Wildlife Removal

We remove nuisance wildlife — squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and woodchucks — and secure your home against re-entry.

From squirrels in the attic to a skunk under the deck, nuisance wildlife is disruptive, destructive, and sometimes a health risk. We remove the animal humanely and legally, then seal the entry points and dens so it can't come back.

This is the hub for our wildlife services — squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and woodchucks — each of which also has its own dedicated approach. The common thread is removal plus exclusion, because getting the animal out only lasts if the way back in is closed.

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Humane, legal nuisance-wildlife control in Central NY

Squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and woodchucks are the nuisance wildlife Central New York homeowners deal with most, and each brings its own risks — attic and chimney intrusion, chewed wiring, digging under decks and sheds, and, with raccoons and skunks, disease and odor concerns. New York regulates how wildlife may be handled, so the right approach combines humane removal with the exclusion and repairs that keep animals from simply returning.

Our wildlife service focuses on getting the animal out, sealing the entry or den it was using, and cleaning up the mess it left. Trapping alone rarely solves a wildlife problem for long — like rodents, wildlife exploit the same access points season after season, so the durable fix is removal plus exclusion. For attic intrusions, we can also handle the insulation cleanup that follows.

Signs of a wildlife problem

Scratching, thumping, or scurrying in the attic, walls, or chimney.
Chewed entry holes at the roofline, soffit, or gable vent.
Digging or burrows under a deck, shed, porch, or foundation.
Overturned trash, damaged gardens, or torn soffits and screens.
Odor, droppings, or nesting material in an attic or crawlspace.

How we treat it

1
Inspection
We identify the species, locate the entry point or den, and assess the damage and any cleanup needed.
2
Humane removal
We remove the animal using methods appropriate and legal for the species in New York.
3
Exclusion & repair
We seal the entry point or secure the den area so the animal — and others — can't return.
4
Cleanup
We address droppings, nesting material, and soiled insulation where needed (attic restoration).
5
Prevention advice
We point out the conditions attracting wildlife so the problem doesn't recur.

What to expect

Approach and timing depend on the species and where it's denning — we'll explain the plan up front.
Exclusion and repair are what make removal last; trapping alone usually isn't enough.
For attic intrusions, cleanup and insulation restoration can be handled as an add-on.
We handle the animal humanely and within New York's wildlife regulations.

Seasonality in Central NY

Spring: denning and birthing season — animals seek attics and sheltered spaces to raise young.
Summer and fall: active foraging and, for squirrels, a second push toward attic denning.
Winter: animals seek warm shelter indoors and under structures, and activity concentrates in occupied dens.

What it costs

Wildlife jobs are priced by species, the difficulty of removal, and how much exclusion, repair, and cleanup is involved. A single squirrel entry is a smaller job than a raccoon den with attic contamination.

We quote clearly after inspection and prioritize the exclusion work that keeps the problem from returning.

How to prevent it

Seal roofline, soffit, and vent gaps and cap the chimney.
Screen or close off spaces under decks, sheds, and porches.
Secure trash and remove outdoor food sources, including fallen bird seed.
Trim branches that give roof access to squirrels and raccoons.

Which animal are you dealing with?

Nuisance wildlife leaves distinct calling cards, and identifying the species drives the whole approach. Daytime scratching and scampering in the attic, with entry through a soffit or roofline gap, usually means squirrels. Heavier, nocturnal thumping — often with an entry torn open at a roof edge or a den in the chimney, and larger droppings — points to raccoons. A sharp, musky odor under a deck, shed, or porch suggests skunks; extensive burrowing and large holes at the foundation or in the yard indicate woodchucks (groundhogs).

The evidence beyond sound and sighting matters too: the size and shape of droppings, the type of damage (torn soffit vs. dug burrow vs. chewed wire), greasy rub marks at an entry, and tracks all help pin down the animal. Because each species has different habits, breeding seasons, and legal handling requirements in New York, correct identification isn't a formality — it determines the timing, the method, and even whether special rules apply.

Nuisance wildlife in Central New York

Central New York's mix of woods, water, farmland, and older housing puts homes in constant contact with adaptable wildlife. Squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and woodchucks all thrive in this landscape and readily use houses, decks, sheds, and chimneys as den sites — especially in spring, when females are looking for a safe place to raise young, and in fall, when animals seek warm shelter for winter. Attached garages, uncapped chimneys, and the rooflines of century-old homes are frequent points of entry.

New York also regulates how nuisance wildlife may be handled, and several common species — including raccoons and skunks — are rabies-vector species subject to specific rules on handling and relocation. That legal framework is a major reason wildlife work is different from insect pest control: it's not just a question of what's effective, but what's lawful and humane, which varies by species and season.

Disease, damage, and the risks of an occupant

Wildlife in and around a home carries real risks. Raccoons and skunks are rabies-vector species, and raccoon latrines can harbor raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris), whose eggs are hazardous to people; wildlife also brings in fleas, ticks, mites, and other parasites that don't leave when the animal does. Droppings and urine contaminate insulation and living spaces and produce lasting odor. A cornered or sick animal can be aggressive, and a mother defending young is unpredictable.

The property damage is often substantial as well: torn soffits and shingles, chewed wiring (a fire risk), ripped ductwork and insulation, and burrows that undermine decks, sheds, and foundations. And an animal that dies inside a wall or chimney creates an odor and secondary pest problem of its own. Addressing wildlife promptly, before a den becomes established or young are born, keeps both the health and the repair costs down.

Why humane, legal removal is a professional job

Wildlife removal combines physical risk, legal complexity, and technical difficulty in a way that makes DIY genuinely unwise. Handling rabies-vector species, dealing with a defensive mother and her young, and navigating New York's rules on trapping and relocation are not weekend-project territory. Done wrong, exclusion can trap dependent young inside to die in the walls, or leave an entry open for the next animal to move in.

A proper wildlife service handles the whole problem: identifying the species and whether young are present, removing the animals humanely and lawfully, sealing the entry points so nothing re-enters, and cleaning and decontaminating the mess left behind — the droppings, the parasites, the damaged insulation. Because the durable fix is exclusion and repair, not just removal, this is work that rewards experience, the right equipment, and knowledge of both the animals and the regulations.

Frequently asked questions

Do you remove the animal humanely?

Yes. We handle nuisance wildlife using methods appropriate and legal for each species in New York, and we focus on removal plus sealing the entry so it doesn't return.

Will trapping alone fix the problem?

Rarely for long. Wildlife reuses the same entry points and dens, so the durable fix is removal combined with exclusion and repair of the access points.

Can you clean up after the animal?

Yes. We address droppings, nesting material, and contaminated insulation, and can restore attic insulation as an add-on where needed.

There's an animal in my chimney — can you help?

Yes. Chimneys are a common den site for raccoons and squirrels. We remove the animal, then cap and secure the chimney so it can't be used again.

Is wildlife in the attic a health risk?

It can be — droppings and parasites carry health concerns, and chewed wiring is a fire risk. Prompt removal and cleanup reduce both.

How do I keep wildlife from coming back?

Seal roof and vent gaps, cap the chimney, close off spaces under decks and sheds, secure trash, and trim overhanging branches. We handle the sealing and advise on the rest.

I hear something in my attic — how do you figure out what it is?

We read the signs: the time of day the noise happens (squirrels are active by day, raccoons at night), the type and location of the entry, the droppings, and the damage pattern all point to a species. Correct identification matters because each animal has different habits, breeding seasons, and — in New York — legal handling rules.

Can't I just trap and relocate it myself?

It's riskier and more regulated than it looks. Several common nuisance species (like raccoons and skunks) are rabies-vector animals subject to specific New York rules, defensive mothers with young are unpredictable, and improper exclusion can trap dependent young in your walls. Humane, legal removal plus sealing the entry is a job worth handing to a pro.

Will the animal come back after you remove it?

Not if the entry points are sealed, which is the core of the job. Removal alone leaves the opening for the next animal to move into; durable results come from removing the current occupant, excluding re-entry, and repairing the damage so the house is no longer an available den site.

Do you clean up the mess they leave?

Yes — it's part of a complete job. Wildlife leaves droppings, urine, parasites (fleas, ticks, mites), and damaged insulation behind, some of which carries health risks. We clean and decontaminate the affected areas and address the damage, not just remove the animal.

Our guarantee

Covered by our defined-term service guarantee: if covered pests return during the service period, we re-treat at no additional charge. See Our Guarantee for terms and exclusions.

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