Critter Control of Columbia, SC

Although the raccoon population in Columbia is high, you will rarely see them. They go out at night searching for food. They will eat anything, including leftovers thrown in the trash, scraps behind a restaurant, insects, and even chickens or other small animals. While you’re sleeping, they are out roaming Columbia acting out by tipping trash cans, dumpster diving, raiding pet food containers, and stealing garden crops.
During the day, raccoons like to rest in a safe, cozy spot, like your attic or crawlspace. They are great climbers and will shimmy up the side of your house to get into your chimney or attic. They will break screens, boards, and posts if it helps. Once inside your home, they create a spot for a latrine since they prefer to go to the bathroom in one place.

You may have already heard strange noises coming from parts of your home. It sounds like scratching on walls, ripping drywall or insulation, or footsteps. You may notice electrical issues since they love chewing on wires. Raccoons can turn your home into a fire hazard in a short time. It’s essential to call an expert who can remove the animal and fix your repairs like we’ve done so many times in Columbia. Our process:

We have many different species of rats and mice in Columbia, but it’s the black rat, Norway rat, house mice, and deer mice that will sneak into your home and build nests in your walls, attic, ceilings, vents, ducts, chimney, and even furniture. Some will make nests in your vehicle’s air filter.

Rodents are always on the hunt for food, water, and shelter. If they are in your house and yard, that means you can supply all three. They don’t mind chewing through roof shingles, cabinets, food packaging, drywall, wiring, wood, or anything else to get what they need. As rodents travel throughout your home and yard, they leave a trail of urine and feces. Yes, it’s gross.

According to the Center for Disease Control, rats and mice can carry over 35 diseases. Both rats and mice multiply quickly. If not controlled, you could have an infestation soon. Think dozens upon dozens of poop trails on your property. Let us handle the dirty work before this happens.

Squirrels have caused complete power outages for towns and cities, all due to them chewing on electrical wires. Remember November 2020 when portions of downtown Columbia were without power because of a squirrel?

Because their teeth never stop growing, they constantly search for something to gnaw on, including beams throughout homes, making structures unstable.

Residential squirrels in our area are the gray squirrel and the fox squirrel. They spend most of their time collecting food and nest materials and then storing those items. Squirrels breed twice a year, so they must find a nesting spot close to a food and water supply. Your house is as good as any.

Squirrels like to eat fruits, nuts, seeds, grains, vegetables, leaves, bark, and tiny bird eggs. They can fit whole apples in their mouths. If you have an unfenced garden, your crops may disappear.

If you hear chirping, squeaking, and scurrying in your walls or ceilings, a nest is probably inside your home. That can also mean you have damaged wiring, shredded insulation, broken roof shingles, scratched drywall, and a lot of chewed wood. Ready to get rid of your squirrel problem? Call us.

There are at least 14 bat species in South Carolina. In your attic or office building, the ones you may find are the big and little brown, evening, Brazilian free-tailed bats. Horror films may have given bats a bad rap, but they are beneficial to our ecosystem. They eat a lot of insects. They can eat 15 mosquitos in one minute. They are nocturnal and consume thousands of insects each night, reducing the need for pesticides in our neighborhoods.

So, why do you need to get rid of bats if they are so beneficial and endangered? Good question with one answer, guano, also called bat poop.

Bat guano grows mold spores that can be toxic to humans if inhaled. For some, it can lead to respiratory diseases like histoplasmosis. For bats to be so small, they produce a lot of guano, which can be heavy, weighing down the boards in your attic or building. Bat guano also contains uric acid, which can erode metal and wood. To make things worse, bats poop on themselves while roosting upside down.

The reasons to call an expert for removing a bat from your home or property include: they are filthy, they may carry diseases, the law states they cannot be harassed or harmed, and you don’t have the proper safety equipment- for you and the bat. We can help.

South Carolina lawns, golf courses, and gardens may see skunk damage. The pests dig up turf in search of grubs and insects. Sheds, porches, and foundations make ideal burrowing locations which can lead to structural damage.

Removing food supplies is one of the most effective ways to prevent a skunk from entering your property. Foul-smelling skunk spray affects people, pets, and costly outdoor furniture. To avoid a skunk’s spray, rely on professional handling and skunk trapping. Skunks breed in January and February. Males typically spray during fights over females. A minor skunk problem can quickly magnify during breeding season.

Many people think moles are rodents, but they are mammals. They are like the tiniest version of the groundhog. They dig holes and burrow underground. Moles in Columbia will burrow under buildings like a shed or house, patios, gardens, and swimming pools. They move dirt underground to create massive tunnel systems. This can mean unstable foundations, tripping on a hole, damaged roots of plants and garden crops, and a lot of frustration.

Critter Control can help.

Of the thirty-eight snakes found in South Carolina, six are venomous. If you have a snake in your home, you have another animal pest problem. Snakes generally enter a home looking for food. Snakes will also enter your home to explore, shed its skin, or as a temporary refuge. Removing the snake’s food source is the ideal way to remove a snake.

Residents of Columbia and nearby areas like Anderson, SC, may encounter wild pigs near their homes. These animals enjoy the warm climate and regular rainfall. Overpopulation of the pests is a problem in South Carolina, and feral hog herds damage properties through their rooting and wallowing.

The pests spread diseases, such as swine brucellosis and cholera, that affect people as well as animals. Female feral hogs are also dangerous when protecting their young.

Smaller predators are common in South Carolina’s wooded areas. Property owners often see red and gray foxes in their yards. While both species den under porches or outbuildings, a gray fox can also climb trees.

These pests scavenge in neighborhoods, seeking out homes with garbage or pet food left outside. Red and grey foxes hunt small pets or domestic poultry when other food sources are scarce. Fox populations in South Carolina are prone to diseases such as rabies and canine distemper.