Serving the greater Cleveland area and proudly offering 5% discounts to seniors.
(216) 342-2316
Critter Control provides premier wildlife control services in Cleveland, Ohio. We’re dedicated to the safe and humane removal of all nuisance animals from residential and commercial property in the city of Cleveland and the surrounding area, including Elyria, Mentor, Parma, and Strongsville. Our specialists are licensed and trained in the most advanced techniques in the industry, including the removal of bats, raccoons, squirrels, skunks, opossums, and more. We also specialize in future prevention of intrusions as well as damage repair.
With more than 30 years of experience in handling wild animals, we understand the danger that they present to the residents and businesses of Cleveland. Our top priority is to protect our customers by accurately assessing the intrusion and acting in accordance with our high standards of service. If you have a wildlife problem in the Cleveland area, contact our experts at Critter Control as soon as possible.
The streets of Cleveland are common homes for raccoons. The black-masked pests are known for knocking over garbage cans and raiding pet food bowls for meals. Raccoons also create den sites beneath decks or inside uncapped chimneys. A raccoon may also find its way into the attic to rest during the day and raise its young.
Raccoons will remove shingles and tear through walls to get indoors. Raccoons also can carry rabies, so it’s important that you never attempt to handle a raccoon.
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 & Removal
Live trapping, or one-way doors are the most effective and humane way to remove raccoons. 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
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.
Tree squirrels are notorious for entering attics with their exceptional climbing ability. They use overgrown branches or utility lines to find access to homes, where they hide food caches as winter approaches. To detect the presence of a tree squirrel, homeowners can listen for scratching and scurrying noises coming from the attic or walls during the afternoon.
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 & Removal
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
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.
Of the 14 species of bats in the state, the big and little brown bat have adapted to the urban environment of Cleveland. These species roost inside warehouses and homes in the crevices of attics, walls, and between rafters and roofing. If bats aren't visible during the day, then listen for scratching and squeaking sounds at dusk when the pests are most active.
Bats in Cleveland are problematic, in part, because of the diseases they carry. Piles of waste beneath their roosts create structural hazards and risk of fungal infection. Bat saliva can transmit rabies, leptospirosis, and a host of other illnesses to humans.
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).
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
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.
Though it may seem more common to see skunks in fields and meadows, they are no stranger to cities like Cleveland. In fact, these white-striped pests often den under buildings and decks or in basements in the area, as they prefer dark, warm places that offer shelter.
Attracted to homes and yards that provide ample food and water, a skunk will dig for insects and hunt for mice at night. Aside from their appearance, skunks in Cleveland are best known for their pungent spray. They only use this defense mechanism when they feel threatened, but the smell can linger for days.
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
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.
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.
Other Common Wildlife Issues
Critter Control Process
How Critter Control humane and safely gets rid of nuisance wildlife from your home and property.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Safety
Guaranteeing the safety of both humans and animals is our number one priority. Our wildlife specialists are trained to protect our human customers and keep everyone safe while ensuring the animals we are removing for you are handled using the most humane tools and techniques.
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.
Critter Control Guarantee
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.
Q&A With Local Critter Control Expert Danielle Flowers
What are some of the most common wildlife issues that homeowners face in your area?
Raccoons, squirrels, skunks, and groundhogs.
How do the seasons affect wildlife activity in your area?
Spring and summer are the busiest times of the year. Winter is the slowest.
What are some common signs of nuisance wildlife activity?
Feces and noises in the walls, attic, and chimney of the home.
Any prevention or exclusion tips for residents in your area?
Home repairs such as covering exterior holes that allow animals in.
When should homeowners call you?
At the first sign of an issue.
This franchise is independently licensed and operated by Danielle's Services, Inc., dba Critter Control of Cleveland.