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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.