Critter Control of Franklin

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Finding evidence of pests or nuisance wildlife is alarming. Pests and animals disrupt your life, damage your home, and introduce health risks to you and your family.

There are over 300 vertebrate animals in the Nantahala. They become a nuisance when they damage property or pose a threat to people. Critters like raccoons, squirrels, rats, mice, opossums, bats, and birds are some of the most common household nuisance wildlife and pests. Typical signs of pests and nuisance wildlife include unusual noises, strange odors, damage to the exterior of buildings, and paw prints or tracks.

For over forty years, we have been trusted to solve nuisance wildlife infestations, restore and repair their property, and protect their home from future infestations.

Critter Control Wildlife Removal Process

Wildlife in the Nantahala National Forest can cause various problems for home and business owners. Wild animals such as raccoons, squirrels, bats, rats, mice, and opossums cause a nuisance, spread diseases, and damage your property. Critter Control is here for you every step of the way in the wildlife removal process. From inspection to removal—and even exclusion and repair—we have the services you need to get rid of nuisance wildlife and pests.

STEP 1

Wildlife Inspection

Our inspection covers your entire home. We find all current and potential entry points, identify the target pests, and flag the damage done inside your home.   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

Animal Trapping & 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

Exclusion techniques provide chemical-free, long lasting pest control that works immediately. By blocking current and potential animal entry points, we secure your home from future infestations.

Nuisance wildlife will damage 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 in Franklin, NC

Raccoons are well-adapted to live around people. They can find food, water, and shelter on your property. They cause the biggest nuisance during breeding season. In early spring, female raccoons are looking for safe places to give birth and raise their young. Spaces like your attic provide an ideal raccoon den.

If you see a raccoon on your property or see signs of raccoon activity, it’s time to start thinking about how to remove it. Raccoons can damage your home and carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Removing raccoons yourself is not the answer, as it can be challenging and potentially dangerous.

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

Cage traps are 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

Raccoon Control

We provide a wide range of repair and restoration services.

Exclusion repairs keeps raccoons out. We can seal  raccoon entry points like broken screens on vents, uncapped chimneys, or destroyed soffits.

It is essential to apply cleaning agents and ectoparasite treatments on areas inhabited by raccoons.

Pest Control for Rats and Mice

Rodents like rats and mice are everywhere. They can squeeze their bodies through almost anything, no matter how small. The house mouse, roof rat, and Norway rat are some of most common (and destructive) pests in Western North Carolina. They search for food, water, and shelter. Your attic, pantries, basements, sheds, garages, and even under your stove are a few places we’ve found rodent infestations.

Here’s how we handle rodent removal:

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

Rodent Control

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.

Squirrel Removal

Squirrels are everywhere in Western North Carolina, and we know just what to do when they invade your home or property. Both tree squirrels and flying can cause quite a bit of damage to your property chewing your home, electric and making homes in your gutters. Trying to get rid of them on your own is both difficult and potentially dangerous. Critter Control has been resolving wildlife issues in homes for over 40 years.

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

Squirrel Control

We can restore your home or office after a squirrel infestation. The best squirrel control is exclusions from Critter Control. We repair any entry holes and strengthen potential ones.  Exclusions offer immediate, long-lasting squirrel control.

We can also clean-up the nesting sites and remove any debris, food, feces and soiled insulation.

Bat Removal

Bats provide both ecological and economical value to North Carolina, but they are a health hazard roosting in your attics and walls.

Of the 17 species that occur in North Carolina, three are federally endangered and one is federally threatened.  Bats in North Carolina are relatively long lived and beneficial. They eat thousands of insects every night, which is why they are an  essential factor in our ecosystem. Also, they are excellent pollinators, and their guano is a great fertilizer.

If you’re not using bat guano for fertilizer, it will become a problem. It will stain floors and walls, and it is so acidic it can erode metals and wood. Trying to get rid of bats yourself puts you at risk for contact with their guano, which can carry mold spores. Also, they may bite you and transmit disease. Let our experts do the dirty work.

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

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

Bat Exclusion

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, we will restore your attic, replace the soiled insulation, and sanitize the area.

Snake Removal

If you find a snake in your home or office, it is either shedding its skin or looking for prey – usually other pests such as mice or rats. When spotting a snake, the best thing to do is slowly back away and call our professionals to remove it for you. We can remove it quickly and safely, keeping you from getting bit.

Inspection

Inspection

Snakes are excellent at avoiding detection. We inspect your home for potential entry points and look for signs like snake skin and feces. Because a snake typically enters a home hunting for food, our wildlife inspector also looks for signs of a rodent infestation.

Trapping and Removal

Removal & Control

Depending on the location, we can set a live trap or direct capture. Exclusion is the most effective way to keep snakes out of your home. If rodents are present, it is essential to exterminate the rodent infestation. Their presence will continue to attract snakes.

Repairs

Repairs

In addition to dealing with any possible rodent problem drawing snakes to your property, a specialist will assist with sealing possible entry points and also encourage you to remove any debris where snakes can easily take up residence.

Skunk Control

Skunks typically invade yards in search for food and a safe place to burrow. Sheds, porches, and foundations make ideal burrowing locations which can lead to structural damage.

 

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.

Bird Control Services

If you notice bird droppings around your home or inside your home, you may have a bird problem. Birds love to make nests in eaves, gutters, vents, chimneys, and attic. They spend hours collecting the right materials to build a nest that will last. When they are not building, they are roosting or perching and dropping poop that can grow fungus. Whether woodpeckers or pigeons, each bird can cause a certain amount of damage to your property. Here’s how we handle bird removal:

Inspection

Inspection

We thoroughly inspect the area for things that attract birds, like harborage and loafing areas, as well as food and water sources. Also, we look for where birds may be entering your home or business. We also inspect for damage caused by birds, whether it’s by nesting, or by droppings.

Trapping and Removal

Trapping & Removal

After identifying the bird species, we may start by physically removing the species in question. In rescue situations, such as chimneys or basements, birds can be released on-site if the entrance has been secured properly. Occasionally, live traps will be used, especially if flocks of birds are involved. For persistent birds and larger flocks, several advanced techniques may be applied simultaneously including netting, spikes, ledge products, scare tactics, misting and more. The most effective method of bird control is prevention and exclusion.

Repairs

Prevention & Exclusion

We can repair the damage that is allowing birds entry to your home, like broken siding, weakened gutters, rotted soffits and fascia. We can also install protective screens on chimneys and vents. We can also remove nesting materials and accumulated droppings, then clean surface stains. We can use netting over fruit and vegetable crops and water basins. Netting can also be used in car ports, building overhangs and food courts. We also install a large number of different types of roof ledge barriers too.

Mole Control

Moles are a common problem in yards and gardens in the area and can be tricky to remove unless you know how to get rid of moles using proper mole control techniques.

When you have a mole problem, you will notice mounds of disturbed soil in your garden or lawn from the moles burrowing.  As they burrow and dig tunnels in search of food, they can upend soil and grass. Moles do not usually spread diseases to pets or humans, but they can wreak havoc on your landscape and damage vegetable garden roots, ultimately killing crops.

Inspection

Inspection

During our inspection process, we look for the travel tunnels and the feeding areas. Travel tunnels are long, straight pathways, usually occurring along sidewalks, edging, home foundations, etc. Feeding areas are usually those areas that zig-zag in a close proximity.

Trapping and Removal

Moles Trapping

We use an exclusive process to treat your mole problem, so no unsightly traps need to remain in your yard. This process prevents the possible endangerment of pets and children that some mole traps may present. Call us and we can tell you more.

Repairs

Mole Control

We rid your yard of the unsightly tunnels and mounds that moles create, by leveling your yard. We also provide monthly services for yard maintenance.

Groundhog Control

Groundhogs and woodchucks are the same critter and are the most common marmot in the United States. Woodchucks create extensive burrows with many escape routes and they are not averse to sharing these burrows with other mammals, such as rabbits, skunks, snakes, or chipmunks.

Their extensive burrowing can weaken foundations and harm paved areas of your yard, such as pathways and driveways. Groundhogs will also eat garden fruits and vegetables and their burrows can dry out the roots of trees.

Inspection

Groundhog Inspection

Groundhog nesting isn’t hard to spot. Being the largest member of the squirrel family, they have a rather large entrance hole to their nesting spots and they leave a great amount of dirt at their front door.

Trapping and Removal

Groundhog Removal

Once we’ve identified all burrow entrances, the next step is deciding what will work best for the situation at hand. Woodchucks may be excluded from denning under structures with one-way doors, if the structure they’re living under can be sealed with a rat wall. If the area can’t be sealed, then trapping and removing the animal is the best option.

Repairs

Groundhog Repairs

We can install rat walls to keep groundhogs out of crawl spaces and from entering under decks, sheds, patios and many other locations. Please call us to discuss how this process is completed.

Opossum Control

The armadillo has great qualities, like its armor, protecting it from predators. When startled, it shoots straight up in the air, shocking its predator and giving it time to hide. It has claws for digging, which is what it does all the time. It digs only to search for food like insects and grubs.

Digging can also become a nuisance, however, when the roots of trees are destroyed, killing the tree that may fall on your home. Or, if they dig under driveways, gardens or livestock fences, damages can follow. Because they live in burrows underground, it is crucial to make sure their holes are not interfering with the structure of your home or buildings.

We take care in removing armadillos from your property. They can carry leprosy, so it’s important that you don’t handle them yourself. If you have an armadillo destroying your yard, give us a call.

Inspection

Inspection

Our experts understand the habits and habitats of armadillos. We can assess if damages were caused by their burrows or digging.

Trapping and Removal

Opossum Trapping

Opossums might not be especially fast or strong, but they can still avoid inexperienced trap placements. We have tools and equipment to humanely trap and remove opossums.

Repairs

Opossum Control

Securing areas under sheds and porches with galvanized steel hardware cloth will keep opossums from denning sites.

Chipmunk Control

Chipmunks are most active in early morning and late afternoons in (Insert city). You’re most likely to notice chipmunks on your property from (Insert month) to (Insert month). Chipmunks mate twice a year. The first litter of two to five kits is born in April ; the second litter in July and August.

Chipmunks do not hibernate. During especially cold moments of winter, they will stay in their extensive burrows where they have gathered a cache of food.

Inspection

Inspection

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.

Trapping and Removal

Chipmunk Trapping

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.

Repairs

Repairs

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.

Call to Schedule an Inspection

The Critter Control Difference

Trained Specialists Animal removal is a highly sophisticated job. As such, we vet and train our team members to ensure they have the knowledge and skill to remove any pest from your building. Our wildlife experts utilize advanced removal and exclusion techniques and damage repair.
Licensed and Insured At Critter Control, we are licensed and insured to handle a variety of pests and nuisance wildlife. You can have the confidence to know that Critter Control is qualified and accountable for wildlife control.
Guaranteed Services Your satisfaction is always guaranteed. We provide reliable prevention from future intrusions. Resolving a nuisance wildlife issue calls for more than trapping and removing the critter. Our whole home exclusions come with a one-year warrant.
Residential and Commercial Your satisfaction is always guaranteed. We provide reliable prevention from future intrusions. Resolving a nuisance wildlife issue calls for more than trapping and removing the critter. Our exclusion services offer immediate and long-term wildlife solutions.
Financing Available Critter Control offers in-house financing. Both standard and 90-day same as cash financing options have 12-,18-,24-, or 36-month options. Some projects might qualify for a budgeted plan up to 60 months.
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