Professional Animal Control Service Licensed & Insured

ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES WE PROVIDE

We are a comprehensive nuisance wildlife company. Bottom line, if you have a wildlife problem, we can fix it. We are much more than you simple backyard trapper guy. Although trapping is one of the services we provide, we specialize in fixing wildlife problems and getting to the “why” instead of the “what” of the situation. Many of our clients see the animals as the problem. They tell us the raccoons are getting into their trash cans or eating their pet’s food that is left outside all day and night. We do not eat all day and night and our pets do not need to either. Simply feed your pets a specific times of day and they will  become conditioned to eat when it is time to eat. Remove the food sources that are attracting the raccoons, problem solved. As for the garbage cans, we can simply make the garbage cans wildlife proof and again problem solved. In both instances the problem was not the raccoon, but our behavior that was causing the problem in the first place. This approach of thinking outside the box is what sets apart from other wildlife companies. Tapping and removing is not always the right answer. Modifying our behaviors or the habitat around our homes can and will fix most problems.

     If you are having a conflict with any wildlife in our community, we can help. US Animal Control  is a fully licensed and insured nuisance wildlife company and we specialize in resolving all types of conflicts with wildlife using the latest and most humane methods available. Our specialty is humanely removing wildlife from homes and business that includes not only removal but also damage repair, wildlife proofing the structure so the animals do not return in the future, fullattic clean out and restorations and much more.

     Our approach is to findthe problem and fix the problem. Often times the problem is not the wildlife but the actual home or business itself, or often times the behavior of the humans living in the home. An example of this is squirrels. If a home owner has squirrels tearing up their home exterior we try and find out why the squirrels are there. Many times it is because the home owner is feeding the “pretty birds” and the squirrels are attracted to the bird seed. Stop feeding the birds and this will help reduce the activity in the area. It will not make it go away but bottom line, find the solution to the problem, modify either the habitat or behavior, and in some cases trapping is necessary, but as you can see it’s not always the only option. This approach is one factor that sets us apart from the competition. A deep respect and understanding of the habits of wildlife and the delicate balance that must be protected between the community and the wildlife we share it with.

SQUIRREL REMOVAL AND SQUIRREL TRAPPING

Squirrels are very interesting and cute creatures to watch. They are very active in this community and are not aggressive at all unless protecting their young. Thought fun to watch, they can get into our homes and business quite easily through a relatively small hole simply by making it bigger. They are excellent chewers, and in fact they must chew to file their teeth down or they will continue to grow until the squirrel can no longer feed. Squirrels love to chew on wood and once inside our attics, that is a scary sound indeed. Not only that, they often chew on electrical wiring insulation which can cause a serious fire hazard. Our attics provide a perfect habitat for squirrels to get out of the cold weather and once they enter, they must be excluded and or trapped and be removed. Once they have been removed we can then SQUIRREL PROOF YOUR HOME to ensure you do not have this problem again in the future.

    Squirrels can seem cute and are very entertaining. But they can also cause quite a bit of damage to a home, especially once they have entered the attic. They are notorious chewers and chew everything to help keep their teeth, which continuously grow, ground down so they do not outgrow their mouths. They will chew the insulation off of A/C lines, the wood framing, your belongings that are stored in boxes in your attic, and even the insulation on electrical wiring creating a fire hazard. They have two litters per year consisting of anywhere from 2-5 young typically, once in the Spring and another late Summer/early Fall. Squirrels populations can grow rapidly and once they have entered an attic they can be quite tricky to remove, especially if there are young present. For this reason if you are currently hearing noises in your attic it is important to give us a call and let us help remove your squirrels and seal up your home before they have babies. This is exactly what we do!!

RACCOONS IN ATTIC AND CHIMNEYS

Raccoons have extremely good dexterity and are excellent climbers. They often find their way into our homes through attic vents, attic fans, rotten roof edges or exterior walls, and holes in the soffits and facia (Roof Overhangs). Though raccoons are good at making themselves appear larger than they are, but in fact they only need a 5” x 5” hole to gain entry into our homes. Baby season generally is between April – August but there have been many instances we have removed babies well outside of this time frame. You should never try and remove raccoons during this time and actually it is best to hire a nuisance wildlife professional because in most cases state law requires euthanizing a raccoon if you trap or possess it. And if a mother raccoon is trapped unknowingly by you then the babies will be left stranded and die in your walls creating another big problem. For this reason it is best to LEAVE IT TO A PROFESSIONAL!

     Raccoons are very good climbers and can literally climb metal down spouts and corners of buildings and window jambs to gain access to a roof or chimney. They can even climb the corner of a chimney and tear a hole right in the side of the siding and be in your home with very little effort. They may seem like relatively large animals and are good at seeming larger than they actually are but only need a hole roughly 5” x 5” to get through. They can have litters that range from 1-7 but average for our area is 3-5. If there is a raccoon in your attic it is very important to understand that a momma coon is very protective of her young and protect them aggressively. Much care needs to be taken to remove the family together so the mother can do her job and raise her young in an area less populated. If there are raccoons hanging around your home then often times we come in and try and assess why they are there and simply educate our clients on habitat and behavior modification to make the area less desirable for the raccoons,  and if necessary we will trap and remove the problem animals

SKUNK TRAPPING AND REMOVAL

Skunks are probably one of the most misunderstood creatures in our community. First of all skunks themselves do not stink, their spray does. And if you have a close encounter with a skunk this does not necessarily mean you are automatically going to get sprayed. If you simply stand very still and do not make any sudden movements or scream, the skunk may raise its tail and stomp the ground but in most cases will simply turn and run the opposite direction. They are burrowers and often dig under our homes, sheds, patios, carports, A/C units beside the house, and any other place that has loose dirt around a structure. In most of the cases we can simply trap or exclude the skunks from these areas and can then wildlife proof it to keep them out for good. Remember most state laws require euthanizing a skunk if you trap or possess it.

     Contrary to popular believe, skunks do not stink. They only stink when they get attacked by a predator, hit by a car, or are threatened or messed with by someone that does not have a respect for the distance a skunk can spray! In fact you do not need to be sprayed directly to smell like a skunk for days. You just need to be close. Skunks are burrowing animals and often times dig homes under A/C compressor slabs beside homes, under porches and decks, or even under your home. If a skunk has invaded your property we can help. We can humanely remove a skunk and even babies if present. Important fact, in most states laws require killing a skunk if you trap or have it in your possession! Leave it up to the professional and give us a call!

SNAKE REMOVAL FROM YOUR HOMES

Often times if a snake enters a home they are simply entering the same holes that rodents have entered and are following the scent trails the rodents have left in search of food. There are very few venomous species of snakes in our area but there are some very aggressive snakes that may be encountered. If a snake enters your home call us immediately. Not only can we humanely remove the snake, we can snake proof your home and install snake exclusion devices over the main entry points just in case there are more snakes inside the home. Often times it will be necessary to begin a rodent extermination program at the same time to eradicate the food sources the snakes have been following.

     If there is a snake in your home it got there somehow. Most of the time they are simply following the travel patterns of their prey, often times this means rats and mice are present. Most snakes in our area are nonvenomous but it takes a professional to accurately identify snakes and should only be left to a skilled technician. After we remove the snake we can find the entry points and seal up the home preventing this from happening again in the future.

DEAD ANIMAL REMOVAL

This is probably our most unpleasant task but we do it. It is not a job for the queezy or faint of heart. And ladies please do not get mad at your husbands if they will not go under your home and remove a dead, rotting animal. IT IS DISGUSTING! Maggots, bad smell, and a complete mess are involved when removing a rotting carcass and the decomposed matter underneath. Often time animals die in the worst places like under steps, patios and porches, in attics etc. We also remove dead deer from yards and this requires additional disposal fees and requires additional work on our part. In most cases, removing the dead animal and decomposed matter will remove the smell.

     Removing dead animals, especially out from under homes or decks in not a pleasant task at all. There are maggots, decaying and decomposing matter, and oh the smell! Disgusting! In some neighborhoods deer are over populated and can get hit by a car and die in your yard or sometimes will try and jump a decorative metal fence and get impaled. Tragic but happens all the time. Removing dead animals is definitely the most unpleasant services we provide

WOODCHUCK TRAPPING AND GROUND HOG CONTROL

Ground hogs, whistle pigs, woodchucks are cute but destructive little guys that dig up our yards, eat up our gardens and flower beds, dig under porches and foundations and just seem to frighten many folks. They can easily be live captured and relocated unharmed.

     These burrowing animals can cause significant damage to yards and gardens. They are relatively easy to trap and remove but some require a bit of work and planning to trap and should be left up to a professional. Once we trap them they can easily be relocated to a less populated area and released where they can live out their lives and not cause our community any more problems.

BAT REMOVAL / BATS IN ATTIC

Bats can enter a structure through a very small hole and a large colony can occupy a relatively small area. Our maternity season is between the months of May- August and bats cannot legally be excluded or trapped during this time. Tapping bats is not a long term solution. Excluding them LIVE, and then after all the bats are out sealing up the structure is a long term solution. Bats are at the top of the rabies vector list and you should never try and handle a bat. If you have come into contact with a bat seek medical attention immediately! Rabies cannot be cured and is 100% fatal! If you have, or even think you have, a bat infestation, do not try and fix it yourself. Give us a call and let our trained wildlife professionals help!

     Important note, bats are a Federally Protected Mammal. Ok, bats creep most folks out but are for the most part harmless. They migrate South in the Winter and back to our community in the Spring. They have their babies and rear their young between the months of May-August. Trapping bats does not fix the problem. They must be excluded, meaning they must be allowed to leave the structure but cannot be allowed to return. Again, not during May-August because the babies will die in the walls or attic causing a huge problem. Bats are at the top of the rabies vector list and if you or anyone you know has come in direct contact with a bat SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY! Rabies cannot be cured and is 100% fatal if not treated in time!

BEAVER TRAPPING / BEAVER DAM REMOVAL

Beavers are nature’s lumber jacks and dam engineers. And they are very good at creating and destroying habitat wherever they are. Their favorite trees are weeping willows and cherry trees. They build lodges and dam creeks to raise water levels to protect their young and themselves while inside their lodges. We do not like to use kill or body grip traps due to non-target species that may visit the waters edges where we generally trap beavers. Not to mention the danger kill or foot hold traps pose to children and family pets. Hancock style live beaver traps are live traps and are visible making them much safer and effective to use.

     Beavers are nature’s engineers. They are masters of construction and destruction. They seem to favor willows and cherry trees. In fact weeping willow branches make a great lure for our traps. Beavers take down trees and build dams to raise water levels then build lodges for protection from predators and a safe place to raise their young. Considering that children love playing in water and for this reason we will not use kill or body grip type traps in populated areas due to the danger they pose to pets and children. We use Hancock style traps that are live traps, highly visible, and will capture beavers unharmed and visible enough that children can avoid them.

BIRD AND PIGEON TRAPPING AND REMOVAL

We get a lot of bird calls from birds in vents, building nests in fire places, or trapped inside buildings not allowing the business to close up shop and turn on security systems due to motion sensors. Removing bird nests from fire places in the summer time is not that big of a deal but if left unchecked and winter rolls around this could create a fire hazard. We can solve all bird problems from pigeons on roof tops, to starlings and sparrows nesting in vents or soffit connecting lines on the roof.

    Bird activity is significant in the Spring and Summer months. From pigeons roosting in overhangs and pooping all over ATM machines and cars, to sparrows, grackles and starling flying into departments stores preventing the stores from closing and arming alarm system motion detectors. Birds roosting in chimneys and attic, stove, and microwave vents present a huge ventilation problem and in some cases a fire hazard. Some birds are migratory and cannot be disturbed but takes a trained wildlife professional to identify the species.

STRAY AND FERAL CAT REMOVAL

Most of the time when we get domestic cat calls there is going to be conflict between neighbors. More often than not there is a cat lover that is feeding all of the strays in the area and all of these cats go to neighbor’s houses and find places to have babies, poop, spray, and just cause problems. Removing stray cats is not a rewarding job because we cannot ever come out on top with everyone happy and all cats saved. It’s a no win for us but we will fix the problem and do our best to keep the peace in the neighborhood.

     This is a no win situation for us. We usually get calls from a home or business owner about cats around their property and it is usually because there is a cat lover that is feeding them in the area. We strive to complete every job with all animals removed unharmed and all clients and neighbors happy. This is never the case with cat calls. We may not be able to adopt all cats that we catch, the cat lovers can get quite angry when they see us trapping the cats even though we do so with the utmost care for them and do our best to ensure they are all removed humanely, and often times disagreements follow between the interested parties. We do our best but they are a no win for us!

OPOSSUM TRAPPING

Opossum are just creepy creatures that stink but for the most part are totally harmless. They are not disease carriers, are not aggressive, do not destroy property, are nomadic by nature and just roam the neighborhood in search of their next easy meal. ‘IT LOOKED AT ME” is what we get most of the time when we get an opossum call. They can easily be trapped and relocated and is some cases slight habitat modification may be necessary to prevent future problems with opossums. Like not leaving pet food out all night…..

     Opossum are creepy, stinky, nomadic creatures that are highly misunderstood. They eat pet food, raid trash cans, eat dead animals from the side of the road, and are just creepy. But they are non-aggressive unless threatened, are not disease carriers, do not carry rabies, and rarely cause any real damage to building or property. They simply roam around in search of their next meal. They can easily be trapped and relocated out of town where they can live out the remainder of their lives as long as they avoid passing cars and coyotes.

RODENT RAT MOUSE REMOVAL

Rodents which include both rats and mice can find their way into homes and structures through very small hole and one inside can multiply at an alarming rate. A female can have between 5-10 litters per year each litter averaging 6-8 young. So a serious infestation can happen seemingly overnight. Once they have entered home or structure the only way to fix the problem is to seal all entry and possible entry points which keeps all rodents out but traps all current population inside. Then an aggressive trapping and extermination process should begin to remove all remaining rodents from inside the structure. Once these two steps have been taken, the problem is solved. This is the reason pest control companies do not like us. We fix the problem and there is no quarterly services needed.

     Once rodents have entered a home they can be very difficult to get under control. And it is not as simple as setting some traps and definitely don’t just throw a bunch of rodenticide in the attic or you will have dead and decomposing rats and mice all over. Disgusting and this can create conditions that the odor will make the home unlivable for a period of time. The proper way to deal with rodents is to seal up the home and cut off all travel routes and entry points, set many traps and secure the traps with screws and wire and as they are caught, remove and re-bait the traps until they are all gone. Problem solved for good! This is exactly what we do!

FOX / COYOTE TRAPPING

Though many feed on rats and mice which are very helpful in controlling the rodent population, predators such as fox, coyote and bobcats can decimate bird, rabbit, and squirrel populations as well. They can even run down fawns and young deer. Predator trapping is a labor intensive job requiring much time in the field scouting game trails, looking for sign such as fresh kills, foot prints, scat, and hair along fence crossings just to name a few. Snares and foot hold traps are the most effective method of capturing these animals but we do have methods that can be used in urban areas where possible pets may come into contact with our traps and can safely be released.

     These canines are some of the top predators in our area. They absolutely love to eat cats but are very opportunistic and birds, rodents, and yes even your family dog can become a meal. They are generally reclusive and when a direct encounter occurs they will flee the area immediately. But know they are in the area and keep a close eye on your family pets. It is not advised to leave pet food out over night as this may attract them as well. We can trap and remove them but if there are coyotes and foxes in the area they will always be there, but we can effectively thin the population.

ARMADILLO TRAPPING

It is always the folks that take the best care of their yards and water generously that the armadillos are attracted to. They in search of grubs, worms, larvae, and other underground crunchy, slimy things and moist yards rich in nutrients make the best habitat. The armadillo uses its strong, sharp front feet to dig and they are very good at it. They also are burrowing creatures and often establish residence under porches, decks, and even under the foundation of our homes. They are quite easy to trap from underneath a home but require some intricate funneling to trap in an open yard.

     When we get armadillo calls often times it is the home owners that take very good care of their yards that water regularly, fertilize, and landscape with great care. All of these create a virtual smorgasbord of feeding opportunities. This environment in the yard attracts all types of worms, grubs, larvae, and insects that the armadillo use their powerful, sharp front claws to dig up the yard and feed and in turn tearing up all of the hard work that the homeowner has put into the yard to start with. Armadillos take some work to trap and it can take some time but we have the training and experience at humanely removing armadillos and it is a service that we provide.

FLYING SQUIRREL PROOFING

Though flying squirrels are named flying, they cannot actually fly but glide. They are smaller than red fox and grey squirrels but larger than chipmunks and rats. They can fit into a very small hole either in a soffit, attic or ridge vent, and can chew and damage property once inside the home. They can be excluded using one way doors and once they have been removed we can wildlife proof the home or structure to ensure they do not return in the future.    

Gophers Trapping and Mole Trapping and Removal   

These little rodent like creatures wreak havoc on yards and in landscaping. They burrow just underneath the surface of the grass feeding on roots of plants, larvae, grubs and worms and in general make a mess of the yard. They can be trapped but can be quite sneaky and difficult to get under control. Problem is if they are in the area, we can trap the ones that are in your yard and around you home but chances are they will return in the future. There are no methods to keep them out of a yard other than to trap them when they return.

Nutruia Trapping and Removal

Nutria are not an indigenous species and hale from South America. They resemble, for lack of a better description, a large rat. Their head and hide look much like a beaver but they have a long tail. They are voracious herbivores and eat all types of plants and trees. They actually must consume roughly 25% of their body weight which is very taxing on the local vegetation to maintain a healthy population. They are also a burrowing mammal and cause serious damage to levees, bridges, and drainage ditches near roads. They are a nocturnal creature and once they have moved into an area can be quite difficult to get under control. There are many methods of control but trapping seems to be the most effective for this area.