O’Fallon, Missouri, is the largest suburb of St. Louis, with a population of over 90,000 residents. Its proximity to the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, national and state parks, and the urban life of St. Louis make it a prime location for nuisance wildlife. Hot, humid summers and cold winters create a climate in which animals look toward residential and business areas for food, water, and shelter from the environment.
What are some of the most common wildlife issues that homeowners face in St. Louis? We address a lot of bat situations in the metropolitan area along with squirrels and raccoons in attic spaces. We also do a fair amount of rodents (mice/rats) and bird control. We receive many calls on moles, skunks, and groundhogs damaging landscaping around homes.
How do the seasons in Missouri affect wildlife activity? Call volumes generally increase in the spring due to the “critters” waking up from hibernation. Young are also born in the spring, which increases the opportunity for customers to hear or see more activity in both residential and commercial accounts. During the summer and fall months, bats, stinging insects, and burrowing animals such as moles, groundhogs, and skunks keep us busy. In the winter, our primary “critter” calls are squirrels and raccoons in attic spaces. These animals are trying to find warm areas to get out of the weather.
Any prevention tips for St. Louis residents? Animals generally access homes through louvre vents, soffit roof interface gaps, roof vents, power fan vents, general foundation construction gaps, foundation vents, and open chimney flues, which should all be secured. Make sure any critter-related issues are addressed promptly.
When should homeowners call Critter Control? When a homeowner has any concerns of unusual noises or odors coming from their attic or crawl space or if a homeowner notices any unusual activity in or around the yard and landscaping that might have been caused by a critter, give us a call. It could also be that a homeowner just wants an inspection by a trained professional to give them peace of mind that their home is secured and animal-free.
How much does wildlife removal services cost? There are a number of factors that determine pricing; location of the animal (i.e. – chimney, attic, crawl, wall void, living area), condition of the animal (i.e. – sick, aggressive, dead), location and condition of the property and time of year (i.e. – weather condition, offspring present?). Generally speaking, pricing will vary by location and species for just the animal removal and that pricing usually does not include the entry repair.
