Dealing with wildlife is a very unique task. First of all, not all that many people do it professionally. Its essentially a sub category under the broad spectrum of pest control. Most pest control companies don’t even deal with animals larger than mice because the result of doing the job incorrectly can be pretty extreme. Incorrect work can lead to animals that were only in the attic ending up in the living space, animals dying inside and then dealing with the smell of a rotting carcass for weeks or months, infestation of flies because of dead animals trapped inside, way more damage because the animal is doing absolutely everything to try and get out, and more. There are specific steps that have to be followed when evicting animals and sealing up entry points. I can’t tell you how many times I get calls for homeowners or businesses that have tried to do the job themselves, and all of a sudden something went wrong and now it is extremely urgent that I get there because a squirrel, bat, racoon, or anything else is now stuck inside with customers or ripping things apart or the smell is so bad that you cant even enter some rooms. Just as in any of the trades, if you do not know exactly what you are doing, do not attempt it. Would you risk electrocuting yourself, flooding your home, or ripping down a load bearing wall? I know I wouldn’t.

Animals are smart. They enter our attics, basements, chimneys and fireplaces, and other areas for a reason (well usually, at least). You have to understand why they are there and how the time of year effects what they are doing (are there babies inside that cannot leave yet? Is there nest material and feces all over the place?). Things like these are most common with bats, squirrels, raccoons, and birds. Every job that I do requires a thorough inspection. This allows me to understand every part of the job, including how to get the animals out, if there are babies, what clean up may be necessary so I don’t expose myself to diseases such as histoplasmosis that come directly from animals, and when to seal up the entry points. Without following these steps, you are risking any of the issues listed above. The most common mistake people make when trying to take care of their own problem is sealing the animals inside. Just because you know where they are going in and out doesn’t mean you can just seal that spot and be done with the job. There are different eviction methods including trapping (lethal and non lethal), one-way doors, physical removal, deterrents (although not that may are actually successful), and others. You can read more about these animal eviction methods by heading over the our services page. Just as with any trade, there are often different ways to complete a project, and when done correctly, should last a long time. Doing things incorrectly can cause major short term and long term issues, which is why you should always hire somebody who is a professional in that business to complete a project you don’t know anything about.