Critter Control of Annapolis

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What Are the Major Wildlife Removal Concerns in Annapolis, Maryland?

Annapolis has been a well-renowned seaport celebrated for its hospitality and culture since its early roots as a colonial city. Though not a major commercial seaport like its neighbor Baltimore, Annapolis is home to plenty of recreational boating, fishing, sailing, and racing activities. The city lies along the Severn River, which empties into the Chesapeake Bay. 

Proximity to the coast makes Annapolis an area prone to nuisance wildlife. Animals such as birds, raccoons, and rodents all thrive by the ocean on a delicious diet of clams, snails, crabs, and other small, but tasty creatures of the sea. 

Annapolis has been synonymous with the United States Naval Academy, but it is also a tourist destination that attracts more than four million visitors a year who come to enjoy the city’s historic district, seafood restaurants, pubs, and more. 

Unlike most American cities built on a grid, Annapolis was designed in circles with radiating streets that call attention to important structures such as the State House. Annapolis’ historic district is still thriving and has more 18th-century structures than any other city in the nation. While beautiful to walk and admire, the old residential, commercial, and government buildings are filled with gaps that come with age, providing easy access to potential critter infestations. 

Critter Control Wildlife Removal Process

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 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 in Maryland

Raccoons are prevalent throughout the United States, and Annapolis is no exception. These animals are omnivores which means they will eat almost anything they find, from small crustaceans along the shore to whatever you put into your trash can. Also, because the Annapolis shore is built up with marinas, marine services, and restaurants, raccoons have lost their fear of being near people.

While great for raccoon dining, the commerce and activity near the shore do not provide the safe denning places these critters need to raise their young. Raccoons look for man-made structures to supply safe locations. As nocturnal mammals, they will venture out to scavenge food at night, but sleep and raise their young in Annapolis attics and chimneys.

Although very cute, raccoons are also very destructive. They will rip open a hole in a roof to get inside. Once they claim your attic for their den, they will designate a space there as their latrine. By urinating and defecating in this same spot, beams and insulation will become soiled and contaminated, and a foul smell will develop.

Raccoons cannot be chased away using DIY methods, as they are aggressive when confronted. Since raccoons are carriers of rabies and other diseases, homeowners should not risk getting scratched or bitten.

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.

Bat Control Near Annapolis

Maryland is home to ten species of bats, all of which are insectivores. We don’t often recognize the good they do, but a single bat can eat up to 4,000 insects (including mosquitoes) in a single night!

Loss of habitats such as caves and trees has made it necessary for them to find other places to roost, spend the winter, and raise their young. Bats are often found in the attics of residential homes and commercial buildings, having gotten in through gaps in gables, vents, soffits, and chimney caps. Once inside, a bat colony will stay and grow larger each year.

Because bats are mostly quiet except for a squeaking noise, many homeowners are unaware of their presence until the ammonia smell from their droppings spreads throughout the house. This guano will accumulate quickly, soiling insulation and rotting beams. This guano also poses a health risk. A fungus that grows in bat guano can release spores which, when breathed in, may result in histoplasmosis, a serious lung disease.

All bats are federally protected and cannot be harmed. They should also never be handled without proper equipment. Because they hang upside down, they defecate on themselves, making them a health risk for handling. Bats should always be gotten rid of by professionals in a safe, humane manner.

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.

Remove Squirrels Safely From Maryland Homes

A squirrel is adorable when scurrying about outside, but a squirrel in your home should never be tolerated. Squirrels are rodents and share many of the same traits. They will squeeze through small gaps and holes in your roof or soffits to gain entry. Once inside, they can create a lot of serious damage.

Inside your attic, squirrels will use whatever they can find to create a nest—insulation, items you store there, and other materials they bring in from the outside. Their incisor teeth grow throughout their lives, so they need to chew and gnaw to keep those teeth at a manageable length. Squirrels will chew beams and even electrical wires, and they will also urinate and defecate.

Squirrels live all around us and are categorized into three types: ground squirrels, tree squirrels, and flying squirrels. It’s the flying and tree squirrels that can easily jump from branch to roof to invade your home. Additionally, because Annapolis has cold winters, your attic is a much more attractive place to call home than a nest of leaves in the crook of a tree where these agile animals are still exposed to the elements.

Squirrels have one difference from other rodents, such as mice or rats, that can provide a clue as to who is in your attic. Squirrels are not nocturnal, so if you hear scampering noises in the morning and again at dusk, that is a good indication that a squirrel might be in the attic.

Like most nuisance animals, squirrels harbor parasites like fleas and ticks, as well as diseases like leptospirosis. Critter Control live-traps squirrels, along with their young (if there are any present), to humanely remove them.

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 in Annapolis

Rodents are one of the most disliked pests of homeowners, and with good reason—they are destructive, transmit disease, and multiply rapidly. Rats and mice are crafty little creatures that will fit through the tiniest of cracks in a house, looking for a cozy place to nest. Once inside, they pose a serious problem to your home, health, and happiness.

Unlike cartoon mice, rodents don’t really love cheese, but they are omnivores and will eat almost anything they find, including the bait and waste from Annapolis fishing boats and almost anything found in your pantry.

Rodents can reproduce anywhere from five to ten times per year with up to 14 babies at a time. What’s more, they can get pregnant again immediately after giving birth. This means that a few rodents can quickly turn into a huge infestation. The longer you wait to get rid of them, the more damage they can wreak in your home.

One characteristic of rodents is that their incisor teeth grow continuously throughout their lives. They are voracious gnawers because that is their way of keeping these teeth at a manageable length. This trait is what makes them so successful at gnawing their way into homes. However, once inside, they continue to gnaw on beams, walls, and even electrical wires, which creates a fire hazard.

You may not see a rat or mouse until the infestation is large, but you will see feces in your pantry, cabinets, and counters. Also, be on the lookout for greasy smudge marks along walls and baseboards that are made as these critters travel throughout your house.

Depending on the size of the infestation and where the rats or mice are nesting, your wildlife technician will put together a custom plan for eradication. The process can take anywhere from seven to ten days. Once the rats and mice are gone, the gaps where these rodents entered will be sealed. Then indoor repairs and sanitation can take place.

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.

Bird Control in Maryland Homes

Unlike other nuisance animals that can be trapped and removed or self-evicted through one-way doors, birds cannot be captured and removed. Pigeons, seagulls, starlings, and even sparrows are common species that cause problems on the East Coast. It’s not surprising—where there is a fishing industry, there will be lots of birds.

Most birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Act, but not starlings, rock pigeons, or house sparrows. Homeowners with bird problems should still be mindful because there are also eagles and osprey that live near the shore and may take up residence in your home.

Because birds cannot be caught, bird control consists predominantly of eliminating places for them to land and build nests. Deterrents such as netting and bird spikes are installed by Critter Control to keep birds from landing on your property.

While birds are an important part of our natural world because they disperse seeds and remove some of the other pests we dislike, the accumulation of their feces is a health hazard and a source of damage to buildings.

After an inspection by Critter Control, a plan can be created for excluding and deterring the birds from your property.

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

Repairs & Prevention

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.

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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.
Guaranteed Work Your satisfaction is always guaranteed. Critter Control® takes great pride in providing quality workmanship resulting in customer satisfaction.
Residential and Commerical Invading nuisance wildlife can wreak havoc on property. If left unattended wildlife and pests can cause costly property damage. Whether a residential property, apartment buildings, retail stores, office buildings, industrial plants, medical facilities, or warehouses, our trained professionals can handle any wildlife removal problem.
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.