Getting rid of those unwanted guests can prove to be a challenge.

Knowing you have pests in your attic is unnerving, to say the least. When attic pests like raccoons, squirrels, mice, rats, and bats get in, it is a real nightmare. The scurrying sounds can keep you up at night just thinking of the damage they are creating. And the odor… let’s not even go there. So, the question remains. How do you remove animals from the attic?

The answer, Very Carefully!

First, Know What Animal You Are Facing

Live animals in the attic can do a significant amount of damage in no time. They are resourceful creatures that will use anything they find to make the home perfect for them to nest. But how do you know which one you are facing? After all, all but the squirrels are nocturnal, and they certainly won’t let you see them in the act. Here are some basic signs.

• Raccoons will sound heavy and leave larger footprints. They also defecate in a pile. Yuck.
• Squirrels are chatty and quick. You may hear them in the day, and they love to jump from place to place.
• Rats leave grease marks along the walls, and you can often see the trail markings in the attic dust. Their droppings are all over the place and larger than that of a mouse.
• Mice are, of course, smaller than rats and will leave similar but smaller marks. They, too, leave grease rubs along walls and the entry point. And mice chew on wood and walls, so look for tiny chew marks.
• Bats will leave a pile of bat guano.

Once you know what animal you are facing, you can determine how to get rid of the pest. An excellent way to learn the regulations for animal removal in your area would be to call the local wildlife agency or state extension service. They will know which animals need professional help and which species may be on the protected list.

Now, to Remove Animals from the Attic

Since you know which animal is making your home its own, you can now purchase the equipment you need to get them out. Perhaps you have no desire to get your hands dirty on this one. That is just fine. Your local wildlife removal company can take care of unwanted pest removal.

Let’s take this one animal at a time.

Raccoons

Most importantly, don’t try this one on your own. Raccoons are quite aggressive, especially if they are taken from a nest. Call your local pest removal to move them out.

Squirrels

With squirrels, state and local law may require you to have them professionally removed. So be sure to check first. Then, if you have the all-clear to remove them on your own, you will need a metal cage trap so the squirrel can be released outside when caught. The best bait would be nuts and peanut butter.

Mice

The first piece of advice with mice is to get them out quickly. Mice multiply fast, and soon, you will have an infestation. Lay several traps baited with peanut butter to catch them.

Rats

Rats are larger and more challenging to catch. They are not as curious as the mouse. In fact, they are shy. So, you will really need to make them want whatever you place in the trap. Since rats can get pretty large, you may want to enlist the help of your local wildlife removal company for rat removal.

Bats

Another “do not remove” tag is issued here. Don’t try this one. Bats are very frustrating to try to catch, and they will often bite and scratch. Bats actually get encouraged out, not captured, and they need to be locked out, too.

Using the correct trap for each animal is crucial to catching them all. Traps are not one size fits all. So make sure you have the right thing. And never use poison. When these animals are poisoned, it is an excruciating and horrible death for the animals. Plus, if they die in a corner in your attic or the walls, you may not find them until you begin to smell the decay. Again, not going to go there! Yuck.

Humanely Remove Animals from the Attic

The best way to get rid of unwanted guests is not to invite them in. What we mean here is to identify points of entry before they are ever attracted to your home. When you call Covenant Wildlife Removal, our team will examine your home and property, inform you of pest attractors around the house, and eliminate points of entry. That is the most humane way to deal with a pest invasion.

If you get a curious pest in the attic despite your best efforts, a professional company like Covenant Wildlife Removal has the tools and experience to get the job done in the least inhumane way they can. You can count on the expert handling of all critters and creatures when you call Covenant Wildlife.

So, make your appointment today for a full examination of your property and home with Covenant Wildlife Removal. Then, you’ll never need to have a critter removed in the first place.

If you own a rental property, check out this article for expert advice on wildlife control and other essential property upkeep tips.