Critter Control of Springfield

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What Are the Major Wildlife Removal Concerns in Springfield, Illinois? 

Springfield, Illinois, is a historic city and the capital of Illinois. Most notably known as the home, library, and burial city of Abraham Lincoln, other important features make this city a lively place to live, work, and visit. In addition to the city proper, the suburbs of Jerome, Leland Grove, Southern View, and Grandview are home to many of the residents who work downtown. 

Springfield is almost surrounded by the Sangamon River, which meanders around the city’s perimeter. The city lies in a valley situated in the Lower Illinois River Basin in a large area known as Till Plain. Much of this area floods with the seasons, but because it is mostly undeveloped, the floods are beneficial to the plant and animal habitats the land supports. 

In addition to the river, Lake Springfield is a large man-made lake that provides the city with drinking water and recreation. Surrounded by homes, it is also visited by about 600,000 people annually who come to swim, boat, and fish. Although the wildlife habitats of the river floodplain are maintained as such, Lake Springfield and its surrounding populated shoreline mean people and animals are highly likely to come into contact and conflict. 

Springfield has other characteristics that make it attractive for wildlife to co-exist with us. 

  • The city is home to many colleges and universities, as well as hospitals whose large populations generate an abundance of food going to the trash, which, along with aging infrastructures, makes them vulnerable to animal disturbances. 

  • Recreational attractions such as Knight’s Action Park and Caribbean Water Park also produce much waste that attracts animals. 

  • Springfield’s cold winters and hot, humid summers provide the perfect environment for wildlife issues all year round. 

Critter Control Wildlife Removal Process

Critter Control is here for you every step of the way in the wildlife removal process. From inspection to removal—and even exclusion and repair—we have the services you need to get rid of raccoons, rodents, and other nuisances fast. First, we identify the animal on the property, then use humane methods to remove the animal and secure weak points where more could enter. If damage has been done, we can make those repairs for a complete restoration. Contact a Critter Control office near you today.
STEP 1

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.
STEP 2

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.
STEP 3

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.

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Raccoon Removal in Springfield

Raccoons serve the important purpose of keeping rodent populations at bay, so while we do not want them living in our attics or chimneys, as long as the trash is kept tight under a lid and pet food kept indoors, raccoons are not detrimental to the neighborhood. Even so, because urban areas often lack a sufficient number of trees in which raccoons usually build their dens, these critters will break through roofs to raise their young in the warmth and safety of homes and businesses. 

Raccoons create substantial damage to both the exterior of a home when they break in as well as to the interior. In addition, they are carriers of rabies and other diseases, as well as parasites that can be transmitted to people and pets. 

In Illinois, a property owner needs a permit to trap a raccoon, and you cannot relocate it yourself. A professional is required when you suspect you have a raccoon in your home. 

Inspection

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

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

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.

Bat Problems in Illinois

Folklore has done much to give bats their creepy reputation, but this much-maligned mammal is a gift to our environment in the variety and quantity of insects they eat. Not only that, they are important pollinators without which we would not have mangoes, bananas, or tequila, among other foods. 

Bats do, however, become a nuisance when they roost in attics, chimneys, or behind shutters, especially when roosting in a colony. They can squeeze in through tiny gaps and cracks where a large accumulation of their guano becomes a breeding ground for a fungus that causes the lung disease Histoplasmosis. 

In the spring, bats set up maternity colonies in attics and buildings to raise their young. Their young are defenseless until fall, when they can fly out on their own to hunt. There are 13 species of bats in Illinois, and they are all protected by the Illinois Wildlife Code, which states that one cannot harm a bat. Once the young are able to fend for themselves, a professional wildlife company can install a bat valve or one-way door to get rid of the bats. 

Inspection

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

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

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.

Get Rid of Squirrels in Springfield

Springfield’s many parks cause squirrels to become a nuisance in both downtown Springfield and its suburbs. While most people think of squirrels as adorable and energetic, they are rodents and will create a lot of damage if they set up residence in your home. 

Just like rats and mice, squirrel incisor teeth continue to grow throughout their lives, so they have to gnaw constantly in order to maintain them at a proper length. In your attic, invading squirrels will gnaw on wood and electrical wires, as well as items you store in the attic. They also tear insulation to use for their nests and make an unhealthy mess with their urine and feces. 

There are over 200 squirrel species in the U.S. that are classified into three groups: ground, tree, or flying squirrels. Tree and flying squirrels are the ones that will make their nests in your home, and they should never be ignored. Unlike mice and rats, squirrels are not nocturnal, so if you hear noises in your walls or ceiling during the day, chances are you have squirrels. Critter Control is an expert at live trapping squirrels to get them out of your home before costly damage is done. 

Inspection

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

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

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. 

Rodent Removal in Springfield, Illinois

A mouse or rat infestation is one of the last things any homeowner wants to think about. Yet rodents are one of the most common infestations encountered. According to the National Pest Management Association, rodents are a fall and winter problem for nearly 30 percent of Americans. 

Rat removal or mouse removal is difficult for homeowners to manage on their own for several reasons, including the rapid rate at which these critters reproduce, the fact that they are nocturnal, so you may never actually see a rat or mouse, and you never know if you eliminated all of them when you try to do the rat or mouse control on your own. 

Signs of a rodent infestation are clear to see, though. Look for droppings in your pantry, cabinets, and counters, greasy smudge marks along walls and baseboards along their travel routes, and holes chewed through walls or food packaging. 

Rodents are a serious infestation in that they cause costly damage within your home, can cause a fire from chewing on electrical wires, and can transfer disease to people and pets from the feces and the contamination of food. 

The biggest reason for calling in a professional to do your mouse pest control is that you can rest assured that all of the offending animals will be removed. When you choose Critter Control, services also include sealing gaps where rodents enter to help prevent a future infestation, as well as repairing and sanitizing the area where the infestation occurred. 

Inspection

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

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

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.

Get Rid of Birds Safely in Illinois

Birds can be an awful nuisance to homeowners because they are nearly impossible to catch and are also protected by both the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Illinois Wildlife Code. The best method for controlling nuisance birds such as geese, pigeons, starlings, or sparrows is to take away the places they like to land and nest on. 

While birds are mostly lovely to watch and listen to, when a flock descends on your property, their feces and urine not only cause damage to your home, but also present a health danger. The uric acid in bird feces is quite corrosive and will remove paint and corrode your roof and soffits. On the ground, bird feces present a slip risk, and the fungus in the feces can transmit disease. 

Inspection

Inspection

We thoroughly inspect the area for things that attract birds, like harborage and loafing areas, as well as food and water sources. Also, we look for where birds may be entering your home or business. We also inspect for damage caused by birds, whether it's by nesting, or by droppings.

Trapping & Removal

Trapping & Removal

After identifying the bird species, we may start by physically removing the species in question. In rescue situations, such as chimneys or basements, birds can be released on-site if the entrance has been secured properly. Occasionally, live traps will be used, especially if flocks of birds are involved. For persistent birds and larger flocks, several advanced techniques may be applied simultaneously including netting, spikes, ledge products, scare tactics, misting and more. The most effective method of bird control is prevention and exclusion.

Repairs & Prevention

Repairs & Prevention

We can repair the damage that is allowing birds entry to your home, like broken siding, weakened gutters, rotted soffits and fascia. We can also install protective screens on chimneys and vents. We can also remove nesting materials and accumulated droppings, then clean surface stains. We can use netting over fruit and vegetable crops and water basins. Netting can also be used in car ports, building overhangs and food courts. We also install a large number of different types of roof ledge barriers too.
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How Professional Wildlife Control Services Can Help You 

Many people believe they can manage nuisance animal removal on their own by trapping and relocating the invading creatures, but this is neither a wise nor legal solution. For one thing, many animals, such as raccoons and squirrels, become quite aggressive when confronted, especially when there are babies involved. With other infestations, a homeowner will have a difficult time knowing if the full infestation is removed. 

There is a misconception that using a have-a-heart trap and relocating the animal is the humane way to proceed, but it is often not. Any diseases or parasites the relocated animal carries have the potential to spread to the new local animal population, putting those animals and potentially people at risk. In addition, the area where an animal is released likely already has a population of animals using the habitat, which forces the ones being released to travel to find an adequate denning and food source, making them susceptible to both starvation and predators. 

When you need to protect your home, family, and pets from an infestation, call Critter Control for a free inspection. Their professional wildlife control services will: 

  • Send a highly trained specialist to your home who can identify, locate, and provide you with a custom plan with costs for getting rid of the offending wildlife. 

  • Have the proper tools and equipment to humanely remove nuisance animals. 

  • Implement a humane wildlife control solution that includes the careful handling of mothers and their babies. 

  • Not only ensure the entire infestation is gone but also restore your home to pre-infestation conditions and fix the gaps and holes that could result in a new infestation. 

  • Follow all federal, state, and local laws and ordinances while humanely taking wildlife out of your home. 

  • Provide long-term control solutions and a satisfaction guarantee. 

The Critter Control Difference

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.
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