Critter Control of North Georgia

Get them out. Keep them out.®

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When most people think about the state of Georgia, Atlanta or Savannah usually comes to mind. But North Georgia is filled with beautiful hills and mountains, lakes and waterfalls, thick forests, and much wildlife.

Residential and commercial expansion, as well as the influx of tourists to this small region, encroaches on wildlife habitats, and the roads built to accommodate the growth change the wandering and grazing habits of wildlife. With waning habitats, wildlife looks to our urban and suburban habitats for the food, water, and shelter they need to survive, making it more likely they will take up residence in homes and businesses.

Critter Control is here for you every step of the way in the wildlife removal process. 

Critter Control Wildlife Removal Services

Tourism sustains much of the local economy of this region as it offers residents and tourists the opportunity for spectacular hiking, mountain biking, camping, and more. In addition, as Chattanooga grows, so do the small cities and towns that comprise its suburbs.

From inspection to removal—and even exclusion and repair—we have the services you need to get rid of raccoons, rodents, and other nuisances fast. First, we identify the animal on the property, then use humane methods to remove the animal and secure weak points where more could enter. If damage has been done, we can make those repairs for a complete restoration. Contact a Critter Control office near you today.

STEP 1

Wildlife Inspection

During the inspection we try to ascertain how many animals there are, where they are located, and how they got in. Based on what you have seen, heard and smelled, we start the inspection where you have noticed signs of animal activity. Evidence of animals inside your home include nests, dens, feces, and animal tracks. We investigate the exterior of your home looking for possible entry points, any evidence of animal damage, tracks, fur, animal waste, or rub marks.

STEP 2

Removal

We use several methods to humanely remove the animal from your home. Depending on the species, the number of animals, and the condition of your property, we develop a custom wildlife removal plan. Humane wildlife removal strategies include animal traps, one-way doors, and repellents. Once we guarantee all animals are gone, we implement exclusion techniques. Exclusion techniques provide a safe, long-term solution to nuisance wildlife in your home. We create barriers to prevent animals from getting to resources. We only apply exclusions once we are sure all animals are gone from your home.

STEP 3

Exclusion and Repair

Wildlife will damage your home. Exclusion techniques repair any damage the animal causes getting into your home. Inside your home, animals build nests and dens out of readily available material. They will create runs through the insulation. Rodents will gnaw on anything including electrical wires and pipes. Animals can also spread diseases. We apply sanitation agents to clean up feces and urine. Mammals can host pests like fleas, ticks, and mites. Ectoparasite treatments exterminate those pests so you don’t become their next host.

Raccoon Removal

Raccoons are plentiful in the Chattanooga metro area. These clever and dexterous animals are opportunists and have learned that living in proximity to people means easy access to food, water, and shelter.

The summers in this region are quite hot and humid, so they may not want to invade an attic in summer. Raccoons breed in winter, so that is the most likely time for them to look for a cozy spot to give birth and raise their kits.
Most often found in an attic, they will tear insulation, gnaw at wood and wires, and create a racket at night. Unfortunately, they also carry parasites and spread disease. A wildlife specialist is needed to humanely live-trap them because they are aggressive, especially when their young are present.

Inspection

Inspection

During the inspection, we determine the severity of the raccoon infestation. We look for physical evidence like footprints in or around the home, stains from raccoon feces and urine. On the exterior of the house, we look for damage like scratches on boards, broken vents and screens, ripped apart shingles, destroyed soffits, and every possible entry point.

Trapping and Removal

Raccoon Trapping

Live trapping is one of the most efficient ways to get rid of a raccoon. Depending on the situation, a one-way door or excluder valve can be installed. An excluder valve works by allowing the raccoon to leave but blocks its reentry. The choice of device is largely dependent on the season and location of the raccoons on your property. Direct capture is not commonly used because raccoons are a rabies vector species. If we must trap, we place traps strategically to safely catch the raccoons and we check traps frequently, based on state laws.

Repairs

Repairs

We provide a wide range of repair and restoration services. We can repair raccoon damage like broken screens on vents and chimneys and broken boards on decks and porches. It is essential to apply cleaning agents and ectoparasite treatments on areas inhabited by raccoons.

Squirrel Removal

While squirrels are thought of as cute and energetic as they scamper around, we don’t really see them for the rodents they truly are. They have many of the same characteristics as rats or mice in that their front teeth continue to grow throughout their lives. They gnaw to keep them at a manageable length. Their main difference is that, unlike rats or mice, they are not nocturnal.

Since many homes or businesses have trees adjacent to them, it’s an easy leap for squirrels to get onto a roof and gnaw their way through a weak spot and into an attic or soffit to create a nest. Their presence within your home can cause major damage to insulation, wooden beams, and wiring. If you hear noises above you during the daytime, chances are you need squirrel removal.

Inspection

Inspection

Wildlife specialists look for signs such as chewing on, in, or around your home, small openings leading to the attic or the crawl space, droppings, and debris like nuts or nesting material. Beams, wires, pipes, and insulation may all show signs of damage from squirrels.

Trapping and Removal

Squirrel Trapping

Live trapping or one-way doors are the most effective and humane ways to get rid of squirrels. One-way doors should never be used during birthing seasons (Spring & Fall), so our specialists will decide which is the best tool for the job. If we have to trap, we place traps strategically to safely catch the squirrels and check those according to state laws.

Repairs

Repairs

We can restore your home or office by squirrel proofing all entry points after we have removed the offenders. We can also clean-up the nesting sites and remove any debris, food, feces and soiled insulation.

Rodent Removal

Rodents have lived among humans for thousands of years. Cities have always had a rodent issue, and Chattanooga and its surrounding towns are no exception. Rats and mice need an opening the size of only a quarter or dime to squeeze into basements, garages, crawlspaces, and sheds.

Because they are nocturnal, these pests can live within our homes without notice for a while. Once inside, they contaminate food and gnaw on beams, walls, and electrical wires. They are prolific breeders, so if you hear noises in your attic or basement or see gnaw marks or smudge marks, a professional should be called in to get rid of these unhealthy creatures. Rat and mouse removal can take anywhere from seven to ten days before they are completely eradicated.

Inspection

Inspection

During a rodent inspection, we thoroughly inspect your attic and provide a complete exterior home inspection. The most common signs of rodent activity are gnaw marks, feces, rub marks, nesting material, runs in insulation material, and small entry points.

Trapping and Removal

Rodent Trapping

A Critter Control wildlife specialist will create a strategic trapping plan to remove the rodents found in your home. Critter Control specialists may use snap traps and live traps to capture and remove mice and rats. Rodent trapping can usually takes between five to fourteen days.

Repairs

Repairs

The best way to reduce the possibility of letting unwanted rodents into homes is to seal possible entrances. Exclusion methods include caulking cracks in foundations, capping chimneys, and installing mesh covers over vents and crawl space entrances. We also strongly recommend a maintenance service. Rodents have front teeth that continuously grow, which means they can gnaw a new way back into your home.

Bat Removal

Georgia and Tennessee are home to 15 bat species, all of which are insectivores. All bats are federally protected, but the gray bat, which is local to Chattanooga and can be seen flying out of the nearby Nickajack Cave, is endangered.

Though bats are not aggressive, you do not want them roosting in your attic or chimney. They carry a variety of parasites, including fleas, ticks, and mites. In addition, the mold that grows in their guano, when inhaled, can transmit the fungal infection Histoplasmosis. They do not create structural damage, but you do want to get rid of bats within your home or commercial building. The best time to do this is in the fall, when their pups are old enough to feed on their own. A wildlife specialist can then install a one-way door or bat valve that lets the bats out but doesn’t allow them to re-enter.

Inspection

Inspection

We perform a full interior and exterior inspection and search for signs such as rub marks, guano, a strong scent of ammonia, and small openings. The most common sign is the accumulation of guano (feces).

Trapping and Removal

Bat Removal

The most effective and humane way to remove bats is by utilizing a bat valve in conjunction with a full home exclusion. A bat valve allows for bats to exit your home but not re-enter. We follow all local ordinances for humane bat removal. We will never abandon flightless pups in your attic.

Repairs

Repairs

After removing the bat valves, we seal the entrance hole(s) so bats can no longer enter your home. If there is substantial guano in your attic, you should consider taking advantage of our attic remediation services to remove the soiled insulation and replace it.

Skunk Control

Skunks are a common pest in greater Chattanooga. These animals are known for foraging for food in trash bins and pet food bowls. They’re also profound and efficient diggers, and can mutilate an entire yard in a single night searching for grubs. They’re distinctive black and white fur, and their pungent odor that can linger for days, are unmistakeable. If you happen to cross paths with a skunk, do not try to scare it away. Please also remember that skunks can carry rabies; therefore, it’s best to let a professional handle removal for you.

Inspection

Inspection

In addition to noting any pungent odors that signal the presence of a skunk, we will inspect the condition of your landscaping, as skunks are known for tearing-up lawns and shredding grass while hunting for grubs and insects. We will also inspect the perimeter of your building’s foundations and under decks, to locate burrows.

Trapping and Removal

Trapping and Removal

Never try to remove a skunk from your property yourself. Getting sprayed is a very unpleasant experience. Furthermore, these animals may carry diseases that can spread to humans and pets, such as rabies. Our specialists will use live traps to capture and remove skunks for you, or they’ll use a one-way exclusion device to evict skunks from their harborage areas. The most effective ways to control a skunk problem is exclusion and habitat modification.

Repairs

Skunk Control

The most effective ways to control a skunk problem is exclusion and habitat modification. Methods like sealing foundation gaps, replacing and screening broken foundation vents and installing hardware cloth (rat walls) around unprotected sheds and decks are the most effective and permanent ways to keep skunks out.
We recommend keeping pet food inside and securing any trash bins.

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