The collar counties around Chicago provide an attractive area for wildlife because of the flat land, easy access to water and an urban tree canopy of over 172 million trees. Chicagoland has experience rapid expansion since the 1960s.
The Chicago River and Lake Michigan have kept the Chicago area as an attractive habitat for a
variety of wild animals(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window) such as coyotes, raccoons, bats, squirrels, foxes, snakes, and a variety of birds.
Due to urban sprawl, these animls have adapted to the urban and suburban landscape. One way to be good neighbor to the urban wildlife in Chicago is protecting your home from their entry or ensuring a safe and humane removal of the animal.
Raccoons are thriving in Chicago. The population continues to explode in Illinios. Populations of 9 to 45 are common in Illinois, but in Kane county populations have been recorded as high as 98 to 101 raccoons! Densely populated areas like Aurora, Naperville, Joliet, Elgin, and Waukegen offer plenty of food and shelter for raccoons.
Attics, crawl spaces, and chimneys resemble similar spaces found in nature that raccoons use to make dens. Generally, a female raccoon will make a den during breeding season. In Illinois, raccoon breeding season lasts from January through March and peaks in February. Most baby raccoons are born in April or early May.
If you hear loud thumping and chittering noises during the first half of the year or see a raccoon active during the day, you likely have a family of raccoons in your home. While adorable and clever, raccoons carry health risks to you and your family. Raccoons are a known rabies carrier and across the Illinois test positive for raccoon roundworm, a parasite that may be life-threatening to people and pets
There are 13 bat species commonly found in Illinois, and all are protected by under the Wildlife Code (520 ILCS 5/1.1) Bats are an important part of the ecosystem (a single bat can consume
3,000 insects in one night!). You can remove a bat from a living space you actively use at any time. If a bat colony is in a non-living space (attic), bat removal
can only take place from March 15 to May 15 when outdoor temperatures exceed 50° F at dusk, and August 5 through October 30 when outdoor temperatures exceed 50° F at dusk.
Bats are known vectors for rabies, but the greatest risk is from guano. The accumulation of bat guano can weaken home structures. Mold that leads to Histoplasma can grow in bat guano.
The Eastern gray squirrel is one of the
most common animals in Chicagoland. Squirrels break into Chicago attics to escape cold weather and raise their young. Once indoors, the pests will gnaw on walls, insulation, and wiring. Their constant chewing can damage property and even create a fire hazard. A squirrel may also shelter fleas and ticks in their fur.
Rodent Pest Control in Chicago
Norway rats live in colonies and enter Chicago suburb homes to find meals and warmth. The stronger rat colonies get the better locations. If your home has plentiful resources (food, shelter, water), you might be attracting large rat colonies. Norway rat infestations usually occur in crawl spaces and basements.
Once inside, Norway rats and other rodent pests like mice pollute pantries and kitchens with droppings which can lead to illnesses. Rodents also cause damage by gnawing on wood, wiring, and other materials.
Any gaps or cracks (larger than 1/4 of an inch) in home foundations and siding can allow rats inside. Norway rats are burrowing pests, so tracks or tunnels in
yards may be the first sign of a rodent problem.
The most effective means of rat control is trapping and sealing your home.
Skunks are a common pest in Bentonville, Fayetteville and the surrounding NW Arkansas area. These animals are known for foraging for food in trash bins and pet food bowls. They're also profound and efficient diggers, and can mutilate an entire yard in a single night searching for grubs. They're distinctive black and white fur, and their pungent odor that can linger for days, are unmistakeable. If you happen to cross paths with a skunk, do not try to scare it away. Please also remember that skunks
can carry rabies; therefore, it’s best to let a professional handle removal for you.
Beaver dams create thriving ecosystems, but nuisance beavers also cause flooding in residential areas and on public lands.
Due to certain state and federal laws, attempting to remove beaver dams can result in costly fines or jail time. Beavers can become hostile if threatened.
Beavers are extremely diligent workers and will continue causing issues until they are removed from the property. Trutech will undertake an intense trapping session and trap for a specific number of days or until activity stops, whichever comes first.
Beavers target an area and work there consistently until they need more resources. As a result, they will develop a “slide.” These are visible mud slides that the beavers create from repeatedly going in and out of the water. It’s important to locate beaver slides in order to have a more successful trapping session.
The process of beaver removal typically takes 10-14 days.Removing trees or wrapping trunks in hardware cloth and controlling water level deter beavers.
There are over
4,000 coyotes in Chicago, and there is an estimated
two to ten times more raccoons in Cook County then the rest of Illinois.
Although coyotes adapt well to urban settings, they generally stay away from people. However, the animals do enter Chicago-area
backyards to prey on small animals and may even attack cats and dogs. Coyotes are prone to
diseases like rabies and canine distemper, which can affect unvaccinated pets.
One of the most common animals is the rock pigeon, which roosts on manmade structures. The pests visit yards and patios in large flocks looking for food or a place to rest.
Wherever these birds gather, residents will notice an excessive amount of droppings. Pigeon poop can kill plants and ruin paint on vehicles and buildings. Their waste also spreads diseases such as toxoplasmosis, salmonellosis, and histoplasmosis.