Get matched with top pest control specialists in Jacksonville, IL

Pest control and wildlife removal are different services. Pest control specialists typically handle insects and bugs, often using chemicals and poisonous sprays for extermination. Wildlife removal professionals, on the other hand, focus on larger animals. They prioritize humane methods like trapping and relocation, using poison only as a last resort. For insect problems, contact a pest control professional; for issues with other animals, an animal or wildlife removal specialist is the correct choice.

As a general rule, if you hear an animal in your attic, don’t assume it will stay there. Animals are drawn to warmth and food sources, which could lead them to other parts of your house. In particular, it’s likely that small pests such as rats and mice that only need tiny gaps to squeeze through will end up in your walls and ductwork. Larger animals like raccoons may be limited to an enclosed attic.

Some snake repellents are risky to use around people and pets because they use the active ingredient in mothballs, naphthalene. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified naphthalene as a carcinogen that can cause damage to the liver, neurological issues, and cataracts. 

The Colorado State University Extension suggests there’s not enough conclusive evidence of the effectiveness of snake repellents to recommend their use.

Ticks love to hide in long grass, mulch beds, leaf piles, and wooded areas, so minimizing these things in your yard can help stop them from making a home there. If you live in an area with lots of wildlife, it's also helpful to put up a fence so that deer and other animals don't bring ticks into your yard.