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"Live trapped two opossums that were living under a cantilevered portion of our house. Elite Pest Control was the only one of five companies to immediately respond to our Angi request. They also repaired the hole made by the animals that gave them access to the floor joists. I highly recommend Elite Pest Control for small animal capture and removal."
"They went above and beyond in extracting 3 baby birds that had built a nest in our bathroom vent. It took multiple trips and some acrobatics on the roof but they made sure the birds were extracted and relocated. Would highly recommend!"
"Perfect. Pests stay gone with proper maintenance. Defender Pest Control is prompt, reliable, knowledgeable, and most importantly, EFFECTIVE. Will definitely use again."
It can be difficult to know what type of animal is in your attic until you see it. But several clues can help you narrow down the suspects:
Sounds: Smaller animals like rats and mice make scurrying and tapping/gnawing sounds. Larger animals like raccoons and opossums make louder clambering noises. Also, note when animals are noisy: Squirrels are active during the day, while rats are busiest at night.
Droppings: Rats and mice leave small, rice-shaped droppings (the rat’s version is significantly larger). Bigger droppings belong to larger critters like raccoons. As long as you’re not squeamish, an image search can help you identify what you’re seeing in your attic.
When in doubt, take photos of damage or other evidence and show them to an experienced pest control pro.
When it comes to keeping birds from doing their business on your porch rails, you have several DIY options and home remedies you can try:
Tie a fishing line from one end of the deck post to the other. Birds won’t be able to see the line across the railing, so they can’t land on it.
Hang wind chimes close by, which may scare birds away.
Apply a bird gel repellent to the railings, which contains smells that birds generally don’t like. Or, similarly, you can apply citronella or lemon oil around the railings, since birds don’t like strong smells.
Vinegar can keep some animals at bay, like deer, rabbits, foxes, and raccoons. Keep in mind that your household pets, like cats and dogs, also don’t like the smell of vinegar. You can soak rags in white vinegar and put them up around your garden beds to keep the pesky critters from eating your plants.
Most treatments take 1-3 hours, but severe infestations may require multiple visits.
DIY animal removal is rarely a good idea and is not advised for many reasons. First, these types of animals can carry diseases and, therefore, pose a health risk to you, your family, and your pets if mishandled. Second, depending on your city or municipality, it may be illegal to remove or handle wildlife yourself.
Sealing your home against these animals yourself is also a bad idea. Trapping an animal under your house will cause odor and insect problems when it passes away.
The Rockford, MN homeowners’ guide to bird control services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Sometimes birds nest in unwelcome places. Find out how much bird nest removal will cost based on factors like location, bird species, and preventative measures.