Critter Control in Rock Hill, SC

Squirrels aren’t just pests at the backyard bird feeder. They’re also known for entering wall and attic spaces when temperatures cool off. They normally nest in the hollows of trees that have begun to rot, but they’ll find every little opening in your home’s exterior instead if they can. The gnawing efforts of these rodents can damage your rafters, wiring, plumbing, and more. They also tend to displace insulation and leave droppings behind that grow mold and fungi on them. Even if you think squirrels are cute, it’s not possible to share your home with them.

The trick to get rid of squirrels in a humane way is similar to the method used for bats. One-way cages are used, or one-way flaps that allow the squirrel to leave but not return. Often, a cage is placed to verify the animal causing the infestation. Then, the exclusion devices are added so the other squirrels don’t need manual removal. We’ll follow up by sealing off the former openings with materials like hardware cloth so they can’t gnaw their way back in.

Raccoons are some of the largest pest animals you’ll deal with in the area. They may look cute, but don’t underestimate their capacity for damage. Raccoons often target garbage cans and similar storage units first. They’ll make a mess of your trash, spreading it around and attracting other animals in the area. If they stay out in the trees and hassle your trash cans, that’s a fairly mild issue. The bigger problems begin when raccoons get in attic or crawlspace. They can transfer diseases, chew wires, and access other parts of your home to spread the damage.

Hot summers tend to limit their interest in the attic to the wintertime, but cool crawlspaces are attractive all year round. You’ll often have to start under the home to get rid of raccoons in a permanent way. Unfortunately, homes in the Rockhill area tend to feature small crawlspaces rather than full-sized basements due to the high water table. That means it’s tricky to work in a limited space with a hissing wild animal. Relying on professional wildlife removal services from Critter Control is always a good idea in this case.

A drop in temperatures can send mice and rats scurrying for cover in your vehicles and home. More than a few area residents have called for rat removal after discovering chewed wires in their car or under the hood. It’s also important to keep up your rat-controlling measures to prevent serious disease risks. Hantavirus is a major reason you need professional mouse removal rather than trying to tackle the issue on your own with some traps.

You’ll rarely see the rodents themselves. It’s often necessary to check for tiny details like the size of droppings and the spacing of teeth marks to determine what we’re dealing with. The key is setting up your home so that future rats and mice can’t get in. These rodents are dedicated chewers who will create new openings to access food sources, water, and shelter. Reinforcements like hardware cloth stop them from getting in even if they’ve returned in the past.

South Carolina is home to over a dozen species of mice and rats. Most need a similar approach, but we’ll identify the rodents you’re dealing with and make sure to tailor our approach for the best results.

You can host quite a large colony of bats in your attic and not even know they’re present. Unfortunately, bat guano hosts a fungus that can cause a serious lung disease known as histoplasmosis. Even cleaning up the guano requires special protection equipment, such as a respirator and gloves, and sanitation measures.

You may suspect you need to get rid of bats if you notice a musty smell in your attic or see dark smudges around vents or other entry points on the outside of the house. Soft rustling or squeaking sounds at night may indicate nesting, but don’t go up to your attic yourself to check. Let a professional handle the inspection since direct contact with bats isn’t a good idea without protective equipment. They’re also a protected species in South Carolina, so trying to handle them yourself could lead to trouble.

Once a bat or colony is identified, it’s usually allowed to leave on its own. Most bats you’ll find inside the attic or walls are mothers trying to raise their pups. Critter Control uses one-way exclusion bat valves so the bats can easily leave when they’re old enough to venture out, but they can’t get back in to nest again. They’ll find somewhere else to live and leave you free to clean up your home.

Home attics are usually too hot to host bats through the summer in South Carolina. It’s more common to experience nesting issues in this area in the fall or spring instead. Winter nesting is rare, but it can occur if there is enough space for an entire colony.