Salt Lake City, sandwiched between the southern end of the Great Salt Lake and the snow-capped Wasatch Mountain Range, is the most populous city in Utah. Four thousand three hundred feet above sea level, it has a thriving tourist industry with more than a dozen ski areas located right outside the city.
Salt Lake City and its surroundings have their share of wildlife that range from small birds to huge bison. While all wild animals survive best in their own habitats, urban growth has diminished these habitats. So, in most metropolitan areas, nuisance wildlife has learned that where there are people, there is also ready access to food and shelter. Species common to Salt Lake City are raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, bats, armadillos, rodents, and snakes.
Critter Control Wildlife Removal Process
Critter Control is here for you every step of the way in the wildlife removal process. Utah defines nuisance wildlife as a persistently annoying animal, damaging your home or property and posing a threat to humans. Salt Lake City and its surroundings have their share of wildlife that range from small birds to huge bison. Common household pests in Salt Lake City are raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, bats, armadillos, rodents, and snakes.
We know how to handle any type of nuisance wildlife in Salt Lake City. First, we identify the animal on the property, then use humane methods to trap and remove the pests and then secure weak points where more could enter. If damage has been done, we can make those repairs for a complete restoration.
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.
Animal Trapping and Pest 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.
Salt Lake City is overpopulated with rats and mice. Because they reach sexual maturity as early as six to eight weeks old, they reproduce several times a year. This makes controlling them a challenge. One family of rodents can quickly turn into an infestation.
The high population means that rats and mice in Utah seek food, shelter and water in places like your home and property. The most common rodents trying to cohabitate are the Norway rats, house mice, white-footed mice and harvest mice.
Rats and mice can enter tiny openings. They can climb anything vertically and jump up to 18 inches. They will gnaw on and chew through wood, window screens, shingles and siding. Rats burrow in the ground beneath your home, trees and gardens.
Rat and mouse feces and urine can grow molds that may be dangerous to humans. Let us do the dirty work of getting rid of all your rodent problems.
Squirrel Removal in Salt Lake City
Squirrels are everywhere in Salt Lake City. They eat garden crops, nuts, fruit seeds, grains, bark and leaves. They spend a lot of their time collecting foods and nesting items for the winter months, which they store in holes that they dig in your yard or your walls or attic.
Squirrels chew through shingles, siding and screens to get into your home. They will hurry down chimneys, up spouting and across gutters. Once indoors, squirrels will gather insulation, drywall and other items to make a cozy den. Some squirrels may build nests in places that can create a fire hazard, like ducts and chimneys.
Other ways squirrels become nuisance wildlife include:
- Chewing on power lines
- Urinating and defecating on your floors and walls
- Destroying trees by stripping bark
- Preventing you from sleeping with their chatter
Bat Removal in Salt Lake City
In Utah, there are 18 bat species. Bats can eat a thousand insects in an hour. If you have bats living in your attic, barn, shed or trees, then you have a source of insects for the bats to eat. Stagnant water, manure, fountains, ponds and pole lights attract insects.
All species of bats are protected in Utah because they are endangered or facing extinction due to diseases. Bats are nocturnal, so while you’re sleeping, they are working. Even if you don’t see bats, you can tell you have a bat problem if you have stains on your buildings caused by bat guano. It can also have an awful smell. Bat guano can grow mold, and if you inhale mold spores, it may cause respiratory problems.
Our experts provide many services to remove and exclude bats.
We have two species of skunks in Salt Lake City, the western spotted and the striped, the larger of the two. Everyone knows skunks by their spray, which contains sulfur, ejected from glands near the rectum. Spotted and striped skunks have different removal laws set by the state. Skunks are like all other nuisance wildlife: They are searching for food, water and shelter.
They raid bird feeders, trash cans and pet feed. While they don’t climb well, they can dig and will dig to get food. Skunks will eat squirrels, rabbits, moles, eggs, rats and mice.
The good news is that you won’t likely find a skunk in your attic. The bad news is that you may find one in your crawlspace, basement, garage, and areas under decks and porches. They also like to hide in piles of debris, logs or rocks outdoors. They burrow and tunnel under structures and foundations, putting your safety at risk.
Let us take the risks that go with getting rid of a skunk.
