What Was That? Safely Removing Critters from Your Home, And When Not To Mess With Them

Fall has officially started. Though the leaves are just starting to change colors, the temperature is beginning to drop and animals are starting to look for ways to wait out a difficult, chilly winter. Is there a home repair that you meant to do this summer and just didn’t quite get around to it? If so, you had better either find time or find someone who can do the job for you: Putting it off much longer could yield unwanted visitors in your attic or home. Taking steps to prevent the little woodland creatures from entering in the first place is the most effective way of removing them from your home. However, for those of you who are already in a position of having a squirrel or mouse in the house, here are some suggestions for getting them out.

Does it Fly? Open Up the House

Birds and bats are funny. They will fly into your house looking for a warm place to stay, and in many cases will immediately want to leave. This is due primarily to the fact that they are not too keen on staying in the presence of people, or around dogs or cats. By opening up windows, you accomplish two things. First, you provide the animal several opportunities to return outside of their own accord. Second, and perhaps more importantly, you provide yourself several places you can release the animal outside, either by catching it or by simply chasing it through the nearest opening. One important note, however: You need to be able to close up the house reasonably quickly after getting rid of the animal. While it is not terribly likely to fly right back in, it can happen, and it is incredibly frustrating when it does happen.

These tips should only be put into effect, however, if you have a bird or bat which is smaller. If you have a bird of prey (hawks, eagles) or a scavenger bird in your house (vultures), call experts to handle the larger birds, as they can be dangerous.

Squirrels, Mice and Rats? Use All the Tools in the Tool Box

Often times, it can take a variety of methods to rid a home of small rodents. Trapping, baiting, and exclusion are all excellent measures to take. However, the “tools” that you use should be geared more towards your specific issue. Connor’s Pest Protection designs programs dependent on the house and the occupants, and recommends you do the same, since no one option is a guarantee for all houses and all situations.

Also, if you are attempting to do some pest control on your own, we understand that some people may feel uncomfortable using traditional small rodent traps (which usually kill the animal on the spot). One alternative for catching small rodents is with a one-way cage trap. These allow the animal to enter, but not to leave the cage, allowing you to take the creature back outside and release it there.

Keep in mind that some of these cages can trap creatures as large as a raccoon, and extreme care is necessary with such creatures as they can reach unexpectedly far from their cage in order to deliver nasty scratches and bites. The risk skyrockets with the possibility of a rabid animal in the cage. If you have a raccoon, opossum, or other large creature in your house, Connor’s strongly recommends seeking wildlife control experts as soon as possible to prevent damage to your home and possessions.

Pest Control for Critters – A Tough Job, But We’re Here For You

It can be a hassle and perhaps a little disconcerting to deal with the critters moving into your home. That’s why we’re here. We offer many options for a wide variety of pest control, and we look at the problem before giving you the answer. You don’t have to feel overwhelmed with critters invading your home – give us a call today!