Critter Control Wildlife Removal Process
Not only can wild animals be extremely noisy and emit strong odors, but nuisance wildlife can also damage your house and introduce health risks to you and your family.
Critter Control provides professional wildlife control services in West Palm Beach. Our team of skilled professionals is trained to identify and handle a wide range of critters like raccoons, squirrels, bats, rats, mice, snakes, and birds.
Our wildlife experts provide safe and humane removal of all nuisance wildlife from residential and commercial properties. We prioritize the safety and well-being of our clients by employing humane and environmentally friendly techniques to address wildlife issues. Our long-term animal control solutions include animal trapping, removal, exclusion, and repairs.
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.
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.
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.
Nuisance Wildlife in West Palm Beach
The subtropical climate and diverse geography of West Palm Beach, FL, attracts a unique population of pests.
Alligators and armadillos are found in abundance and create dangers with their aggression and habit of digging up gardens, respectively. Other, more common pest critters include raccoon, skunks, snakes, and opossums.
These nuisances get inside homes, contaminate foodstuffs, and transmit diseases. Finally, the area is home to several species of rare and endangered birds. West Palm Beach residents may encounter bald eagles, seaside sparrows, and wood storks, which can be a pain to remove from private properties without violating state or federal laws.
Raccoons are not only intelligent but have great appetites. In Florida, they
feed on a variety of things, including fruits, plants, eggs, crustaceans—and, of course, trash. Palm Beach County is home to plenty of raccoons that will pay nightly visits to easy-to-access garbage bins in search of food. If you find one or more
raccoons on your property, your first instinct may be to chase them away. Instead, stay inside, stay safe, and call your local Critter Control office.
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
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
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
Like most cities, West Palm Beach has its fair share of
rodent problems. Wherever you find plenty of people creating plenty of food sources, you’re most likely also going to find one—or many more—rodents. In the Ft. Lauderdale area, roof rats are the predominant species of rodents. These animals can cause quite a bit of damage, and spread disease. If you notice rodents on your property, please contact your local Critter Control office. We’ll make sure all rodents are removed and stay away from your home or business.
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
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
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.
Squirrels are a common sight throughout South Florida's urban and suburban neighborhoods. Residents and visitors alike most likely cross paths with squirrels every day in parks and yards. While harmless, squirrels can become quite a nuisance if they gain access to your property. These animals are excellent climbers and can access roofs and make their way inside a home where they may bring in debris and establish nests. While these animals
can be hunted in the state of Florida, trying to
remove squirrels yourself is not always the best option.
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
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
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.
Bats are an essential part of Florida’s ecosystem,
serving critical roles such as pest controllers and pollinators.
Thirteen bat species reside in the state of Florida, including the big brown bat, tricolored bat, and Brazilian free-tailed bat. While spotting a bat inside your home can be unsettling, please do not try to remove one yourself. Improper removal techniques are unsafe for both humans and bats. In addition, you
cannot remove a bat without a permit in Florida between April 15 to August 15. Broken vents and gaps in roofing allow
Bats into Florida attics.
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
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
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.
Florida, like many southern coastal cities, has plenty of snakes. In fact, there are
44 snake species in the state. While many may appear threatening, only six of the 44 are venomous.
Four of the six venomous snakes are found in south Florida-- eastern diamondback and pygmy rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and coral snakes. If you encounter a snake on your property, please do not try to remove it yourself, especially if it is venomous, as snake bites can be quite harmful to humans.
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
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.
Opossums have become plentiful and persistent pests in South Florida. These gray and white marsupials are about three feet long, less than a foot high, and weigh around 10 pounds. Common pests in Palm Beach County residential areas, opportunistic opossums tear through trash and scatter the contents in order to find a meal. Scratching sounds under the deck or from the ceiling often mean that mothers have moved in to have their young. Furthermore, dung beetles and other insects may be attracted to opossum droppings in yards, causing additional pest infestations.
Inspection
Opossums can be found inside attics and basements or outside under decks and sheds. Common signs include unique paw prints and feces. Opossums are docile and usually easy to spot.
Trapping & Removal
Opossums can be lured into cages for live capture. If it is maternity season, we follow all guidelines for removing mother and newborn opossums. We will seal entryways into the building to prevent opossums from reentering in the future. Opossums can be kept from getting under sheds and decks by installing fencing around the bottom edges and burying the fence underground.
Repairs
Broken screens on chimney and roof vents are replaced with sturdier materials, and we properly seal all entry points, including crawlspaces. We clean and deodorize areas of opossum activity. Exclusion may include eliminating sources that attract bugs, like nighttime lighting, stagnant water, and livestock poop.
The green iguana population is a problem in South Florida. Their abundance is causing problems for home and business owners. Because they primarily feed on crickets, worms, leaves, and flowers, they can destroy landscapes looking for a meal. Digging underground can accidentally destroy piping, water supplies, and electricity systems. They like to dig under foundations and pavement, making structures, driveways, and roads unstable.
At an average of thirty pounds and three to four feet long, their presence cannot be ignored, especially if they decide to explore the interior of your home. Trying to remove an iguana poses some problems, like their tails falling off when grabbed since it can regrow later. There is some good news. They don’t usually travel in packs, and Critter Control can help get rid of iguanas in your home.
Bee Hive Removal & Wasp Control
Humans aren’t the only ones that enjoy warm Florida weather. The bees are here, too. Florida has several types of native bees—about 315 species! While bees provide benefits, such as making honey, they also can be considered a pest and even a danger if you are allergic to bee stings. Trying to get close to a bee hive or a wasp nest to properly identify the culprit it never recommended. Believe it or not, bees and wasps have different appearances, behaviors and lifestyles.
Stinging Insect ID
Different types of stinging insects create nests or hives. The habitats of these flying insects also vary. A wasps gray paper like home is made of chewed wood and saliva while a bees’ honeycomb home is made from the wax they secrete. Yellow jackets nest underground in burrows. The professionals at Critter Control will identify the type of stinging insect on your property so you don't have to get close to their nests.
Pest Control
The variety of biting and stinging insect pests makes over-the-counter removal solutions ineffective. We will safely get rid of the stinging insects. If a hive is present, it must be removed. Hives on your property or in your home can attract other pests like cockroaches, rats, and raccoons.
Prevention
To help keep you safe from painful and potentially dangerous stings, any bee hives on your property should be removed and relocated by a professional. Any number of modifications can be made to homes and yards in order to decrease the possibility of encountering biting and stinging insects. During the inspection, we look for and seal any cracks in building foundations.
FAQ West Palm Beach Wildlife
What are some of the most common wildlife issues that homeowners face in Palm Beach County?
Rodents, raccoons, bats, and squirrels.
How do the seasons affect wildlife activity in South Florida?
We're busy in the fall and winter months. Business dips in the heat of the summer months, June, July and August.
What are some common signs of nuisance wildlife activity?
Hearing noises in attics. Finding droppings, or hearing scratching noises in the home.
Any prevention tips for residents in your area?
Trim trees away from home and have a professional inspect your property for wildlife activity.
When should homeowners call Critter Control?
When you first hear noises, see damage, notice droppings or smell odors in your home or business.
Why Chose Critter Control
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.