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Critter Control of Florence

Call For a Free Inspection

(843) 246-8166

Hours of Operation

Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday Closed

Serving the following locations:

By County: Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion and Williamsburg Counties.

Conway
Florence
Georgetown
Kingstree
Murrells Inlet
Myrtle Beach
North Myrtle Beach
Pawleys Island
Surfside Beach

Testimonials

Florence forms the core of the Pee Dee region. Not only is Florence one of more populated cities in South Carolina, but also it continues to attract people. But as we develop the land, removing forests and natural habitats for wildlife, we take away their food, water, and shelter.

Wildlife must search for these things elsewhere, like in the many Florence neighborhoods. That is why you see squirrels, deer, raccoons, birds, bats, snakes, skunks, opossums, rats, mice, and numerous other wildlife in your backyard. Minor encounters with wildlife are usually not a problem. It can even be fun to watch them. However, too many encounters can mean they are becoming a nuisance.

South Carolina declares wildlife a nuisance if they meet one or more of the following:

They damage your property.
They make you uncomfortable or annoy you.
They pose a threat to you or the public.

South Carolina recommends hiring a wildlife control operator to remove nuisance wildlife. A wildlife control operator is licensed and extensively trained in the habits and habitats of wildlife, required permitting, and local, state, and federal laws regarding wildlife removal. Below are examples of common Florence nuisance wildlife removed using experts like the ones at Critter Control.

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.

Wildlife

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.

Wildlife Removal

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.

Prevention and Repair

Raccoon Removal

While on nighttime scavenges, Raccoons enjoy swimming in pools they can access. They are known to leave behind feces in the water. While chlorine kills most germs, it does not kill a particular roundworm parasite in raccoon feces called Baylisascaris. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there are specific steps you must take to make your pool safe for swimming.

Florence raccoons are filthy, leaving greasy smudges on everything their fur touches, including chimneys, siding, attic walls, and floors. They are also very messy tenants. They shred insulation and drywall, create a toilet space, plug vents and ducts, and scatter trash. With their nimble hands, raccoons can easily climb, scratch, dig, claw, and open just about anything.

The masked wildlife will travel several miles searching for food that can be table scraps, insects, fish, rodents, fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and pet feed.

Getting rid of nuisance raccoons involves following fur-bearing trapping rules set by the state, like obtaining the proper license. It can also include getting the raccoon tested for diseases after removal.

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.

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

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.

Rodent Removal

Rats and mice that quickly become a nuisance to homeowners are the Norway rats and house mice. The CDC reports rats and mice carry at least 35 diseases. Diseases can spread from rodents to humans through ticks, fleas, mites, or by inhaling the spores on their feces. You may also contract it by being bitten by an infected rat or mouse, which can happen if you try to remove it and the rodent feels threatened or trapped.

Wildlife experts are trained on house mice and Norway rats. They learn rodents can squeeze through holes less than an inch in size. There are at least ten others in the same area for every rodent you see. The rate at which they multiply can lead to an infestation of hundreds of rats and mice in less than a year.

Female rodents can have between four to six litter a year. With each litter, between six and 12 babies can be delivered.

Signs of a rat or mice problem include gnawing on wood, metal, plastic, papers, and other materials. You may also see contaminated groceries and trails of uneaten foods, followed by feces and urine. Rats and mice can make your home dangerous by chewing electrical wires and building nests in your vents. They also like to dig burrows under your home and driveway, making them unstable.

Rats are active all year round, making getting rid of them a top priority.

Squirrel Removal

Squirrels are also rodents, but there are differences like squirrels typically only breed once or twice a year. However, female squirrels can start reproducing as early as six months old. The threat of an infestation still exists. The squirrels in Florence neighborhoods are the various types of Eastern grey, Southern fox, and flying squirrels.

While squirrels are one of the leaders in helping with forest regeneration, due to planting nuts and seeds in the ground, they can become a nuisance if they move into your attic or crawlspace. Just like other rodents, squirrels have teeth that never stop growing. To keep them filed down, squirrels chew and gnaw on everything. This makes their teeth stronger as they age.

They can chew holes through siding, wood, plastic, and some metals. That means breaking into your home is easier than you think. Once inside, squirrels will chew wires, furniture, cabinets, and anything else they encounter. If you have squirrels on your property, you have the foods they enjoy, like birdseed, fruits, vegetables, bird eggs, flowers, nuts, grains, pet feed, and certain tree barks.

Squirrels are game animals, so removing squirrels may require special permits or licenses at certain times of the year.

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.

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

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.

Bat Removal

The big and little brown bats and the Brazilian free-tailed bats are the ones you may find living in your Florence attic, rafter of a barn, chimneys, or other empty spaces in a structure on your property. Some live in trees. If they are on your property, you have an excellent source of insects, which is their number one preference. Bats can consume thousands of insects in one night.

The best time to remove bats in Florence is in the early spring (March-April) or fall (August-October). The bat materinty season lasts from April to end of July. During this time, you are not allowed to remove bats from your property. You cannot try to harass them to leave on their own either. The reason is that bats are protected species under state and federal laws. Several species are being threatened by diseases, like the white-nose syndrome. We need bats to help balance the ecosystem. Can you imagine the number of insects we would have if bats were no longer around?

Bats may roost alone or in colonies. They become a nuisance because of their feces, or guano, which produces many negative consequences. For example, guano stains flooring and walls and changes the appearance of your home or building. Guano is also very heavy; over time, the weight can cause damage to wooden beams.

Guano contains uric acid that corrodes metals and wood, again damaging the structure of your building. In addition, guano can grow mold spores that, when inhaled by humans, can potentially cause respiratory illnesses.

You must report bat activity on your property, no matter what time of year it is, so wildlife experts can create a plan for removal that keeps everyone involved safe, including the bat.

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.

Snake Removal

There are 38 snake species in South Carolina, only six of which are venomous. In most cases, the worst that a snake will do is give you a scare. Not only is the thought of having a snake in your home an unpleasant one, but also a snake can be a sign of another pest problem, as they’re finding food sources around your home like mice and rats.

Call Critter Control in Florence, so we can identify why the snakes are there and help to safely remove them.

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.

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

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.

Other Common Wildlife Issues

Animal Damage

Animal Sounds in Attic

Why are animals in my house?

Bats

Squirrels

Wildlife Exclusion

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.

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.

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 franchisees Todd and Amy Metz

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

Raccoon, Squirrels, Rodents and Snakes.

How do the seasons affect wildlife activity in your area?

Colder months bring animals inside.

What are some common signs of nuisance wildlife activity?

Gnawing, Droppings, Noises.

Any prevention tips for residents in your area?

Call for tips and professional help.

When should homeowners call Critter Control?

Immediately upon finding evidence or suspecting animal intrusion.

This franchise is independently licensed and operated by Metz Wildlife Removal, LLC, dba Critter Control of Florence-Myrtle Beach, SC.