Critter Control of Chicago

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Over 15,000 Households Served

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The human population of Chicago might be declining, but wildlife continues to thrive. The Chicago River and Lake Michigan have kept the Chicago area as an attractive habitat for a variety of wild animals such as coyotes, raccoons, bats, squirrels, foxes, snakes, and a variety of birds. Wildlife becomes a nuisance when they go from being cute to destroying your property or posing a threat to you and your family.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources recommends hiring a wildlife control company to ensure safety for you and the animal. Also, each animal has different regulations on removal and relocation, some requiring permits. Wildlife control companies, like Critter Control, know the regulations.

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.

Raccoon Removal

Raccoons in Chicago are nocturnal thieves. These masked bandits climb trees, chimneys, and spouting, leaving filthy, greasy smudges behind.

Raccoons have hands like humans, allowing them to turn doorknobs, open trash bins, and dig sod to search for bugs. Raccoons eat just about anything, including junk food, pet food, garden crops, insects, and live chickens.

To enter your home, they will force their way into attic vents or under decks and porches. They will stroll through a pet door if it is left open. Once inside, raccoons will tear drywall, rip insulation, scratch on wood, and leave piles of stinky feces and urine. Because feces can grow mold spores and some raccoons carry diseases, you must call a Chicago wildlife expert for removal.

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.

Squirrel Removal in Chicago

Tree squirrels in Chicago can jump up to 10 feet. This could be from the ground to your roof. They are abundant and are always active, gathering and storing food and nest materials. They need a place to store their finds. Often, squirrels will dig holes in your yard and bury items. Other times one will find its way into your attic, crawlspace, chimney or basement.

Squirrels prefer nuts, fruits, bird eggs, leaves, grass, bark, pinecones, grains and seeds. If you have a birdfeeder that stays stocked, you have happy squirrels. Squirrels will chew through siding, wood and drywall to get into your home. But if they can enter through already-made holes, they will take the easier route.

If you suspect squirrels are invading your space, call us right away so we can get rid of your rodent problem.

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. 

Bat Removal

Did you know bats can eat their body weight in insects every night? And they are the only mammal capable of flight. We need bats in Chicago, but we don't need them taking up residency in our attics or barns.

There are 13 species of bats in Chicago, including the big and little brown bat, hoary bats, and silver-haired bats. They are nocturnal creatures, roosting upside down in dark, dry locations during the day.

Bats are protected species because their existence is being threatened by diseases, like the white-nose syndrome. Bats have significant events that take place throughout the year, limiting removal time. The mating season happens in late winter and early spring. Maternity season runs from May to August. The best time to remove bats is between October and March.

When roosting in your attic or other building, bat guano piles up and can seep through cracks in the floor into your home. It gives off a strong smell and stains walls. It can also grow mold spores.

Remember, bat extermination in Chicago is illege. We can remove bats for you.

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.
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Rodent Pest Control

Illinois has six native mice and two native rats. It's the non-native species that become nuisance wildlife, the house mouse and the Norway rat. These two create building infestations, contaminate food, and are a health concern for the public due to the diseases they carry.

You may wonder how rodents get into your home. It's not complicated. Mice can fit through a hole the size of a quarter. Rats can also fit through holes much smaller than their bodies, and they can burrow.

Rats and mice spend a lot of time chewing on flooring, furniture, baseboards, cabinets, food boxes, walls, ductwork, and pipes. They chew every type of material, including metals and electrical wiring. They gather a wide array of items to make nests, which are often found in ducts, vents, and chimneys, creating fire hazards.

They also reproduce multiple times throughout the year, having numerous babies per litter. An infestation can quickly occur if not dealt with early on. As soon as you suspect a rat or mouse problem, call us.

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.

Skunk Control

It may be rare you run into a skunk in Chicago, but they are out there, rooting through debris for insects, fruits, nuts, grains, seeds and more. While they are most active at night, you may occasionally catch them traveling alone or with their kits during the day. The nests for those kits may be under your home.

If a skunk feels threatened, it will release a foul-smelling spray. If it sprays in an area under your home, the fumes can travel into your home, lasting for 10 days or longer. If your pet gets sprayed, they can bring it into your home also. If you've ever smelled skunk spray, then you know it's not something you ever want to smell again.

Skunks carry diseases, so if you need to remove skunks, call the experts.

Inspection

Inspection

In addition to noting any pungent odors that signal the presence of a skunk, we will inspect the condition of your landscaping, as skunks are known for tearing-up lawns and shredding grass while hunting for grubs and insects. We will also inspect the perimeter of your building's foundations and under decks, to locate burrows.
 

Trapping and Removal

Trapping and Removal

Never try to remove a skunk from your property yourself. Getting sprayed is a very unpleasant experience. Furthermore, these animals may carry diseases that can spread to humans and pets, such as rabies. Our specialists will use live traps to capture and remove skunks for you, or they'll use a one-way exclusion device to evict skunks from their harborage areas. The most effective ways to control a skunk problem is exclusion and habitat modification.
Skunk Control

Skunk Control

The most effective ways to control a skunk problem is exclusion and habitat modification. Methods like sealing foundation gaps, replacing and screening broken foundation vents and installing hardware cloth (rat walls) around unprotected sheds and decks are the most effective and permanent ways to keep skunks out.
We recommend keeping pet food inside and securing any trash bins.

Bird Control

Despite the tall buildings and urban bustle, Chicago, IL, harbors plenty of wildlife. One of the most common pest animals is the rock pigeon, which roosts on manmade structures. The pest bird 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.

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.
Get them out.
Keep them out.®
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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.
Financing Available Critter Control offers in-house financing. Both standard and 90-day same as cash financing options have 12-,18-,24-, or 36-month options. Some projects might qualify for a budgeted plan up to 60 months.
Critter Control Guarantee Your satisfaction is always guaranteed. We provide reliable prevention from future intrusions. Resolving a nuisance wildlife issue calls for more than trapping and removing the critter. Our exclusion services offer immediate and long-term wildlife solutions.

FAQ Chicago Wildlife

What are some of the most common wildlife issues that homeowners face in Chicago?

Animals in attics, under stoops, patios, and decks. Animals tearing up lawns, damaging home siding and roofs. Beavers chewing on trees.

How do the seasons affect wildlife activity in your area?

Cold weather slows animal activity.

What are some common signs of nuisance wildlife activity?

Noises in the home. Trails through attic insulation. Holes in the ground, or sod being rolled. Visual footprints on downspouts.

When should homeowners call Critter Control?

Homeowners should call at the first sign of animal activity. The longer you wait, the more costly the service could be.
Need insect pest control(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window)(Opens in a new window)? Visit our sister brand Fox Pest Control. 
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