There’s a reason Cookeville (in addition to Monterey, Sparta, and Crossville) was named one of the fastest-growing micropolitan areas. Nestled on the Upper Cumberland Plateau, the world’s longest hardwood forested plateau is home to numerous plants and animals. Once a remote and rugged wilderness, the idyllic landscape continues to attract people and wildlife.
Like people, animals fundamentally need three things- food, shelter, water. Animals are resourceful. As people continually push into wildlife habitats, wildlife will find resources for food, shelter, and water in your home.
Critter Control Wildlife Removal Process
Removal
Exclusion and Repair
Raccoons in Cookeville have learned to look to people as food suppliers. These pests may tip over garbage cans and spread trash around the yard as they search for a meal. They also invade homes to find shelter, denning inside chimneys or forcing their way into attics.
Along with bats, foxes, and skunks in the UC, raccoons are common rabies carriers. This disease spreads rapidly among the animals and can pose a real health concern to people and pets. Residents are also at risk for roundworm parasites from raccoon waste if the pests live nearby.
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
Repairs
Colder than average temperatures drive squirrels into houses in Cookeville, though the rodents may move indoors year-round.
These pests often give birth to their young in attics and then proceed to cause destruction. Even one squirrel can create a fire hazard by gnawing on electrical wires. They also rip up the insulation in walls and bring parasites indoors.
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
Repairs
Of the 16 species of bats in Tennessee, the most common is the little brown bat. These pests frequently enter buildings during warm summers in Cookeville.
Bats in abandoned structures can be beneficial because they feed on mosquitoes and other insects. However, if they roost in an occupied home, the pests become a concern. Bat droppings often carry the fungus responsible for histoplasmosis, a life-threatening respiratory illness.
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
Repairs
Skunks typically invade Nashville yards 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.
Skunk mating season starts in February. Males wander in search for females in heat.Males typically spray during fights over females. A minor skunk problem can quickly magnify during breeding season.
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
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.