Critter Control of Champaign

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What Are the Wildlife Removal Concerns in Champaign, Il.?

In Illinois, wildlife is defined as animals that are not domestically tame. Due to fragmentation, or the reduction of wildlife habitats for human use, these animals must find new places for food, water, and shelter. This often means you will see more wildlife in urban areas, like Champaign or other cities and towns in Illinois. You may see squirrels, snakes, raccoons, bats, rats, mice, deer, skunks, opossums, foxes, birds, and more in your backyard.

Occasionally, wildlife will become nuisances and start causing problems, like entering your home and building a nest in your attic. You will quickly learn that getting rid of nuisance wildlife is challenging. You may consider removing wildlife yourself. If so, you must apply for a removal permit from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). They only approve permits in cases where severe damage has been done. Rather than waiting until the worst-case scenario, they recommend hiring a wildlife control operator (WCO).

Below are examples of how WCOs handle common nuisance wildlife in Champaign.

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.
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.
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.

Raccoon Removal

Illinois law requires you to choose from several options when removing raccoons. You can trap the raccoon yourself by obtaining a free permit, and then you must release it on your property within 100 yards of where it was caught. You can also turn the raccoon over to a licensed veterinarian or rehabilitator, or you can hire a WCO with the permit, license, and safety equipment to trap and handle the raccoon. The last option is best because raccoons are protected in some areas as furbearers.

Raccoons look cute with their permanent masks, but they can get aggressive, especially if they have recently given birth to a litter of pups. Breeding is a winter activity between January and March. Two months later, they give birth to multiple young.

Raccoons typically only live two to four years but can do much damage in that time. You will know if raccoons are causing problems on your property. If in your home, expect to hear them as they scratch and tear insulation and drywall and leave piles of urine and feces in a spot known as a latrine.

Raccoons usually go out at night to find food. However, the more urban the area, the more likely it is to see raccoons out during the day. This does not mean they are rabid, but they can be. Raccoons can also carry ringworms, tapeworms, distemper, and parvovirus. As omnivores, raccoons eat meat, plants, animal feed, and human food. Their dexterous hands help them open trash cans, climb siding and trees, dig holes in the lawn, catch pond dwellers, and raid gardens.

WCOs have safe and humane equipment to remove raccoons and can implement exclusions to prevent their return. Exclusions include sealing all holes and entryways and eliminating food and water resources.

Inspection

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

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

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.

Rat and Mice Pest Control

Out of the six mice species and two rat species in Illinois, two non-native rodents cause the most problems in your home, the house mouse and the Norway rat. Mice weigh less than an ounce and are only 5 to 7 inches long, meaning they can squeeze into cracks and holes smaller than a dime. Rats are usually 10 to 12 inches long and weigh about ten to twelve ounces.

You may not see them in your home during the day, but when you turn off the lights and everything is quiet, they will begin their hunt for food. They typically don’t travel too far from their nest. You will see evidence of them through feces, urine trails, gnaw marks, and holes in food containers. Both rodents eat plant and animal foods, including seeds, nuts, insects, berries, crumbs, cereal, and leftovers on counters or in open trash cans.

Mice typically only live for one year, but in that time, they can reproduce several times, bringing five or more babies into the world, and your home, each time. Rats live for a few years and reproduce multiple times throughout the year. Rats can give birth to eight or more babies. If not controlled early, you can quickly find that your home has an infestation.

It only takes one rodent to contaminate your food, chew wires, and pass along diseases like salmonellosis. Rats can break shingles and siding. If either gets into your attic, they will shred insulation and drywall and leave feces and urine on all your prized possessions.

Although there are no legal protections for rats and mice, it is best to call a WCO to help get rid of them. Experts know the right baits and traps to capture all rodent family members effectively. If done improperly, the infestation will grow. Before setting traps, professionals seal all holes and cracks to prevent entry, even the ones you may not know exist.

Aside from sealing access points, repairs and exclusions include replacing shingles, wires, insulation, and drywall damaged by rodents. They will teach you proper food storage and lawn maintenance to prevent future rat and mouse control problems.
Inspection

Inspection

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.

Rodent Trapping

Rodent Trapping

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. 
Repairs

Repairs

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.

Squirrel Removal

Another rodent taking over Champaign neighborhoods is the squirrel. Unlike rats and mice, squirrels contribute to our ecosystem’s health by distributing nuts and seeds. Three squirrel species exist in Champaign: fox, Eastern gray, and Southern flying.

The Southern flying squirrel is nocturnal, but the others are active all day and night, searching for food and nesting materials. They like nuts, grains, seeds, flower buds, bird eggs, berries, and bark. They stuff their cheeks and dash off to store their findings, usually underground. In Illinois, squirrels do not pose a threat to human health. However, they can carry parasites, mange, fungal infections, and some diseases, so avoiding contact is best.

Squirrels have two mating seasons: winter and late spring or early summer. Not all squirrels mate twice. Litter sizes range from four to seven babies. Squirrels only live a few years, but in that time, they may create costly damage to your property. One reason is that squirrels have teeth that do not stop growing. To keep them filed, squirrels chew on hard surfaces. They will chew holes in siding, drywall, wood boards, and beams. They will build nests in gutters, vents, ducts, and eaves. They scratch bark from trees and cut holes in the mesh to enter or exit your home. Squirrels have a reputation for chewing wires that shut down the internet and electricity.

Illinois requires you to apply for a permit to remove a squirrel from your property. The Wildlife Code protects them as small game and furbearers. There are strict regulations on how to trap and where to release squirrels. Hiring a WCO with safe and humane traps, one-way doors, repellents, barriers, and other equipment is best.

WCOs can seal entry points after removal and help with exclusion by removing food sources, trimming tree branches, and installing barriers on trees and roofs.
Inspection

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

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

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

Illinois is home to thirteen bat species, but it is the big and little brown bat that may fly into your attic and roost. Before you try to force them out, there are some essential things to learn. For example, bats are protected at the state and local levels due to diseases like white-nosed syndrome, threatening their existence. Also, bats are crucial for the survival of our ecosystem. One bat can eat thousands of insects a night. Can you imagine life without bats? Flies, mosquitos, beetles, and more would take us over and damage all our crops.

Bats face serious challenges in their quest for survival. Other than the white-nosed fungal disease, humans are destroying potential shelters by cutting down trees for development. Without safe places, bats are roosting in areas where they are at risk of being woken early from hibernation.

Wind turbines are contributing to the death of bats today, as bats fly into the blades. Scientists are trying to figure out why this happens so they can find a solution.

Bats become nuisances on your property because their guano, or feces, contains uric acid. It can erode wood and metals. It can also grow mold spores that, if inhaled, can harm humans. Bat guano is heavy, and too much can strain wood beams. Guano is usually found in piles where bats roost. It has a shiny appearance and crumbles easily because it consists of insects.

Hire an expert to assist in removing a bat from your property. They know that bats cannot be removed during maternity, usually from late spring to early Fall. Bats give birth to one or two pups once a year, which does not help increase their population.

WCOs have safety equipment to remove bats, including one-way valves and catch poles. Do not risk getting bitten by a bat. Just last year, five bats tested positive for rabies in Champaign County. If a bat is inside your home, WCOs can work with the IDNR to assess the situation and create a removal plan that does not interfere with mating and maternity.

Experts can remove the guano and apply sanitization techniques to the area. They seal holes to prevent bats from flying in. Also, they can exclude bats by eliminating areas that attract insects, such as stagnant water, manure piles, and pole lights.
Inspection

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

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

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.

Skunk Control

The striped skunk is prevalent in the Champaign area. It is rarely seen during the day but can be active day or night. Skunks do not want to interact with humans. Because they typically move on to new spots within a week or so, it may be best to leave them alone. If they are causing problems, a WCO can safely and humanely get them out of your house, along with their young.

Skunks are a lot like raccoons. They have human-like hands that help them climb, catch food underwater, dig holes in the lawn, and push through openings to crawlspaces, attics, and sheds. Skunks love to spend time in brush, rock piles, and stumps with openings. They also steal honey from beehives, eggs from chicken coops, and crops from the garden. Skunks on your property may signify another kind of wildlife nuisance, like rats, mice, frogs, moles, or voles.
Skunks are protected as furbearers in Illinois. Trapping can occur from mid-November to mid-February and requires a permit from IDNR. They are considered furbearers and can be trapped for at least three months out of the year.

WCOs will recommend fencing around gardens, repellents, and sealing access points with mesh, metal, or concrete. They will offer exclusion tips like storing pet feed, clearing areas with brush or debris, and, if you have pets, keeping them away from skunks to avoid being sprayed.
Inspection

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

Trapping and Removal

Never try to remove a skunk from your property yourself. Getting sprayed is a very unpleasant experience. Furthermore, these animals may carry diseases that can spread to humans and pets, such as rabies. Our specialists will use live traps to capture and remove skunks for you, or they'll use a one-way exclusion device to evict skunks from their harborage areas. The most effective ways to control a skunk problem is exclusion and habitat modification.
Skunk Control

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.

Snake Removal

More than thirty snake species can be found in Illinois, but only four are venomous. Snakes are not typically a threat to humans. They like to avoid humans whenever possible. If they feel threatened, they may become aggressive.

You will likely need rat and mouse removal services if you have a snake on your property. Snakes found around or in your home are searching for food and prefer rodents. Other areas where you may find a snake include inside chicken coops, where they steal eggs, or along ponds.

Calling a WCO means you get two checkups for the price of one. They will inspect your property for snakes and rodents and determine what attracts them to your home. They will make minor repairs and focus on exclusion, like sealing all access points into your house. To get rid of snakes, they will need to get rid of rats and mice.
Inspection

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

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

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.

How Professional Wildlife Control Services Can Help You

Dealing with unwanted wildlife can be a dirty job. When hiring Wildlife Control Operators, you don’t have to worry about feces, urine, or diseases. But that’s not the only benefit. WCOs also have the following:
  • Certifications, licenses, and permits for removing wildlife
  • Extensive training on habits and habitats of wildlife
  • Safety protocols for you, them, and the animal

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.
Get them out.
Keep them out.®
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