Critter Control of Citrus, FL is here for you every step of the way in the wildlife removal process in Citrus, Hernando and Sumter Counties. 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.
The raccoons in west central Florida search for nuts, fruits, seeds, vegetables, roots, insects, fish, reptiles and junk food. We have an abundance of all these foods. There is no lack of water either. The only thing left is shelter. Raccoons love to find refuge in your attic, in crawlspaces and under decks.
Because raccoons scavenge in the evening and during the night, they can get away with many mischievous activities, like overturning garbage cans, opening trash bags and raiding pet food containers. Consuming so much food means eventually, they will be dropping waste. This usually takes place when they are back in your home, resting.
When you call us to get rid of the raccoons in your home, here’s what happens.
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.
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.
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.
The rats and mice in Florida contaminate ten times as much food as they eat, which is also what you eat. They love junk food and will break into cabinets and food boxes to satisfy their hunger. Most common are the Norway rat, house mouse and roof rat.
Both rats and mice can fit themselves through tiny holes. They can create fire hazards when gnawing on electrical wires. They leave feces and urine everywhere they go. Because they carry many diseases, it could affect your health. Rats and mice are more active at night while you sleep. The Critter Control process works well to get rid of rats and mice in your home.
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.
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.
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.
Like raccoons, squirrels are cute scavengers that do incredible damage to your home and property. You can expect to see the Southern flying squirrel, Mexican red-bellied squirrel, Eastern gray squirrel and various fox squirrels in Crystal River, the Villages, or Spring Hill. Our squirrels enjoy eating nuts, seeds, fruits and bird eggs. If you look around your property, you probably see many sources of food for local squirrels.
Squirrels are collectors. They need a place to store their goods, have baby squirrels and stay warm during the winter months. There’s no better place than your attic, which is easy to reach since squirrels can climb and scurry across thin wires and ledges.
Squirrels can quickly become a nuisance. We can help.
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.
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.
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.
Some of the more common bats in Florida are the Mexican free-tailed, evening, Eastern, Seminole and Northern yellow bats. Caves and trees are a bat’s natural roosting space. But some find roosting in your attic or the eaves of buildings a better shelter. They can even roost in walls and chimneys.
All bats in Floirda are insectivores. They can eat thousands of insects in an hour. We need help from bats in controlling the insect population in our neighborhoods. Being surrounded by so many water sources, we are overloaded with insects.
A large maternity colony in your attic can leave piles of guano. Guano has good qualities, like as a fertilizer. Bat guano can grow mold spores that are dangerous for humans to inhale. It can weaken the structure of your home and sag ceilings. Also, urine and feces leave stains on your home.
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).
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.
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 is well-known as the home of a variety of mostly nonvenomous—and several venomous—snake species. According to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the state is home to 51 native and four nonnative species. Nature Coast residents should treat any snake with caution, as this region is home to several venomous species, including the coral snake and cottonmouth.
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.
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.
In addition to dealing with any possible rodent problem drawing snakes to your property, a specialist will assist with sealing possible entry points and also encourage you to remove any debris where snakes can easily take up residence.
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.
Rats, Raccoons, Armadillos, Moles, Gophers (pocket), Snakes, Bats, Mosquitoes, Squirrels, Birds, Bees, Wand Spiders.
In the central west Florida, mammals, such as raccoons and squirrels, often have multiple litters per year which causes them to enter structures more often than in the north. Snakes are year-round here, but activity is intense during the spring and summer. Bees, wasps and yellow jacket hives survive year-round, become super hives and split off creating many new hives.
Noises in attic, walls and crawlspaces. Animal contaminants and debris coming out of air condition vents (can cause breathing problems). Parts of roof or siding torn or gnawed off. Black staining on exterior or interior of buildings. Uplifted sod or holes in lawn/beds.
Listen for creaks and noises early morning and evening throughout house. Walk around your house and look for anything out of place at least once per month.
-Close off openings ¼” or greater at foundation, walls and on roofs.
-Address any wood rot issues.
-Install a chimney cap if applicable.
Be safe and please ask for help if you are unsure how to resolve your pest issue. We provide free assessments and recommendations.
Anytime you have a pest issue or question. We are here to help.
