love the wildlife that comes around our neighborhood,
it's best if we don't share our homes with them!