Critter Control of Chicago

Wildlife Control & Removal in Chicago

The human population of Chicago might be declining, but wildlife continues to thrive. The Chicago River and Lake Michigan have kept the Chicago area as an attractive habitat for a variety of wild animals such as coyotes, raccoons, bats, squirrels, foxes, snakes, and a variety of birds.

Due to urban sprawl, these animls have adapted to the urban and suburban landscape. One way to be good neighbors to the urban wildlife in Chicago is protecting your home from their entry or ensuring a safe and humane removal of the animal. 
 

Wildlife Removal 

Safe, humane removal of nuisance animals and pests from your home or property.

Wildlife Pest Prevention

Habitat modifications and exclusion services to effectively prevent future wildlife pest problems

Animal Damage Repairs

Professional and permanent repairs to entry points, insulation, and damage from animal urine or feces.

Wildlife Control in Chicago

Critter Control specializes in wildlife pest control. Resourseful wild animals can find countless ways into your home. Based on an exhaustive inspection, we create a custom wildlife control strategy to humanely remove the nuisance animal from your home and ensure the animal cannot return. 

Raccoon Removal in Chicago

Attics, crawl spaces, and chimneys resemble similar spaces found in nature that raccoons use to make dens. Generally, a female raccoon will make a den during breeding season. In Illinois, raccoon breeding season lasts from January through March and peaks in February. Most baby raccoons are born in April or early May. 

If you hear loud thumping and chittering noises during the first half of the year or see a raccoon active during the day, you likely have a family of raccoons in your home. While adorable and clever, raccoons carry health risks to you and your family. Raccoons are a known rabies carrier and across the Illinois test positive for raccoon roundworm, a parasite that may be life-threatening to people and pets. 

Inspection- Look for footprints in or around home, large openings, raccoon poop
Trapping & Removal- Live trapping most effective and humane
Repairs- Seal all entry points. Restore attic insultation. 
 

Bat Removal in Chicago

There are 13 bat species commonly found in Illinois, and all are protected by under the Wildlife Code (520 ILCS 5/1.1) Bats are an important part of the ecosystem (a single bat can consume 3,000 insects in one night!),

You can remove a bat from a living space you actively use at any time. If a bat colony is in a non-living space (attic), bat removal can only take place from March 15 to May 15 when outdoor temperatures exceed 50° F at dusk, and August 5 through October 30 when outdoor temperatures exceed 50° F at dusk.

Bats are known vectors for rabies but the greatest risk is from guano. The accumulation of bat guano can weaken home structures and Histoplasma mold can grow in bat guano.

Inspection- Small squeaking sounds. Piles of droppings in one corner of the house. Stains on walls and strong ammonia smell.
Trapping & Removing- Generally you can only remove a bat if its in the livable part of your home. Most likely one way doors will be employed once the bats offspring have reached maturity.
Repairs- Sealing entry points. Disinfecting area under roost from accumulation of guano. 

Nuisance Squirrel Removal

The Eastern gray squirrel is one of the most common animals in Chicago. Squirrels break into Chicago attics to escape cold weather and raise their young. Once indoors, the pests will gnaw on walls, insulation, and wiring. Their constant chewing can damage property and even create a fire hazard. A squirrel may also shelter fleas and ticks in their fur.

Inspection- Gnaw marks on, in, or around your home. Small openings to attics or the crawl space. Droppings. Debris like nuts or nesting materials.
Trapping & Removal- Live trapping, deterrents, one-way doors.
Repairs- exculsion services focus on repairing entry points. Removing debris, repairing nest sites, decontaminating droppings and urine.
 

Rodent Pest Control in Chicago

Norway rats and house mice are common in Chicago. These pests sneak into houses, contaminate food, and leave behind their germ-ridden droppings. A Norway rat or house mouse can spread diseases to people, especially through their waste or parasites. Salmonellosis and plague are only a few of the illnesses these pests can carry. Norway rats live in colonies, and the stronger rat colonies get the better locations. If your home has plentiful resources (food, shelter, water), you might be attracting large rat colonies

The most effective means of rat control is trapping and sealing your home.

Inspection- Noises such as scurrying and rat or mouse droppings most prominent signs you have a rodent infestation
Trapping- Variety of traps available.
Repairs- caulking cracks, capping chimneys, installing mesh over vents.

Pigeon Control

Despite the tall buildings and urban bustle, Chicago, IL, harbors plenty of wildlife. One of the most common animals is the rock pigeon, which roosts on manmade structures. The pests visit yards and patios in large flocks looking for food or a place to rest.

Wherever these birds gather, residents will notice an excessive amount of droppings. Pigeon poop can kill plants and ruin paint on vehicles and buildings. Their waste also spreads diseases such as toxoplasmosis, salmonellosis, and histoplasmosis.

Skunk Removal

Skunks typically invade Chicago lawns in search for food and a safe place to burrow. Sheds, porches, and foundations make ideal burrowing locations which can lead to structural damage. To avoid a skunk’s spray rely on professional handling and skunk trapping. Removing food supplies is one of the most effective ways to prevent a skunk from entering your property.

Skunks can thrive in urban and suburban settings because they tolerate living near humans. Skunks typically invade yards in search of food or a safe place to burrow. Breeding season typically occurs from LOCAL TIME females create a den to give birth to two to ten kits. Skunks are not true hibernators. If the weather is above freezing, skunks can be active at night.

Sheds, porches, and foundations make ideal burrowing locations. A skunk den can lead to structural damage.
Generally docile, the greatest threat people and pets face is the spray from a skunk. To avoid a skunk’s spray rely on professional handling and skunk trapping. Removing food supplies is one of the most effective ways to prevent a skunk from entering your property.

Coyote Control

There are over 4,000 coyotes in Chicago, and there is an estimated two to ten times more raccoons in Cook County then the rest of Illinois.

Although coyotes adapt well to urban settings, they generally stay away from people. However, the animals do enter Chicago-area backyards to prey on small animals and may even attack cats and dogs. Coyotes are prone to diseases like rabies and canine distemper, which can affect unvaccinated pets.

Beaver Removal

Beaver dams create thriving ecosystems, but nuisance beavers also cause flooding in residential areas and on public lands.

Due to certain state and federal laws, attempting to remove beaver dams can result in costly fines or jail time. Beavers can become hostile if threatened.

Beavers are extremely diligent workers and will continue causing issues until they are removed from the property. Trutech will undertake an intense trapping session and trap for a specific number of days or until activity stops, whichever comes first.

Beavers target an area and work there consistently until they need more resources. As a result, they will develop a “slide.” These are visible mud slides that the beavers create from repeatedly going in and out of the water. It’s important to locate beaver slides in order to have a more successful trapping session.

The process of beaver removal typically takes 10-14 days.

Removing trees or wrapping trunks in hardware cloth and controlling water level deter beavers.
 

What are some of the most common wildlife issues that homeowners face in Chicago?

Animals in attics, under stoops, patios and decks. Animals tearing up lawns, damaging home siding and roofs. Beavers chewing on trees.

How do the seasons affect wildlife activity in your area?
Winter hibernation affects business, as cold weather slows animal activity.

What are some common signs of nuisance wildlife activity?
Noises in the home. Trails through attic insulation. Holes in the ground, or sod being rolled. Visual footprints on downspouts.

When should homeowners call Critter Control?
Homeowners should call at the first sign of animal activity.
 

Serving the following locations:

By County: Boone, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Jo Davies, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Livington, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago Counties.