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.
What Are the Major Wildlife Concerns in Mobile and Gulf Shores, Alabama?
In the Mobile and Gulf Shores area, we have a sub-tropical climate that can bring in a wide range of temperatures and weather events. This variety can also bring in a range of nuisance wildlife. With recent storms, we’re reminded that local wildlife can end up inside your home rather quickly. Some are there for food, water, and shelter. Others are forced in by high winds or flooding.
Even on the calm, beautiful days along the Coast, you can see various bird species, squirrels, rabbits, snakes, lizards, and turtles. Wildlife you don’t see during the day include raccoons, rats, mice, and bats. All these animals can cause damage to your home and property if not controlled.
It is never a good idea to try and get rid of nuisance wildlife alone. Rather than put yourself at risk, call wildlife control experts, like the ones at Critter Control, who have the right tools and equipment for safe removal. Here are some examples of how we work to control the wildlife in Mobile and Gulf Shores.
Raccoon Removal
If you’ve seen a raccoon in Mobile or Gulf Shores during the day, something was probably wrong with the animal. Typically, they only go out at night to scavenge for food, and they can travel up to six miles in search of the right treat. That’s like going from Mobile to Prichard or Chickasaw to satisfy their hunger.
Raccoons are masked bandits for a reason. They can be mischievous. They turn over garbage cans, scatter trash along the road, and dig holes in your yard searching for insects. They will not let much get in their way because they eat anything, including junk food, pet feed, bugs, and small animals. When resting, they prefer a warm, cozy spot, like your attic.
Raccoons will enter your home through open holes. They will also break vents, boards, and screens pushing their way inside. Once inside, they create a spot specifically for feces and urine. Then they begin to destroy ducts, insulation, drywall, and stored items. They must be dealt with professionally.
Inspection: Our experts identify every entry point they use to enter your home. We locate signs of damage both inside and outside your home, as well as food and water sources nearby.
Removal: Raccoons are considered game animals. We follow all local and state regulations when safely and humanely trapping raccoons for removal. We cannot relocate raccoons, but we do implement exclusion methods to prevent them from returning.
Repair: Raccoons leave smudges that need to be cleaned. We remove feces and urine and can apply sanitization techniques. We often repair vents and install screens over an opening used by raccoons to enter your home. Areas like chimneys, decks, and porches are popular raccoon entry points. We reduce the amount of food and water sources that attract raccoons. We relocate birdfeeders, fence gardens, and adequately store animal feed.
Other nighttime thieves without manners are rodents.
Rat and Mice Pest Control
Roof rats, brown rats, and house mice are just a few of the rodent species in the Mobile and Gulf Shores region. If you see one rodent, there are likely many more nearby. Rats and mice love to build nests in your walls, attic, ceiling, or even behind baseboards. When you’re not looking, they sneak out to grab crumbs off the counter or gnaw through food boxes in your cabinets.
Rodents can ruin perfectly good food items, wasting hard-earned money. Rats and mice gnaw on anything, from wires to carpets, and they leave droppings and urine behind everywhere they travel. Because rats and mice multiply quickly and often, it’s essential to call our experts at the first sign of a rodent.
Inspection: Critter Control experts identify all holes or cracks rodents use to enter your home and assess damages. Mice can fit through a hole the size of a quarter, while rats can squeeze through spaces the size of a golf ball. We find the spots you have never noticed.
Removal: We use humane traps to remove rodents from your home or building.
Repair: Our pros note they often repair gnawed wires and seal small holes between rooms and to the outside. They clear debris from your yard, screen vents and chimneys, and store foods properly.
Another rodent we deal with a lot in our coastal region is the squirrel.
Squirrel Removal
The gray, fox, and Southern flying squirrel are the main types of squirrels in Mobile and Gulf Shores. Squirrels are cute, especially when they fill their cheeks with food and scurry off before being noticed as if they were stealing a prized possession. When you see where they go to store items for the winter months, you realize squirrels can be a nuisance.
Often, it’s your home and yard that becomes a squirrel’s hoarding dream location. Squirrels usually store things in your vents or chimney, creating the perfect fire hazard. They make nests in your walls or attic, shredding insulation, wires, and drywall.
The rapid scurrying from the ground to a tree limb to the roof and then inside your home is not so cute anymore. We can help.
Inspection: We must first find out how a squirrel is getting into your home. Then, we identify all food sources, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, grass, bark, and grains. We also assess damages.
Removal: While squirrels are out doing their thing, we do our thing by making sure they cannot reenter your home. We remove nests, feces, and urine left behind. If a squirrel doesn’t leave your home, we use safe and humane squirrel traps that meet local and state guidelines.
Repair: Our goal is an exclusion to prevent future squirrel problems. We fence gardens, trim tree branches, install tree and roof barriers to avoid climbing, repair damaged wires, replace insulation and drywall, and fix screens on chimneys and vents. If you have bird feeders, you may want to get rid of them since they represent a goldmine for squirrels.
Bat Removal
Bats commonly roosting in Mobile and Gulf Shore attics, offices, or other man-made structures include the little and big brown bats, the Brazilian free-tailed bats, and the tri-colored bats. Bats are necessary for our environment. They eat thousands of insects a night. There are strict laws in Alabama about the removal of bats from your structure. They are considered a protected species.
Bats wouldn’t be such a problem if they didn’t leave behind so much guano, or feces, and urine. They even poop and pee while roosting upside down, covering their fur in it. That’s why it is crucial never to try and remove a bat yourself. If you touch one, you are handling its guano and urine, known to grow mold. If you inhale the mold, you are at risk of developing respiratory problems like histoplasmosis. You do not want this disease.
Also, bat guano and urine contain uric acid, which can erode metals and wood. Let our experts do the dirty work of bat removal.
Inspection: Our inspection focuses primarily on assessing damages and identifying food and water sources.
Removal: We focus on closing the holes and cracks that allowed the bats into your attic so they can’t return. If a bat doesn’t leave, we have safety equipment specific to bat removal.
Repairs: You will be glad to know we remove bat guano and urine and apply a sanitization technique. While we can’t remove the stains from the guano and urine, we can remove smudges they leave behind when their fur touches a part of your property. Exclusion methods include reducing or eliminating food and water sources that attract insects. Areas with stagnant water, exterior lights, uncovered trash, and livestock manure attracts bugs that attract bats.
Snake Removal
Snakes are common on the Coast. We have water surrounding us everywhere, from the ocean to rivers, lakes, and ponds. When waters rise, snakes make their way into our yards and homes. While most snakes are not harmful, they can still be a nuisance.
Snakes are beneficial for the environment. They eat small rodents and can even eat predatory snakes, protecting people and pets. However, they create a fearful reaction among people who accidentally bump into them in strange places, like their basement or vehicle.
We are skilled at snake removal.
Inspection: When we are called to remove snakes, the homeowner has often located them for us. We focus on removal and exclusion.
Removal: We remove the snake using safety equipment. We follow local and state regulations regarding removal, and when possible, we relocate them to a designated area. We work with Wildlife departments to ensure we remove them correctly.
Repair: Exclusion techniques for snakes include manicuring your yard and making sure debris is cleared. Keeping your grass mowed is critical. Also, removing water sources when possible will reduce snake intrusion. We seal holes in your home where snakes can enter. Protecting backyard pets, like chickens, is helpful. Snakes enjoy chicken eggs and will sneak in your coop for a treat.
Opossum and Skunk Control
Opossums and skunksare two other pests common in Alabama. These animals comb lawns for insects, rodents, and garden produce. Either a skunk or an opossum can create a foul odor when it feels cornered. While opossums simply hope to look and smell like carrion, skunks will spray people and pets with great accuracy.
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How Professional Wildlife Services Can Help You
Professional wildlife experts have the knowledge and training needed to remove nuisance wildlife safely. They have
- Extensive training on all wildlife and their habits.
- Licensure and insurance.
- Tools and equipment to provide safe and humane services.
Why Choose Critter Control
Critter Control of Mobile and Gulf Shores gives you even more, like
- Experts with the knowledge on how to safely remove feces and urine.
- Quick response time and professional consultations.
- Good relationships and communications between our experts and local wildlife management departments.
Critter Control Services
- Wild Animal Removal
- Safe, humane removal of nuisance animals and pests from your home or property.
- Wildlife Pest Prevention
- Reliable prevention from future animal intrusions in your home.
- Animal Damage Repairs
- Professional and permanent repairs to entry points, insulation, and damage from animal urine or feces.
Nuisance Wildlife FAQ in Mobile
What are some of the most common wildlife issues that homeowners face in Mobile and Gulf Shores?Rats, squirrels, raccoons, and bats in attics.
How do the seasons affect wildlife activity in Alabama’s Gulf Coast?
Rats are year-round problems. Squirrels are also year-round nuisances. Raccoons are heaviest in spring and summer with some fall activity. Bats are major problems May through September.
What are some common signs of nuisance wildlife activity?
Noises in the attic, scratching in ceiling or walls, walking noises above head, staining on siding, guano buildup around foundation or what looks like “dog poop” on roof.
Any prevention tips for residents in your area?
Have a professional seal your home to prevent common exploitation or break-in by smart and determined animals.
When should homeowners call Critter Control?
The minute they hear something or know they have an issue… the longer they “ignore” the problem, the more damage is done.
How much does Critter Control Cost?
There are a number of factors that determine pricing; location of the animal (i.e. – chimney, attic, crawl, wall void, living area), condition of the animal (i.e. – sick, aggressive, dead), location and condition of the property and time of year (i.e. – weather condition, offspring present?). Generally speaking, pricing will vary by location and species for just the animal removal and that pricing usually does not include the entry repair.