The New Jersey Fish and Wildlife department provides specific guidelines for removing, releasing, and relocating nuisance wildlife, or an animal causing damages to your property or posing a threat. For removal, it is recommended you call a local wildlife control company. They know that relocation, if necessary, is decided on a case-by-case basis.
Each nuisance wildlife has its own set of criteria. Some are protected species in New Jersey, like bats. Others must be tested for diseases, like raccoons. The experts at Critter Control understand the criteria and can quickly get rid of your nuisance wildlife problem with their inspection, removal, and repair process.
Our most common calls in Princeton include raccoons, rodents, birds, bats, snakes, squirrels, skunks, rabbits, and opossums. Keep reading to learn how we deal with some of these nuisances.
If you have a lawn, then you have insects and grubs living under it. Raccoons love to dig holes in your yard in search of these insects. Raccoons also like to eat moles, voles, rats, mice, chickens, eggs, garden crops, pet food, and human food.
Raccoons, which are nocturnal, have a considerable advantage, their human-like hands. They can turn doorknobs, open trash cans, tear feed bags, climb trees and homes, and dig. They also like to break into your home to create a cozy den. If the space is available, they will live in your attic, crawlspace, shed, garage, and under your porch. If you have raccoons living in or around your home, do not try to remove them yourself. They are known to carry diseases, and when threatened, they will bite or scratch you in defense.
Rat and Mice Pest Control
Rat and mouse invasions are causing problems for people all around New Jersey. Rats and mice common to Princeton are the house mouse, Norway rat, and roof rat, which only need a hole the size of a golf ball or smaller to enter your home. Also, nocturnal nuisances, rats, and mice like to chew and gnaw on everything, including your walls, floors, cabinets, electrical wires, siding, shingles, and even contaminate your groceries.
If you notice trails of food, feces, or urine along baseboards and behind appliances, which is how they like to travel, call us. It's best to call at first sight of a mouse or rat. They reproduce multiple times a year, giving birth to five or more babies each time. This can lead to an infestation in your home. Our experts will do the following:
Squirrels are also rodents, but rather than being nocturnal, they are active during the day. They spend most of their time collecting nuts, grains, flowers, seeds, bird eggs, bark, and anything else they enjoy eating and storing for the colder months.
Storage is a significant issue with squirrels, as they like to dig holes in your yard or take up space in your attic, walls, basement, chimney, and crawlspaces. Not only does this create a fire hazard, but it also means they are destroying wires, walls, furniture, and anything else they can access.
Squirrels' teeth are constantly growing. To keep them filed down, they must gnaw and chew on hard items. Some squirrels will even chew on metal.
Bats are a protected species in New Jersey. The bats you may see flying around your home at night are the big and little brown bats. Bats, like all other nuisance wildlife, seek food, water, and shelter. If you have a good source of insects, you likely have a bat or colony of bats living nearby.
Bats eat thousands of insects a night; some can eat their body weight in bugs. This is great for our ecosystem but not so great for your attic, barn, or shed. Here bats leave their poop, or guano, which can smell terrible and grow mold spores. If the spores are inhaled, you may develop respiratory issues.
With 22 different species of snakes in the Princeton area, it's likely one may stumble onto your property every once in a while. One may even make its way into your basement to shed its skin as it weaves around the pipes and beams. Every homeowner should be aware of a couple of poisonous snakes, rattlesnakes, and copperheads. You want to know the difference between harmful and non-harmful, especially since snakes blend in very well with the environment and usually only bite with stepped-on or startled.
You can attract snakes if you have mice, rats, or other small rodents on your property. They also eat eggs, toads, tadpoles, and more. Because many snakes are protected from being killed, it's essential to let experts handle removal.