Wildlife Removal + Exclusion

Why this matters

Nuisance wildlife (raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, bats) is the highest-margin work in a pest-control route. Single-job revenue. Customer pays cash for relief from animals in the attic; insurance often covers if damage is documented. Many states require a separate Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) license - confirm yours before quoting.

Scope + license

Applies to:

• Raccoon, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, flying squirrel, opossum, skunk, chipmunk
• Bat exclusion (federally protected species - DO NOT trap-out; exclusion only, performed outside maternity season)
• Bird exclusion (pigeon, starling, sparrow are non-protected invasive species; native songbirds + raptors are federally protected)

Excludes:

• Deer, bear, coyote, large predators (state wildlife agency call)
• Federally protected species (eagles, hawks, owls, woodpeckers, native songbirds) - DO NOT remove without USFWS permit
• Domestic animals (animal control jurisdiction)

License required: most states require NWCO license + commercial GL covering wildlife work. Many states ALSO require humane-trap certification + chemical-immobilization endorsement separately.

Inspection (60 - 90 minutes per home)

Wildlife removal is 80% inspection + 20% trapping. The customer paid for the inspection; do it thoroughly.

1. Customer interview. Sounds (when, where, scratching vs scurrying vs walking)? Smell? Visible damage?
2. Exterior walk. Identify ALL potential entry points:

• Gable vents (squirrels + bats)
• Soffit-fascia gap (raccoons + squirrels)
• Roof-pipe boots (squirrels)
• Construction gaps at brick / siding (mice + small wildlife)
• Chimney cap missing or damaged (raccoons + birds + bats)
• Foundation gaps + crawl-space vents (opossums + skunks)
• Roof intersection valleys (squirrels)

1. Roof inspection. Visual or drone (preferred for steep / multi-story). Photograph every potential entry.
2. Attic inspection. Crawl in (PPE required); ID species by scat, damage, nesting material, sound.
3. Document. Photo every entry + damage + scat.

Species ID + key behaviors

Raccoon - scat 1/2 - 3/4" diameter, dark, often in piles; entries 4" round or larger; daytime sleeping in attic; nocturnal activity. Females with young - never trap-out without exclusion plan; mother will tear the house apart returning.

Gray + fox squirrel - scat 1/4" cylindrical; entries 2 - 3" round (chewed); daytime activity; scratch sounds early morning + dusk. Aggressive chewers - wire damage = fire risk; trap + exclude is the standard call.

Flying squirrel - scat similar to gray but smaller; entries can be 1.5" - they fit through smaller gaps; nocturnal activity. Often in groups of 5 - 15 in attic.

Bat - scat (guano) is 1/8 - 1/4" cylindrical, in piles below roost; entries can be 3/8 - 1/2" wide; nocturnal exit + return at dusk. PROTECTED in most states. Maternity season (typically May - August) - exclusion is illegal during this window; defer the work + bill for inspection only.

Opossum - under-deck + crawl space typically; scat 3/4 - 1" cylindrical; nocturnal. Generally not aggressive but will defend young.

Skunk - burrow under porch / shed / deck; scat 1/4 - 1/2" cylindrical with visible insects + fruit seeds; nocturnal. Smell is unmistakable. Capture / release with extreme care + odor protection.

Removal procedure

Step 1: Trap selection + placement

• Live cage trap (Tomahawk, Havahart) for raccoon (32 - 42 inch), squirrel (16 - 24 inch), opossum
• One-way exclusion door at entry point for trapping-while-still-in-house scenarios
• Set traps along travel paths; bait per species (peanut butter + crackers for squirrels; cat food for raccoons + opossums; sardines for skunks)
• Cover trap with light fabric if customer is squeamish

Step 2: Daily checks (state-mandated typically 24-hour max)

• All states regulate maximum trap check interval - most are 24 hours; some 12
• Document each check
• Trapped animals released or dispatched per state regulation; many states require release within X miles OR euthanasia (varies by species + state)

Step 3: Final-animal confirmation

Before exclusion, confirm zero animals remain inside.

• Trail-camera monitoring at primary entries
• Trap-set with attic access verified for 7 - 14 days no captures
• Sound monitoring: silence for 7+ days

Step 4: Exclusion (the actual long-term value)

1. Seal every identified entry with appropriate material:

• 1/4" hardware cloth + sheet metal for chewed openings
• Sealed soffit with bracket + flashing
• Chimney cap install (mandatory in raccoon territory)
• Gable vent screening
• Foundation vent screening

1. One-way excluder door at primary entry for any final animals
2. Remove excluder after 7 - 14 days of no activity
3. Final seal of that entry

Step 5: Sanitation

1. Remove contaminated insulation (raccoon scat carries roundworm - Baylisascaris)
2. Vacuum droppings with HEPA filter ONLY (standard vac aerosolizes)
3. Disinfect surfaces with enzymatic cleaner OR diluted bleach for hard surfaces
4. Replace insulation as needed (often customer-billable as separate insulation work OR refer to insulation contractor)

Bat exclusion (specialty)

Bats are federally protected. Procedure:

1. Confirm maternity season is over (typically September - April; varies regionally; check state DNR)
2. Identify ALL exits via dusk emergence count
3. Install one-way valves (excluder cones, mesh tubes) at every exit
4. Bats fly out, can't return
5. Leave excluders 7 - 14 nights
6. Remove excluders + seal entries permanently with copper mesh or hardware cloth
7. Sanitize guano + disinfect; histoplasmosis risk requires PPE

References

• NWCOA (National Wildlife Control Operators Association) best practices
• USDA APHIS Wildlife Services technical guides
• State wildlife agency regulations (varies)
• CDC guidance on zoonotic disease + PPE
• Manuall internal: Rodent Exclusion & Trapping, Integrated Pest Management Customer Education