There are 142 species of animals in West Texas and 540 species of birds. Squirrels, bats, raccoons, snakes, lizards, rats, mice, minks, voles, armadillos, opossums and rabbits are a few of the wildlife creatures you can see roaming our neighborhoods. They are here for several reasons, including climate change and urbanization. The more we develop the wild, the fewer places for our wildlife to live. So, they go on a search for food, water and shelter. Sometimes they find it on your property.
Wildlife can quickly become nuisance wildlife when they start damaging your property, annoying you and your family, or posing a threat to humans. Below are some examples of how we deal with nuisance wildlife. Our three-step process of inspection, removal and repair effectively gets rid of unwanted wildlife from your property.
Raccoons can be found everywhere, from the rock bluffs of West Texas to your attic. Raccoons adapt well to any environment that offers access to food, water and shelter. Raccoons have permanent masks, nimble hands, excellent night vision and a curiosity that leads to destructive behavior. Primarily nocturnal, raccoons will roam the area opening garbage cans, digging holes in lawns, climbing trees and chimneys, feeling stream bottoms and dumpster diving for a good meal. They eat insects, bird eggs, frogs, rodents, fish, pet feed, garden crops and table scraps.
Raccoons mate in late summer and, about two months later, give birth to three or four cubs. Raccoons desire a cozy nest during this time. They may choose your attic if they can find a way into your home. They are not afraid to make small holes bigger by busting them open. They will break through vents and screens and even enter open pet doors.
Raccoons can destroy your attic, chewing wires and shredding insulation. Blocking vents and chimneys create fire hazards. Calling an expert to remove the raccoon is the best way to avoid being bitten or further destroying your home.
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.
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.
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.
There are up to 50 species of rats and mice in West Texas. The house mouse is the one you find in your home, creating small damages that cost a lot of money. They chew wires, carpet, wood and even aluminum. They will chew holes in drywall to make a nest inside your walls, and they will chew holes in cabinets to get to your food. Outside, the Norway and roof rats are also causing damages, chewing holes in siding, electrical wiring, shingles and screens. They also burrow underground, sometimes under trees, sheds or your home.
Because rats and mice can carry several transmittable diseases, don’t risk getting bitten by removing them yourself. We can help get rid of your rat and mouse problem. The sooner you call, the better. Rats and mice multiply several times a year. Prevention can help you avoid an infestation.
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.
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.
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.
Fox, gray, and flying squirrels cover most of West Texas. The population continues to grow, and right now, we have one squirrel for every two to three acres. However, because squirrels can travel great distances, this number can be higher throughout the year. Squirrels are even known to share winter food supplies. They enjoy fruits, nuts, grains, seeds, bird eggs, garden crops and, when times are hard, bark.
Females can give birth two times a year. Searching for the perfect nest may mean entering your attic, chimney or crawlspace. Squirrels damage wires by chewing them and running on them. They store their foods and nest items in ducts and vents, creating a fire hazard. They tear insulation for their nests, causing a rise in your electric bill. They even leave their feces and urine behind.
Outside they damage siding, fascia, shingles and your yard. They love to dig holes in your yard to store food. While squirrels are cute and fun to watch, you mustn’t let them become tenants. Call us for help.
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.
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.
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.
With 32 species of bats in Texas, there are plenty of places you can go to watch them. Sometimes you can walk outside at night, and there they are, flying around pole lights, consuming insects. They eat thousands of insects every night, which is why they are an essential factor in our ecosystem.
You might not notice bats living in your attic, barn or outbuildings if it weren’t for two major flaws: their loud noises and their guano. One bat is not that noisy, but it will become a nuisance if you have a colony on your property. Bat guano, or feces, is heavy and smells awful. Bats allow guano to run down their bodies as they roost upside down. Because guano can grow mold spores, it can be harmful to humans if inhaled.
Touching a bat puts you in direct contact with guano since their fur is covered in it. Instead of trying to remove a bat yourself and putting yourself at risk, call our experts.
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).
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.
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
With over 100 species of snakes throughout Texas, you are likely to encounter one on your property. Most snakes are nonvenomous, but 16 are poisonous. All snakes will bite when they feel threatened. While you may not be poisoned, you can still be infected with bacteria. It is much wiser to leave a snake alone until we can get there to help.
Snakes found on your property are likely seeking food or water. They are attracted to rodents, frogs, spiders, insects and eggs. Snakes cause fear in many people until they know it is gone. That’s where we can help.
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
We have a humane and safe way to trap and handle snakes. We relocate the snakes back into the wild.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Squirrels and rodents, like rats and mice, infesting attics and interior portions of homes and businesses. We also have gophers damaging yards and snake problems near homes, too
During the cooler parts of the year, animals in attics become frequently more of a problem.
Hearing noises in attics. Seeing animals in your home or yard and noticing animal damage to your property.
Keep trash and debris picked up around your property. If an entry point is found, using low quality materials, such as steel wool and foam, are not ideal methods of exclusion. Call a professional for assured exclusion practices.
Homeowners should call at the first sign of problems.
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.
With over 30 years of experience, Critter Control is the nation’s leading wildlife control company. At Critter Control of West Texas, we’re skilled at dealing with many of the area’s most bothersome pest animals. Whether you need to remove squirrels from your attic or get rid of gophers that are damaging your property, you can trust Critter Control to get the job done safely, effectively and humanely.
Contact a Critter Control office near you today.
This franchise is independently licensed and operated by Nuisance Wildlife Mitigation Services, Inc., dba Critter Control of West Texas.
