Critter Control of Northern Virginia

Wildlife Control & Removal

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.

Wildlife Removal in Northern Virginia

As a prosperous industrial area, Northern Virginia is home to both suburban neighborhoods and green spaces. Northern Virginia boasts some of the most diverse and beautiful wildlife in the U.S. However, when wildlife crosses paths with your property, your home may suffer the consequences. Squirrels, raccoons, bats, rats, and snakes can invade your home and cause significant structural damage. When this happens, it’s time to contact a wildlife removal service in Northern Virginia.This diverse landscape attracts a range of urban and rural pests.

Critter Control offers comprehensive wildlife removal and building restoration. We can remove wildlife from any residential or commercial property regardless of your situation. Our licensed professionals can identify the animal’s location and completely remove all traces of it from your house or business. We provide eco-friendly, humane, and efficient wildlife removal in Northern Virginia.

Squirrel Removal

There are two main types of squirrels in Northern Virginia: tree squirrels and flying squirrels. Flying squirrels and tree squirrels share a lot of similarities. The two significant differences (besides that flying squirrels can glide) are when they're awake and breeding season. Flying squirrels are nocturnal. Tree squirrels are active during the day. Flying squirrels give birth once a year; tree squirrels have two litters a year.

Squirrels have powerful legs, razor-like teeth, and sharp toenails, which give them easy access to food. They can cause enormous damage to your house by chewing through roof decking or peeling back your roof shingles. They also drop debris from trees. Furthermore, squirrels can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, which you can contract without contacting the squirrel.

Inspection: Our team inspects your house looking for signs of squirrel activity such as openings in your house, droppings, or nesting debris. We may find gnaw marks on the roof or crawl space.

Trapping & Removal: Squirrels can be difficult to catch due to their agility. However, we can outsmart squirrels by using excluders, live traps, or deterrents that keep them away.

Repairs: If we discover damage caused by squirrels, we can repair the damage on-site. Our repair service includes full decontamination, nest cleanup and removal, and structural repairs.

Raccoon Removal

Raccoons are largely nocturnal, which is why you do not see them during the daytime. This nocturnal behavior makes it difficult to catch them. They have powerful jaws and claws, as well as nimble hands that allow them to get into just about any space or container that isn’t secured. Once a raccoon enters your home, it can cause extensive damage to the walls, flooring, and attic area.

Raccoons also carry a variety of diseases, including leptospirosis, roundworm, and rabies. When threatened, raccoons can become aggressive and highly dangerous. Therefore, you should never approach a raccoon. Instead, contact a wildlife removal company in Northern Virginia to safely remove the animal from your property.

Inspection: An inspection involves looking for raccoon dropping and footprints. Raccoons also create large openings that are located in the roof, flooring, or walls.

Trapping & Removal: To remove the raccoons without killing them, we use bait and advanced traps. We also remove any babies from the premises.

Repairs: Once we remove the raccoons, we search your entire property for structural damage. We professionally seal all entry points and replace any missing insulation. We also disinfect the area and clean up any messes made by the animals.

Bat Removal

Bats are vital to Northern Virginia’s ecosystem, as they pollinate and disperse the seeds of thousands of plants. However, bats carry diseases such as rabies. They also host more than a dozen parasites and insects, which can populate in your home or office. Many of these parasites, such as ticks, mites, fleas, and bat bugs, can go undetected.

Since bats are also largely nocturnal, they are difficult to spot. They often come out when you are asleep and sleep when you are awake. They also make small holes in the roof, basement, or attic, which you may mistake for a rat or mouse. If you discover bats in the building, do not approach them. Instead, contact a professional bat removal company.

Inspection: Most bats enter buildings along the roof, which is where we begin our inspection. Our assessment team looks for bat droppings on the roof surface and small holes in the fascia, chimney, ridge, or skylights. From there, we can trace small holes, which lead us to the bats.

Trapping & Removal: When it comes to removing bats, ultrasonic and aerosol deterrents do not work. Instead, we use safe exclusion methods to isolate the bats and remove them.

Repairs: we remove all traces of bats, disinfect the area, and seal/caulk the opening and cracks. We also perform any major structural repairs, if necessary.

Rat Pest Control

Rat infestation accelerates quickly, as they are prolific breeders. Once a rate population spreads throughout the building, it is almost impossible to remove them completely. The myth that rats only spend time in low-income or abandoned areas in town is false. No house, neighborhood, or area is immune to rats. This is because they are driven by the need to eat and mate, which they can do anywhere.

Rats cause property damage, spread infections, and contaminate food. They carry parasites such as ticks, lice, and fleas, which can remain in your home or business long after you remove the rats. Rats can also cause structural damage by chewing through wood and other building materials.

Inspection: Fortunately, it’s not hard to track rats. They often leave droppings and make nests out of paper and other materials. We look for signs of invasion such as droppings and nests and listen for movement in the walls, flooring, or ceiling.

Trapping & Removal: There are dozens of solutions for removing rats. We assess your situation and develop a removal plan that works in your building.

Repairs: Our team can apply caulk in cracks, seal holes, and install mesh in the vents. We can create a full envelope around the house to prevent further rat invasion.

Canada Geese in Northern Virginia

Areas across the state, including Northern Virginia, have seen increased numbers of Canada geese in recent years. Many of these birds have stopped their annual migration and started causing problems for local residents.

Canada geese forage in large groups and destroy lawns and gardens when they settle near homes. In addition, a single Canada goose produces over a pound of waste per day. Flocks of these pests create huge messes on lawns, driveways, and roads. Their droppings also pollute swimming pools and ponds.

Other Backyard Nuisances

Opossums and moles are also a problem for Northern Virginia residents. While generally docile, an opossum may frighten residents by hissing or baring its sharp teeth. Lawn pests like moles are destructive to yards. The holes and mounds of dirt they leave behind become eyesores and tripping hazards.

 

How Professional Wildlife Control Services Help You

Attempting to remove an animal from your house can lead to an attack, which results in immediate injury and the threat of disease. Therefore, you should contact a professional wildlife control service in Northern Virginia to remove the pests. There are several benefits of professional wildlife removal.

• Professionals have the equipment and supplies necessary to do the job
• Pro removal prevents you from sustaining any animal-related injuries
• All animals are removed safely and humanely
• You get the added benefit of a built-in structural repair service
• Experts can identify pests anywhere, including hard-to-find spaces
• All areas are decontaminated, ensuring that the building is inhabitable

Why Choose Critter Control

• Licensed, Qualified Experts: Like many other industries, wildlife removal is regulated. Companies must have a permit or license to operate. For this reason, we carefully vet our employees to ensure they are fully trained, licensed, and qualified to remove animals in the area. When we hire the best, you get the highest quality service.
• Safe, Humane Removal: Animals typically do not enter a building with the intent to harm you. They’re simply looking for a place to eat and breed. Therefore, we adopt safe and humane practices for removing these animals and releasing them back into their natural habitat unharmed.
• Accurate Inspection and Removal: It is not always easy finding and removing animals from a home or office. Critter Control specialists can locate any animal in the home and utilize the right equipment and method for completely removing it from the premises.

Wildlife Removal FAQ

What are some of the most common wildlife issues that homeowners face in your area?

The most common wildlife issues a homeowner will face in this area are damages to their home from Mice and grey squirrels.  Both of these pests are known to chew into attics and destroy insulation.  Once these animals enter a home, they are capable of causing structural damage amounting to thousands of dollars.  Many house fires are started by these pests chewing on wires in attics.  The required steps needed to remove and prevent these pests from entering back into the home are trapping, exclusion, and sanitation of contaminated areas.

How do the seasons affect wildlife activity in Northern Virginia?
Warmer temperatures bring more pests.  However, pests such as mice/rats, raccoons, grey squirrels, and flying squirrels thrive in the colder months.  


Any prevention tips for residents in your area?
Regularly inspect your home.  If you notice any strange signs such as chew holes, debris build up, or if you hear any strange noises, call Critter Control.  A technician will provide you with a thorough inspection and be able to provide you with a solution, no matter what type of pest you are dealing with.  A Critter Control technician with work with you in order to promptly schedule and begin the extraction process.  Most importantly, once the wildlife is removed, all repairs done to the home are warrantied!  Once we get the pests out, we keep them out!
 
When should homeowners call Critter Control?
At the first sign of evidence.  It could be damage to the house such as chew holes, debris build up, or stains.  It could also be a strange sound you hear in the attic such as scratching, walking, or other strange wildlife sounds. It is important to address wildlife issues as soon as possible.  It will cost much less to address a wildlife issue sooner rather than later.

Serving the following locations:

By County: Fairfax County, Fauquier County, Orange County, Prince William County, Stafford County