Critter Control in Birmingham

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

Live trapping is one of the most efficient and humane 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. If it is kit-raising season, Critter Control works in tandem with a wildlife rehabilitator if the babies cannot be kept together with their mother. Direct capture is not commonly used because raccoons are animals that can carry and transmit rabies. If we must trap, we place traps strategically to safely catch the raccoons and check the traps frequently, based on state laws.

Critter Control provides a wide range of repair and restoration services. Raccoon exclusions provide long-term raccoon pest control by blocking their entrance back into your house. We repair raccoon damage like broken screens on vents and chimneys, and broken boards on decks and porches. We also apply cleaning agents and ectoparasite treatments on areas inhabited by raccoons.

Wildlife specialists look for signs such as gnaw marks 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. Squirrels often chew through electrical wires, which creates a fire hazard that threatens the safety of your family and your home.

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.

After squirrel removal, we seal all current and potential entry points to keep squirrels from coming back. We also offer clean-up services to remove debris, food, feces, and soiled insulation.

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.

A Critter Control wildlife specialist will create a professional rat 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.

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. Rodent bait stations control the rodent population outside your house to keep rats and mice out.

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).

The most effective bat removal near you is 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.

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.

Opossums can be found inside attics and basements or outside under decks and sheds. Common signs include unique paw prints and feces. Opossums are docile and usually easy to spot.

Opossums can be lured into cages for live capture. If it is maternity season, we follow all guidelines for removing mother and newborn opossums. We will seal entryways into the building to prevent opossums from reentering in the future. Opossums can be kept from getting under sheds and decks by installing fencing around the bottom edges and burying the fence underground.

Broken screens on chimney and roof vents are replaced with sturdier materials, and we properly seal all entry points, including crawlspaces. We clean and deodorize areas of opossum activity. Exclusion may include eliminating sources that attract bugs, like nighttime lighting, stagnant water, and livestock poop.

The clearest sign of a chipmunk infestation is the damage in your yard. Chipmunks create extensive burrows. Their holes are only 2-3 inches wide but can stretch 20 to 30 feet. Other signs of chipmunks include dug planted seeds, gnaw marks on tree bark, and destroyed flowers, stems, fruits, and vegetables. Chipmunks rarely enter homes so the signs of a chipmunk infestation will be in your yard. While it is unlikely a chipmunk is in your house, we will still look for any potential entry points.

One of the most effective ways to prevent chipmunk damage is to create exclusions around your home. Buried hardware cloth is a useful option to keep chipmunks out of gardens and flower beds. Additionally, you can use wire mesh to prevent chipmunks from entering your home. The wire mesh should be secured to any openings that a chipmunk may be able to squeeze through.

Chipmunk trapping typically takes 10-14 days; however, this may vary depending on the extent of the chipmunk intrusion. Cage traps with fine mesh can be effective with peanut butter as the bait. Additionally, you may use fruit, nuts, or seed to bait the trap. Live traps and snare traps can be an effective tools to remove chipmunks from your property.

Filling a chipmunk hole before a control strategy is not effective. Chipmunks will be able to dig the hole again.
Chipmunks can cause structural damage by burrowing under patios, stairs, retention walls, and foundations. If a chipmunk enters a home, it typically uses a downspout or gutter. Critter Control will install gutter guards to prevent that from happening.