Tag Archives: spring animal control

The Case for Calling Pest Control on Chipmunks

Though chipmunks appear to be small, furry critters incapable of serious destruction, they can actually cause quite a big mess around your home. Chipmunks like to dig and live in burrows underground. This means they especially like porches, gutters, decks, retention walls, and safe spaces near your home. They reproduce quickly may even settle into your basement or crawl space. The most common complaints about chipmunks are damage to flowers bulbs, eating bird food and pet food, ruining grass and gardens, and creating an environment that attracts mice and rats.

Disease

Chipmunks are not dangerous in the sense that they will not attack humans or other animals, but they do carry standard rodent diseases like plague and fleas, as well as ticks, lice, and mites. Dead or sick chipmunks should be avoided and not touched to prevent any spread of disease.

Damage

Chipmunks like to eat fruits and nuts and will overrun outdoor bird feeders, as they have an easy supply of seed. They also may dig up and eat spring flower bulbs and burrow in flowerbeds, costing the homeowner money and time to fix the damage done to the garden.

They can dig as far as three feet below the ground, with the entrance extending as much as 20 feet in length. Though the chipmunks themselves will not cause damage to your home, the burrows can have a significant impact on your home’s foundation.

Though chipmunks do more damage outside than inside, occasionally they sneak in the lower levels of homes while burrowing. Rodents like to chew wires and chipmunks are no exceptions. Open wires can increase chances of house fires, especially within walls.

Signs of Chipmunks

– Holes in lawn
– Piles of seeds around lawn and under bird feeders
– Flowering bulbs uprooted and eaten
– Tracks
– Damage to foundation from burrows
– Chewed wires
– Fecal matter in home

Call Pest Control

If chipmunks are causing damage to your home or wreaking havoc on your yard, immediately call pest control to have them safely removed. There is no approved poison for them and they should be left alone until pest control can remove them. In addition, make sure to seal points of entry to the home if they’ve been inside. Chipmunks belong outdoors and away from the home, for your home’s safety and their own safety.

Preventing Wildlife From Entering Your Home

Raccoon Removal There is nothing more frustrating than trying to remove an animal once it has decided to take up residence in your home! Whether they burrow under the foundation, or invade the attic, it can be both a time consuming and expensive process to evict them. Remember the old saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”? Well, that is very fitting! The following are some tips on preventing animals for making your home their home.

Window Wells

Window wells are an easy spot for an opportunistic animal to sneak into your home. To animal-proof your window wells, consider putting a plastic or metal grate over them.

Basement And Foundation

Do a check of your perimeter specifically looking for any holes near the foundation. An animal only needs a small space to gain entry. If you are concerned that an animal has already taken up residence, ball up some newspaper and place it in and around the hole (unless you suspect birds or bats because this can trap them). If you have animals, the paper will be disturbed. Once you determine no animals have already moved in, move forward with sealing any holes you may have found. These holes can be plugged with materials such as wood, aluminum, sheet metal, mesh hardware cloth, or any other durable item. Small and hard to reach holes can be sealed with wadded up wire or even copper or stainless steel scouring pads.

Decks And Porches

Animals like raccoons and skunks have been known to burrow and build dens under decks and porches. An outdoor motion-activated flood light can help spook away animals who are interested in moving in. If you have a deck or porch that is built within 2 feet of the ground, the University of Illinois suggests that you dig a trench at least 10 inches deep around the perimeter. Once you have your trench, attach 1″ × 1″ welded wire or 1/2″ × 1/2″ mesh hardware cloth “from the top of the outside joists to the bottom of the trench.” You should allow for 6 to 8 inches of wire at the bottom and “bend it out at a 90o angle.” Then, fill the trench with rocks or soil and cover it with something like a lattice to make it look it nice.

Roof

Keep an eye out for loose shingles. Also look for any areas that may have water damage since that softens the material and it is easier for animals to dig a hole through it. You should check your roof twice a year and if you see any damage fix it immediately (after ensuring no animals have moved in).

Attic Vents And Soffits

You can prevent animals from coming in through attic vents and soffits by covering the inside opening with 1/2″ × 1/2″ mesh hardware cloth.

Attic Fan Opening

Follow the same steps used for attic vents and soffits. You can make it even more secure by nailing 1″ × 2″ pieces of wood on the edges of the mesh hardware cloth to keep it in place.

Fireplace Or Furnace Chimney

Install a commercial chimney cap or cover with mesh hardware cloth. In order to keep sticks from accumulating, be sure to leave a peak over the flue.

Do not try to remove raccoons on your own. Without realizing it, you could endanger yourself or the animal, or even be in violation of a law or ordinance. Call a trained professional like Attic Solutions who are familiar with humane and effective wildlife removal procedures.

Bat Species in Illinois

Little Brown Bat You may not realize it, but there are actually 12 different species of bats that regularly occur in Illinois. Don’t be alarmed; all of the bats who call Illinois home are insectivorous, which means they only hunt insects. Bats are small, winged mammals, who usually weigh no more than a few ounces. Their heads and bodies are covered with fur and their wings have hairless membranes connecting them to the hind legs, body, and forelimbs. Bats are also quite intelligent creatures. Some of the bat species inherent to Illinois include:

Little Brown Bat
Southeastern Bat
Indiana Bat
Eastern Pipistrelle
Northern Long-Eared Myotis
Gray Bat
Silver-Haired Bat
Eastern Red Bat
Hoary Bat
Rafinesque’s Big-Eared Bat
Evening Bat
Big Brown Bat

Habitat

Most bats are either colonial or solitary. Colonial bats live together in colonies and solitary bats live as is suggested: alone. Most bats in Illinois roost in trees, caves, mines, rock crevices, and sometimes even under bridges when a cave isn’t available. There are four species of bats in Illinois that have been known to take up residence in buildings or dwellings, including residential homes. Since there is not an abundance of insects during the fall and winter, most bats find a warmer climate or hibernate.

Reproduction

Bats are mammals so their babies (called pups) are born alive (not hatched as some may think) and then nursed. Most females give birth to one or two pups per year, typically in May or June. Bats do not build nests. When pups are born, they climb onto their mothers and hold on to them, except for when the mother has to hunt. Pups can usually fly on their own at about three weeks of age.

Droppings

Bat droppings, called guano, can be easy to spot if you know what you are looking for. To the untrained eye, bat and mouse droppings may look similar, but they really aren’t. Guano is shiny and brittle due to the consumption of insects. You will usually find piles of guano underneath bat roosts.

Little Brown Bat Population Decline

Recently, there has been a drastic decline in the population of the little brown bat. In fact, the decline is so severe, the little brown bat may soon find itself on the federal endangered species list. The decline in population is due to an affliction known as White Noise Syndrome. White Noise Syndrome, a white fungus that grows in the nose of and on the muzzle, tail, and wings of a bat during hibernation, causes the bats to lose their fat reserves, which they desperately need during winter hibernation. Essentially, White Noise Syndrome causes bats to starve to death. The cause of White Noise Syndrome is still unknown, and scientists and wildlife experts at both the state and federal level are continuing to monitor the situation. When it comes to bat removal it is very important to contact the right animal removal to safely and humanely remove bats.

What To Look For In An Animal Removal Company

Opossum Removal Discovering you have an uninvited animal living in your home can be both frightening and stressful. Wild animals can cause damages that are costly to fix and may even pose a health hazard. Not only can removing wild animals from your home be dangerous, there may also be laws and ordinances you aren’t even aware of governing the procedure. If you find yourself needing to hire a professional animal removal company, there are several factors you should take in to consideration.

Methodology

How does the animal removal company actually remove the animals? Attic Solutions believes in the providing the most humane animal removal service possible. Attic Solutions is also well versed in state wildlife law as well as local ordinances pertaining to animals and animal removal.

Services

Some animal removal companies offer full services, like Attic Solutions, while others only do the basics. Attic Solutions is committed to not only catching the wild critter, but also repairing any damage they may have caused and repairing their point of entry. Attic Solutions believes it is important to offer a full range of services and make sure your home is fully restored.

Sometimes, you may not have a live animal causing the problems. If you are dealing with a carcass, many times local Animal Control agencies will not perform removal. A private animal removal company like Attic Solutions can do the dirty work for you.

What Animals?

You will want to look at what types of animals a company. Is it primarily pest control? Rodents only? Or, is it a full-service company that can assist with you a variety of creatures? Attic Solutions has trained animal-removal professionals who are qualified to assist with a wide range of animals.

Cost

Pricing is an important factor as well when choosing an animal removal company. Find out if the company charges by the hour, by the job, or even by the number of animals. Many times you might think you only have one little critter living rent-free in your home when really that one little critter has his entire extended family moved in!

Always err on the side of caution and do not try to wild animals on your own. Without realizing it, you could endanger yourself or the animal, or even be in violation of a law or ordinance. Call a trained professional like Attic Solutions who are familiar with humane and effective animal removal procedures.

Inspecting Your Home for Animals this Spring

The winter weather has finally left the Chicago area and the spring season is the ideal time for homeowners to do a thorough inspection of their homes for animals or signs of an intrusion. This winter was extremely cold with record snowfall so it is possible that a squirrel, raccoon, or other animal may have found shelter in your home to escape the conditions. By thoroughly inspecting your home inside and out, you can locate potential entry points and discover areas where animals may have been.

Inspect from the top down

The best way to inspect your home for animal intruders is to start in the attic and work down towards the basement. When performing this inspection, make sure to take your safety into account as intruding animals may bite and scratch which could spread infection or disease. It is recommended to wear protective clothing, work gloves, and steel toe boots and it may be wise to consider wearing a respirator mask and safety glasses as well. Make sure to carry a bat or something to defend yourself with in case an animal is still hidden in your home and attacks you.

Areas in your home to keep an eye out for

As you work your way through the house, inspect the floors, walls, and ceilings for small openings that may allow animals to enter from the outside. These openings should be sealed to help prevent animals from entering in the future. When you reach the basement, use plenty of light during the inspection because working in the dark may startle groups of squirrels or skunks and create a difficult situation.

Finish with an exterior inspection

Your home inspection should end with a thorough inspection of the exterior of the house to locate and repair possible entry points. Make sure to carefully inspect the gutters, roof, foundation, and siding for any openings as well as vents, air ducts, and windows. As you discover potential entry points, look for any signs to suggest that an animal has been there.

This past winter had some of the harshest weather conditions the Chicago area has seen which makes it important to inspect your home for animals that may have intruded to escape the winter weather. Follow these tips as you work your way through your home and if you do not feel comfortable searching through certain areas of the house, contact an animal control professional such as Attic Solutions for assistance. It is best to locate and remove any intruding animals now before they start breeding.

As soon as you suspect you may have a animal infestation, call us immediately at 847-464-1861 for removal. We are trained professionals and equipped to deal with animal exclusion and removal, including humane live animal trapping (never poisons!). We will remove the animal and fix any property damage they may have caused. Click to read more about animal removal services from Attic Solutions.

Nesting Season for Wildlife

It has been a long winter in the Chicago area but the spring is finally here and the wildlife that inhabits the area will become more active as the temperature starts to rise. The majority of the wildlife in the Chicago area has been dormant throughout the winter and by the spring; they are looking to build nests which may cause some of them to invade your home or yard, digging up your lawn or destroying your property in the process. However, there are some preventative actions you can take to prevent animals such as rodents, birds, and others from nesting on your property. If you discover an infestation that has already taken place in your yard or home, contact Attic Solutions to have the animal removed.

Spring Animal Nesting

The main priority of most animals after they become active in the spring is to build a nest for themselves and their offspring. There are several locations in which animals may nest such as trees and shrubs as well as places where they become a nuisance such as chimneys, attics, or basements. These animals may also cause problems as they collect materials to build their nests by digging up plants in the yard or destroying insulation and drywall if they are nesting within your home. While it is natural and unavoidable for wildlife to nest in the spring season, taking certain preventative actions can reduce the possibility of an animal nesting in your home or property.

Nesting Prevention

Taking the right preventative actions is crucial when dealing with wildlife because it could save you from the property damage and headaches that an animal infestation causes. One such preventative action that will help keep animals out of your home is trimming your shrubs, bushes, and trees so that they are away from your house. Certain animals such as squirrels and birds may build their nests in trees and bushes and if the branches are close to or touching the house, it will be much easier for an animal to enter your home. Another important preventative action to take is to inspect your home for possible entry points and fixing them so that animals do not have a way in. This includes checking for torn screens, cracks, holes, or any other spaces that could act as potential entry points. It is also beneficial to keep attics, garages, and basements free of clutter so that animals do not have extra places to hide.

As the wildlife activity increases in these first few weeks of spring, take some time to inspect your yard and your home and take these preventative actions if necessary to make sure that animals stay out of your home. Most animals will be nesting in the coming weeks and even if you take the necessary preventative actions it is still possible for an infestation to occur in your home or lawn. By following these preventative actions and keeping a constant watch for potential intruders, you can avoid animal intrusions this spring.