Homeowners can feel confused when trying to find a pest control service for their nuisance wildlife problem. The first time someone considers how to get rid of a raccoon or squirrel is when that critter is in their attic. Finding the right pest control professional to help your property become pest free.
Exterminators and wildlife control operators both provide pest management and pest control. While sharing the common goal of keeping properties free of pests, there are key differences between the two.
What is an Exterminator?
Exterminators approach pest problems with the aim of killing offenders via the controlled application of toxic chemicals.
Common pests exterminators target include:
- Termites
- Ants
- Bed bugs
- Fleas
- Roaches
- Mosquitoes
- Other bugs
Rodent exterminators get rid of mice and rats using traps and bait stations.
You usually notice an immediate effect after an exterminator. It is necessary to reapply pesticides. The effectiveness wears off or new pests show up. One application is not a long-term solution.
Animal Exterminators
Nuisance wildlife exterminators are not humane or effective methods of pest control. Rodenticides do not kill mice and rats immediately. The rodents can find hidden crevices in your house to die which causes another set of problems. Poisoned rats or mice can be consumed by predators like birds, coyotes, or foxes which introduces poison to other animals.
In most states, exterminating wildlife like raccoons, squirrels, bats, or birds is illegal. Besides killing an animal does not solve the problem. The nuisance wildlife gained access to your house and that entry point still exists.
Wildlife Control Operators
Wildlife control is the integrated approach for animal trapping, removal, and exclusion of various nuisance wildlife.
Common pests wildlife control handle include:
- Raccoons
- Squirrels
- Bats
- Opossums
- Rats
- Mice
- Birds
Wildlife control differs from extermination chiefly in that it is as humane as possible, doesn’t traditionally make use of toxic chemicals, and treats long-term animal exclusion as a top priority.
Wildlife control operator solves the entire pest problem. After animal trapping and removal, they identify the entry points used by the animal and seal them. Finally, they sanitize and clean up the mess left by the wild animal.
What about Nuisance Birds?
In the United States, all but three birds are protected by the 1918 Migratory Bird Act. That act makes it illegal to trap, exterminate, harm, or displace birds, their young, or their eggs. You cannot physically manipulate nuisance birds. Because of these regulations, the setting and species determine the bird control solutions. Wildlife control operators know which bird control devices to use to encourage the pest birds to go somewhere else.
Exclusion vs Extermination
Exterminators control pests by routinely applying pesticides or insecticides. Wildlife exclusion is the practice of altering the environment in which you live to make it less accessible to wildlife.
Considered to be more humane than many other pest control methods, it generally means erecting barriers to reduce access of wildlife to resources such as food, cover, and water.
After removing all pests from a given location, the wildlife control professional will search the building for specific points of entry, which will then be repaired.
Typical Exclusion Points
There are some parts of a house that animals break into frequently, and are most often in need of repair following an animal infestation:
Rooflines. There are many points on your roof that can provide animals with access to your home, including attic vents, turbine vents, roof flashings, gutter lines, and more.
Soffits. A soffit is the horizontal underside of the eave, or the extended portion of the roof over the edge of the house, which usually contains screens to ventilate the attic. Squirrels are the primary offenders when it comes to soffits because they can chew right through soffit vents—if they are flimsy enough—and gain direct access to your attic, where they like to nest.
Vent openings. Modern homes are full of appliances, many of which require vents to function properly. Since these vents must be open to the outside to expel gases, they are also open to pests.
Windows and doors. That tiny gap in your window trim might not look especially problematic, but the grim reality is that mice can fit through holes just a quarter of an inch in size. The good news is, small gaps in window trim can easily be sealed with caulk.
Cracks and holes around foundations. Small holes in a house’s foundation can let in small animals like snakes and rodents.
Chimneys. Chimneys must be able to open to the sky to expel smoke, and many people don’t bother closing their flues, which can let animals in.
Pest Control Professionals
Depending on your pest infestations will determine the type of pest control company to call. Exterminators use various methods to get rid of pests, with pesticides typically being the first line of treatment. It is not feasible to exclude insects from your house.
Wildlife control operators use various methods to eliminate and prevent pest activity. “Control” refers to how they manage each pest species using long-term solutions. The primary treatments are safe and humane traps, one-way valves, and exclusions. Wildlife control operators determine why pests are in your home.
Wildlife experts follow regulations when setting the most effective traps, using appropriate bait in the correct location, all of which can vary per species. They implement exclusion techniques to make your property less attractive to nuisance wildlife so they don’t return and so you don’t have to make repeated calls for help.
Best Pest Control Services
- Type of pest
- Location of pest problem
- Problems created by the pests
If you have nuisance wildlife, please consult with a wildlife control service such as Trutech Wildlife. Our team of experts will work around your schedule to deal with nuisance animals quickly and ethically
