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Varment Guard Wildlife Services
Electronic Pet Fence Installation, Electronic Pet Fence - Repair or Adjust, Rodent Pest Control Service,
About us
If you’re looking for humane and efficient wild animal removal services, you’ve come to the right place. Varment Guard Wildlife Services was founded in 1983 and has been passionate about delivering environmentally conscious and safe wildlife pest removal services ever since. From rowdy raccoons to ornery opossums to damaging deer, bats, moles, or groundhogs, we have experience solving and preventing many types of wildlife challenges. We offer wild animal removal services to Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and parts of Kentucky and Wisconsin. So, if you’re wondering, where can I find quality wildlife services near me? Look no further. Varment Guard has you covered.As of 2022, Animal Control Specialists merged with Varment Guard Wildlife Services. Our newly expanded team will continue its rich legacy and commitment to providing the highest quality pest service. Founded in 1915, I'm honored to be a part of this family-owned company that is over 100 years strong!
Business highlights
Emergency services offered
42 years of experience
Services we offer
Animal Damage Repair, Attic Insulation Repair & Replacement, Bats, Beaver, Birds, Chipmunk, Clean Up Services, Coyote, Deer, Geese, Groundhogs, Moles, Muskrat, Odor Control, Opossum, Rabbit, Raccoon, Removal, Skunk, Snakes, Wildlife Exclusion and Prevention, Wildlife Repellent, and Dead Animal Removal. Squirrel, and Rodents., exclusion & prevention - nuisance wildlife & pests. Wildlife Removal and Trapping
Amenities
Emergency Services
Yes
Accepted Payment Methods
- CreditCard
Reviews
5.025 Reviews
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Showing 1-25 of 25 reviews
Mark M.
Nov 2021
Very friendly, courteous team. They explained everything clearly and were very thorough. They had to go up to the Attic through the the bedroom closet. I covered one side of the closet clothing with plastic. I received a call from that tech indicating that he was done but that the plastic came off and he didn't want to come down until the clothes were covered again. Very considerate and customer focused. Very happy with their work and with the two that came to inspect and resolve my issue. A week later and no issues or noises.
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"[Member Name Removed] thank you very much for your review. It makes my day to see 1) happy clients, and 2) to know that my team is going above and beyond as I always hope that they will. Thank you again for your business!! Rob Winters- President"
Lori M.
Jun 2021
I found a dead bat in my attic one day and the exterminator I was using for mice did not take care of bats. I found this company on Angies list and called. They came out right away, looked around and thought this was an isolated incident. Few weeks later a raccoon decided to take up residence in my chimney and they came right out, put a trap up with cameras. Raccoon was caught and they covered the caps with wire mesh until a custom cover could be made. Customer service was great, they were reasonable with recommendations and even sent me video of the raccoon in the chimney. Would definitely call again.
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It was a pleasure working with you, and while I hope you never need us again, we’re here if you do!"
Patricia V.
Jan 2019
They came out to try and get rid of the critters running around my attic. I would work with this company again. They were good, and really nice.
Molly L.
Sep 2018
The owner, Rob, was very responsive when I called. He sent Matt and Dylan to work with me. They were wonderful. My chipmunk was pesky and refused to be caught, but Matt was determined. I would highly recommend Animal Control Specialists. I never like the idea of trapping an animal, but if necessary, I will call them again.
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to give us a wonderful review [Member Name Removed]! Yes, we never take offense when clients tell us they hope to never see us again:) It was a pleasure working with you! Have a great day! Rob"
Patricia J.
Dec 2017
Excellent work. Rob was very professional. He took pictures of the attic to show us the droppings, nest etc.. and explained what methods he would use to rid us of the mice that were inhabiting the space. He was very thorough, walking around the exterior of the house to identify where the mice were getting in and advising us on how and when to block the entrance (after the mice left). The mice are gone and we will definitely call Animal Control Specialists again should we ever have problems with unwanted wildlife again! Definitely recommend this company!
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"Thank you for the great review! It was a pleasure working with you, and I'm glad we were able to solve your problem quickly. Happy New Year and may your 2018 be blesssed! Rob"
Dipak N.
Oct 2017
Went quite well however not all gophers were removed at the first attempt. We were advised of this when we hired them A few gophers returned and we had to call them back for a second time. They did charge a lower amount for 2nd call. This is the only reason I gave them a B rating on price, however they were honest about expectations
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"Thank you for the great review! And yes, when dealing with chipmunks it can be tricky to eliminate the entire population in an outdoor setting, but I appreciate your loyalty and we look forward to serving you again if more should move in. But hopefully not! :)"
Thomas E.
Oct 2017
Rob was relentless in getting them all out although it was definitely not an easy job!! He figured out they had more than one point of entry but was able to find each one and finish the job by sealing everything up. They were incredibly humane to the flying squirrels and truly a joy to have over each day. I think it's a rarity when you can look forward to having pest control guys visit! :-) Both Rob and Matt are amazing guys and I will definitely be calling them again if we have other nuisance animals!! If you want honest, hard working, caring guys, look no further!
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"Thank you so much for the wonderful review. We will be missing our daily visits and watching the dog wait for the squirrels to come down off the roof! Haha It was a pleasure working with you!"
James S.
Oct 2017
Rob was excellent from start to finish. I just missed him by minutes one day and he turned around and came back to talk with me about the issue and to show me what he had done. He walked through the basement with me to show possible entries as well as areas outside to watch. He was patient and took his time and i never felt like he was rushing. Excellent all around. He also sent many pictures showing me the areas of concern
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"Thank you for taking the time to do a review. It was a pleasure working with you!"
Bob S.
Sep 2017
Rob came out and performed a thorough assessment. He climbed the roof, and checked out the attic for animal access points. He provided me with useful feedback and possible mitigations. However, he did advise me that due to the proximity of his business to my location (almost an hour away), he did not feel he could provide me with the level of service that was required to eradicate the problem. He then went the extra mile and located a provider closer to my home and set me up to have the necessary service performed. He charged me nothing. All I can say is that if you are looking for a reliable, honest, and knowledgeable person who can fix your varmint problem he is the man to call, hands down.
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"Thank you very much for the great review [Member Name Removed]. I really wish you lived closer, but I'm sure Ron will take good care of you. If it wasn't for those "Red Devils" (AKA Red squirrels/Pine squirrels) we probably could have made it work. But they always end up taking a lot of trips. Keep me posted how it goes!"
LaQuita T.
Sep 2017
They were conscientious and saved us money by suggesting they "treat" only our chimney because the bats appeared to be confined to that area. It would have been easy for them to sell us a more expensive treatment, but they chose to pursue this option. Rob said if we found bats in any other areas, they could come back then. We had a couple questions, which Rob answered in a timely and efficient manner.
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"Thank you very much for the wonderful review! It was great meeting and working with you both. Enjoy this beautiful weather!"
Karen C.
Jul 2017
After a number of years of having squirrels getting into our garage and nesting there for the winter, we’d had enough. (There’s nothing like hearing squirrels scratching on the outside of your bedroom wall when you’re trying to go to sleep! They also were incredibly destructive, shredding boxes and chewing on several things in the garage, including the phone wiring.) We’d had another company come out before that caught some squirrels, but they didn’t get them all and never repaired the holes where the squirrels were getting in. Every time we patched the holes, new squirrels would come along later and chew new holes. So in November 2016, with winter approaching, we knew we needed to do something to keep from having another winter squirrel invasion. After reading the reviews on Angie’s List, I decided to call Rob Winters of Animal Control Specialists. We didn’t want to harm the squirrels; we just wanted them relocated, and wanted them to stay out! Rob definitely knows what he’s doing — he can design a cage set-up for wherever the critters are getting in, and makes sure to set it up so that the squirrels have to go into the cage to go anywhere. This year we not only had them on the garage side of the house, but they were getting under the eaves on the opposite side as well, and — after some trial and error on the one side — Rob was able to capture a total of five squirrels that had already set up housekeeping for the upcoming winter season. Rob came out promptly whenever I called to say there was something in the trap, and treated them kindly, taking them far away where they could live in the woods (and not in my house!). Once we ascertained that all of the squirrels had been removed, he patched up the holes that they had created (as well as patching a couple areas where birds had nested in the spring) and made sure that there was nowhere else for them to get in. While eventually we’ll want to do a more permanent rebuilding of the areas that were damaged, the patches that were done blend in well and were very effective at preventing any additional visitors. We managed to get through the winter and the spring without any more unwanted guests! I purposely waited to write this review until I knew that it really worked. I was very happy with the work that Rob did for us, and would definitely hire him again if needed. (Though I’m hoping we don’t have to!) If you want someone who can effectively and humanely remove critters from your home, and who sticks with the job until it’s finished, he can definitely do the job for you. I would highly recommend him!
Eve D.
Jan 2017
I called Rob and he came out right away to scout the situation and talk with me about possible solutions. He was thorough and professional and offered options in a variety of price ranges for me to choose from. Turns out I had a large female groundhog residing under there and they can be quite elusive. In the process of catching her, Rob also caught a couple of skunks. Am extremely happy with how everything worked out. The house backs up against a nature preserve/park so I have enough wild-life to keep Rob busy probably once or twice a year. I plan to call him in the Spring to figure out a way to prevent animals from accessing the cozy area under the deck.
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"Thank you so much for the wonderful review [Member Name Removed]! It was a pleasure meeting and working with you and I look forward to any future endeavors:) Rob"
Thomas S.
Nov 2016
Excellent, arrived promptly, professional, infromative. Have recommended them to our neighbors.
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"[Member Name Removed], Thank you for the review! I haven't been getting notification of new reviews so I apologize that I'm just seeing this. Thank you for your business! Rob"
Diana W.
Oct 2016
Had a critter in the walls for a few weeks that finally made an appearance in my kitchen one morning! Called Rob and he was able to come out same day and find the rat nesting in my kitchen linens. Thanks so much for prompt service and solving the problem. Would definitely recommend his services.
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"Thank you for your review [Member Name Removed]! I apologize I'm just now seeing this. It was a pleasure working with you, I'm glad we were able to quickly solve the problem! Rob"
Mary S.
Feb 2016
We discovered that a squirrel had fallen down the chimney and invaded our parlor area at 8 in the morning Sunday morning. We began calling everyone listed on Angie's list who looked like they might be able to help. Most were not available when we called. Rob returned our call and arranged to get to our house within an hour and a half of our original call to him. He had a heat seeking device to locate the squirrel which he captured, without causing further damage to our house, within about 15 minutes of his arrival.
He took the squirrel with him for release near his home. Rob was courteous and helpful. Most of all, he came quickly. His price seemed to be equivalent to that of other people who later responded. We would certainly use him again, but we hope we won't have to.
He took the squirrel with him for release near his home. Rob was courteous and helpful. Most of all, he came quickly. His price seemed to be equivalent to that of other people who later responded. We would certainly use him again, but we hope we won't have to.
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"Thank you so much for the wonderful review! It was a pleasure meeting and working for you guys! Sincerely, Rob Winters"
Jeff R.
Nov 2015
unknown
William C.
Oct 2015
unknown
Chris S.
Aug 2015
Very polite, professional, and informative aheadof time and at the time of service.
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"Thank you very much [removed member's name] it was a pleasure working with you!"
George B.
May 2015
Rob did an excellent job. He is very professional, courteous, and treats your home as thought it was his home. He pointed out a hornet nest in a bath fan exit and removed it so they would not come back and use it again. He responds quickly to the initial job and to a request for follow up because I saw what i thought was fresh bat guano. It turned to be old droppings that had fallen from above. He repeatedly told me for what it cost me he was more than willing to do follow-up.. He gives a two year guarantee on his work.
Definitely recommend him and would use again.
Definitely recommend him and would use again.
John B.
Feb 2015
Rob did an excellent job in helping us deal with our "squirrel issue." More than responsive, he was proactive and showed concern for all aspects of our problem. He went way beyond expectations to serve our unique situation, was easy to work with, and in general was a pleasure to get to know. I have every confidence that the animals he removed were treated humanely as well. I recommend him without hesitation. I can't say I look forward to working with him again (I hope we don't have any more problems!), but if I have to have another animal removed, I have no doubt whom I'll call.
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"[removed memebr name], Thank you very much for the wonderful review. It was a pleasure working with you! I hope you never need me again either, but if you do I'll be ready to go:)"
Eric S.
Aug 2014
The bird vent screens are guaranteed for 5 years, and based on their construction this guarantee looks good. Also, the yellow jackets are gone! The yellow jacket activity stopped within about 4 hours after the nest opening was treated - all quiet now! The yellow jacket extermination is a new service offered by Animal Control Specialists. They did a great job with both problems. It is also very convenient to call one business who can handle both types of problems. Rob and his Dad worked together to make timely progress on each problem. They were prompt, courteous and professional. Highly recommended.
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"Thank you for the wonderful review! I'm glad to hear that the yellow jackets are gone. It was a pleasure to meet you & work with you. Hopefully you won't need me in the future, but if you do I'll be here ready to help! Rob"
David S.
Jul 2014
Rob returned call within 1/2 hour he was here on time and is very professional and polite. He explained what he could do and how the treatments would work.
The plan is follow-up in a week or sooner if needed. The follow-up is included in the treatment.
The plan is follow-up in a week or sooner if needed. The follow-up is included in the treatment.
Marie G.
May 2014
I called Rob because my dog kept nosing around an area of my deck, and after flashing a light through the decking, saw an opossum looking back. Rob responded to my voicemail in about 15 minutes, and made arrangements to come to my home within the hour. Rob appeared promptly, and after assessing the situation, found there were also baby possums along with the mother. He suggested taking up a board from the deck (about 20 feet long), and directly removing the animals saying that if he set traps, the Mother might be trapped, but we'd have no idea if any babies were left behind. Rob worked for a good long time to get the deck board removed without damaging it, and finally pulled the planking back so he could reach the opossums. He quickly snared the animal and put it in a trap, finding 4 baby possums in addition. He also pulled out a huge amount of nesting material, and checked for any more baby opossums that might be left behind. Finding none, Rob replaced the decking, nailing it down once again, with no harm done to the deck. It looked good as new when he was finished. Overall, he provided excellent service. He was knowledgeable of animals, and extremely informative. Rob has a great personality; friendly, easy to work with, and was very professional. I would highly recommend him if you have a critter problem. His service was impeccable!
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"Thank you for the wonderful review [member name removed]! It was a pleasure working with you as well & I'm glad we were able to get your problem handled promptly! My son says thank you for the tip you gave him & the ice cream he got with it. That was very kind of you & it really made him proud that he helped & earned money:)"
Sharon F.
Apr 2014
Rob is great. Not only did he find and remove the squirrel quickly, but he offered to come back another time if there was any doubt on our part that other squirrels might be in the house. He is very professional, kind, and understanding. I would trust him 100% and call again to escort any unwanted critters out!
CHRISTINE E.
Feb 2014
Response from Varment Guard Wildlife Services
"Thank you [Member name removed]! It was a pleasure working with your mother. She is a very kind & educated lady. I will definitely remember to ask future customers to review me on Angie's List! Sincerely, Rob Winters 330-608-1718"
Licensing
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FAQ
Varment Guard Wildlife Services is currently rated 5.0 overall out of 5.
Varment Guard Wildlife Services accepts the following forms of payment: CreditCard
No, Varment Guard Wildlife Services does not offer free project estimates.
No, Varment Guard Wildlife Services does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
No, Varment Guard Wildlife Services does not offer a senior discount.
Yes, Varment Guard Wildlife Services offers emergency services.
No, Varment Guard Wildlife Services does not offer warranties.