When Should You Call for Professional Wildlife Removal?

Have you noticed a hole in your roof, siding, or soffit? Your first reaction might be to call a contractor or tackle the repair yourself. Wait! Before dialing that number or grabbing your tool belt, contact wildlife professionals. Holes in your home’s exterior could be animal entry points. Sealing these entries can have catastrophic consequences for the creatures and your home. Wildlife removal experts can remove animals, repair damage and prevent their return.

This in-depth guide covers everything from recognizing entry points to understanding animal intrusions. Explore the benefits of using professionals over contractors for a more secure home. Here’s when you should call wildlife removal services:

1. You Notice Roof, Siding, or Soffit Damage

Your roof, siding, and soffit protect your home’s exterior. Siding protects against weather and insulates against heat loss. A soffit sits under the roof’s overhang, connecting to the siding. These components form a barrier that blocks the elements, retains heat and deters wildlife.

Damage to roofs, sidings, and soffits can occur for many reasons. Cracks and holes may result from weather exposure, neglect, or faulty installation. Animal activity is another contributor. Creatures may create or widen existing holes to access the building.

Some common damage signs to watch for:

Water stains: Water can creep through cracks in your roof, siding, or soffits. Note any peeling paint, discoloration, and stains. These signs may appear on the exterior of your home or the interior on walls or ceilings. Water damage can affect the building’s structural integrity if left unchecked. Animal urine is another cause of unpleasant stains.
Holes and cracks: Sunlight peeking through the roof may suggest holes. Animals can wriggle through even the smallest gap. Investigate the building’s exterior for cracks, tears, or compromised seals.
Sagging areas: Sagging soffits are a sign of underlying problems. The culprits may be water damage, age, improper installation, or animal infestation. Tackling the cause early prevents costlier, complex problems later.
Decay and rot: Moisture penetrating wooden siding or soffits can cause rot and mold. While it may not be immediately visible, over time, rot can cause decay, weakening the material. Wildlife exploits weak spots, with termites eating wood and rodents squeezing through cracks.
Loose or missing material: A missing roof shingle may seem like a small issue until you have a scurry of squirrels nesting in your attic. Extreme weather or high temperatures can loosen materials. Animals like raccoons also pull shingles off. Loose or missing materials can lead to further damage and serve as entry points for wildlife.
High energy bills: A sudden spike in energy bills may signal a problem with your insulating roof, siding, or soffits. Poor ventilation can also make your HVAC system work harder than necessary.

2. You Identify Animal Entry Points

If you’ve found holes in your soffits and want to call a contractor to repair them, do some investigation first. The holes could be entry points. Hiring a contractor over a wildlife expert could exacerbate the issue.

Visual Indicators

A visual inspection can reveal clues of animal invasion. Look for the following signs:

Droppings: A common animal calling card is droppings. The size and location of the droppings can depend on the type of creature. Rodents leave small droppings, while raccoons leave larger ones, often near chimneys or roof vents. Bat droppings are dark and powdery.
Tracks: Paw prints near entry points or water sources indicate animal activity. A clever tip for spotting animal prints is to sprinkle flour near suspected entry points.
Claw or teeth marks: Creatures may use their teeth and claws to create entry points. Look for scratches or gnaw marks on siding, soffits, or window frames.
Damaged property: Squirrels and rodents often chew wiring or strip insulation for nesting. Mice or rats chew through food packaging. Raccoons may tear up landscaping and knock over trash cans.

Noises and Smells

Certain sounds and odors can alert you to animal visitors inside your home or business. The most common areas to hear noises are inside walls, ceilings, attics, and crawl spaces. Noises may be louder during the day or at night, depending on when animals are more active. Listen for:

Scratching or clawing
Scurrying or scampering
Banging or thumping
Chattering or vocalizations
Fluttering or flapping
Gnawing or chewing

Strong, unpleasant smells can indicate animal droppings, urine, or decay. Other odors include a musky smell from mammals like squirrels or raccoons. Rodent urine gives off an ammonia-like smell. Nesting material can smell like wet fabric or old leaves.

Behavioral Signs

The final indicator of animal presence in your home is behavior. Be aware of these signs:

Frequent sightings: Seeing animals near your home could suggest they have found a way in.
Increased activity: Many wildlife species, like opossums and raccoons, are nocturnal. Seeing these animals at dusk or dawn may suggest they have entered your home.
Aggression: Defensive or aggressive animal behavior may signal a nearby nest or young.
Unusual pet behavior: Dogs or cats may be more alert when wildlife is near. Watch for increased barking or signs of anxiety in certain home areas.
Nesting: Animals gathering leaves, twigs, or insulation are likely nesting near your home.
Presence of young animals: Baby animals may mean nests and increased animal activity.

3. You Recognize Common House Invaders

Some common critters that sneak into buildings include:

Rodents

According to the National Pet Management Association (NPMA), rodents invade around 21 million U.S. homes each winter. These small creatures can cause significant damage. With ever-growing teeth, rats will gnaw on wires, furniture, walls, and insulation. Mice and rats love to seek shelter in homes, especially in the cooler seasons. They can squeeze through the tiniest openings.

Raccoons

Raccoons may look cute and be the star of many YouTube videos, but they can cause extensive harm. These smart, adaptable animals often enter attics and garages for food or shelter. They are strong enough to tear through roofing materials. Raccoons wreak havoc by shredding insulation, damaging air ducts, and gnawing on electrical wiring.

Squirrels

Squirrels are members of the rodent family. They can fit through ping-pong ball-sized holes and chew on soffits, siding, and shingles. Gutters blocked with leaves and twigs may suggest a nest. Like rats, squirrels’ incisor teeth don’t stop growing. Imagine them as teething babies, gnawing on everything from wood to wires.

Bats

Unlike other animal intruders, bats find ways into homes through existing holes. Their oily fur helps them slip through entry points, often leaving greasy stains or tufts of fur. Bats choose to roost in dark, secluded spaces like attics. These mammals are important to the environment. They pollinate, spread seeds, and control pests. Many endangered and protected species live in North America.

Birds

Birds like sparrows, starlings, and pigeons may nest in vents or damaged siding. Acidic bird droppings are damaging to health and surfaces. When nesting materials get trapped in HVAC ducts, it can cause fire hazards.

Opossums

These marsupials may enter homes through pet doors or holes in exterior walls. They favor dark, quiet spots like attics, crawl spaces, and underneath the decking. Signs of opossum activity include tracks, nocturnal noise, sightings or unpleasant odors. Opossums can transmit diseases and cause property damage.

Ringtail Cats

Often found in San Antonio, these creatures fall under the raccoon family. Ringtail cats are curious climbers. They may enter a home or business searching for rodents to snack on. Once inside, they can damage insulation and ductwork. Listen for sounds like squeaking, chirping and chattering, indicating that you have ringtails indoors.

Each type of animal requires a specific method of removal. Understanding their behavior is crucial in preventing future invasions.

Why Animals Invade Homes or Businesses

You know the how and the what. Now for the why. Wildlife venture into buildings for many reasons, such as:

Food sources: Homes can provide easy access to food. Garbage cans, pet food bowls, bird feeders, and scraps are like gourmet cuisine.
Water availability: Animals want consistent water sources, especially in areas with little rainfall. Puddles, leaking hoses, pet bowls, and birdbaths can lure wildlife to your home.
Shelter and warmth: During cold or nesting seasons, creatures seek warmth and safety. Attics, basements, crawl spaces, and walls provide the ideal environment.
Predator avoidance: Buildings and roof eaves offer safety from predators for smaller animals. Wildlife also seeks security to breed and raise their young.
Disappearing habitats: Urban and suburban expansion destroys natural habitats. Shrinking ecosystems force wildlife to find alternative living areas.
Unintentional invitations: Overgrown plants, woodpiles, and clutter invite wildlife to hide and nest.
Climate change: Ever-changing weather patterns drive animals to find stable temperatures.

4. You Want to Avoid the Risks of Wildlife Intrusions

Allowing wildlife to reside in your home can result in unwelcome consequences:

Health Hazards

Wildlife carry diseases ranging from rabies to histoplasmosis, a lung infection caused by breathing in spores found in bird and bat droppings. Droppings, urine, or dander can trigger allergies. Animals can bring parasites, such as fleas and ticks, impacting humans and pets. They may contaminate food, causing illness. Certain wildlife, like rodents, can attract snakes and other pests.

Building Damage

Creatures can cause devastating property damage. Gnawing on wood, siding, roofing, and insulation for entry can cause structural damage. Rodents chew on wires, leading to electrical shorts or fire risks. Some creatures may nest in pipes or vents, causing blockages. Insulation is a popular nesting material. Compressed or contaminated insulation reduces its effectiveness.

Animal openings allow water to seep into the interior, leading to mildew, mold, or rot. Left untreated, water damage can impact a building’s structural integrity.

Decreased Property Value

Visible damage and infestations can make a property less appealing to potential buyers. Odors and stains from animal waste can penetrate buildings, making removal difficult.

Quick wildlife removal prevents further damage, maintaining a safe and healthy environment.

The Benefits of Hiring Wildlife Removal Experts Over Contractors

Hiring a contractor to repair damage to your roof, siding or soffit is tempting. If there’s any chance of animal intrusion, it’s best to call wildlife professionals. Consider these benefits of hiring wildlife removal experts over roofing contractors:

Specialized Expertise in Wildlife Habits

Wildlife removal experts understand animal behavior and habits. Their training enables them to locate, identify, and remove creatures. They can also prevent future intrusions by various wildlife species.

Prevention of Future Infestations

Wildlife experts can identify and seal entry points to prevent future issues. They remove the animal and identify the root cause, suggesting long-term solutions. Examples include trimming tree branches away from the roof or securing trash bins.

Health and Safety Experts

Animal removal specialists handle hazardous situations, including aggressive wildlife and animals that may carry diseases. They remove any contaminated materials to lower the risk of human transmission.

Licensing and Legal Compliance

Wildlife removal experts often hold specific licenses for trapping and removal. Laws may protect certain wildlife species. Professionals know these regulations and can ensure compliance with state and federal laws. Providers also often carry full general liability and workers’ compensation insurance.

Damage Assessment and Repairs

The damage caused by animals may go beyond the roof, siding, and soffits. After removing animals, wildlife removal specialists can repair damage to prevent future invasions. These services may include sealing entry points and fixing structural damage. They have access to specialized tools and methods for the job.

The Risks of Calling a Contractor Instead

Calling a contractor over wildlife removal services for animal intrusions risks the following:

Trapped animals: Contractors may misdiagnose wildlife signs. Focusing on repair instead of the root cause has unwelcome consequences. Roof patching or soffit repair could seal animals in, leading to further damage or death of the animals.
Improper handling: Contractors lack training in safe and efficient animal handling. A lack of experience can injure the animal, contractor, or the home’s inhabitants.
Inadequate removal: Leaving the underlying wildlife issue unresolved can lead to recurring problems.
Health hazards: Wildlife removal teams decontaminate areas affected by animal waste or carcasses. Contractors may not have the knowledge or qualifications to address these concerns.
Legal issues: Ignorance of wildlife laws and regulations could result in illegal actions. These actions may have legal repercussions for the homeowner.
Lack of exclusion work: Contractors might fix visible damage but lack the expertise to prevent re-entry.
Damage risk: Contractors are not trained to identify animal entry points or nests. They, or the animals, might cause more damage to your property as a result.
Cost inefficiency: If a contractor fails to solve the problem, you may still need the services of a wildlife specialist. This added expense will cost more than hiring a removal service from the beginning.

Consulting with removal experts first ensures safe and effective handling of wildlife intrusions.

Trust Urban Jungle for Effective Wildlife Removal

Do you have a hole in your siding, soffit, or roof? Call wildlife removal first, not a contractor! Urban Jungle is a fully insured and licensed wildlife removal expert serving Texas. Our qualified team of experts holds college degrees in biology or a related field. We offer a full suite of services, including:

Trapping and removal: Our team locates, traps, and removes animals from your property.
Exclusion and repair: With Urban Jungle, you don’t need to hire a contractor to repair entry points. We get animals out, repair any damage and apply preventive measures to ensure they stay gone.
Cleanup, sanitation, and insulation: Your health is our priority. Our team removes any carcasses or hazardous waste and sanitizes the area.

If you suspect a wildlife problem, contact Urban Jungle today! Let us restore your creature comforts by removing creatures from your home or business.