Who Can I Hire to Stop Animals From Entering My Home?

Humans have been fending off nature since the dawn of time, especially when it comes to preventing unwanted animals from entering their homes. Even the most advanced protective methods are not foolproof, so you may need the help of experts to take animals to a safer location. Wildlife removal services are the best places to turn to.

Cute raccoon standing up and looking through a worn lattice fence

Wildlife Removal vs. Pest Control Services

Wildlife removal is vastly different from typical pest control. Removal and trapping experts often employ nonlethal methods to remove animals from a house, while pest control services may use alternative methods to eradicate the problem. Additionally, pest control and wildlife removal companies commonly deal with different species.

Some pest controllers also serve as exterminators, dealing with pests such as termites and ants. They can handle rodents, using traps or chemical means to eliminate them. Wildlife control often focuses on larger visitors, such as snakes, squirrels, raccoons, skunks or cats. Many use humane capture methods and offer advice or services to prevent future entry.

If you suspect larger animals are entering the household, a wildlife removal service is the best option, rather than a pest control service. It is more certain to tackle the problem at the root rather than issue a temporary solution. These are the best organizations to contact if you need to hire someone quickly.

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1. Urban Jungle Wildlife Removal

Urban Jungle Wildlife Removal boasts numerous accolades and certifications, thanks to its highly knowledgeable staff backed by years of biology education and expertise in their strategies. The team offers a comprehensive range of services, including trapping, removal, insulation enhancements, and cleanup. It can also provide pest control for homes that need to address multiple issues simultaneously. This includes mosquito misting, bird barrier installation and more. With its nearly perfect ratings across platforms, its attentive, ethical customer service makes it one of the top performers in the sector.

2. Urban Wildlife Trapping Experts

Urban Wildlife Trapping Experts is a family-owned and fully licensed wildlife removal company in Southern California. Its team has a strong stance against harmful tactics, like using poison, which positions the company as a humane option. The team has extensive experience dealing with everything from bats to rattlesnakes. If your family is health-conscious, Urban Wildlife uses only nontoxic methods, keeping their prices low and services safe for everyone. They also help businesses that are struggling with pest issues.

3. Wildlife X Team

Wildlife X Team provides all the necessary services as a wildlife removal company, along with attic restorations and exclusions. The business is recognized for its eco-friendly approach, which involves utilizing humane methods to protect animals and insulating homes to prevent future incidents. The tactics provide multiple benefits to households, including better energy efficiency and pest prevention. The customer service is also a highlight, known for treating all customers like family — including the opossums, squirrels and birds that it helps.

4. Truetech Wildlife Service

Truetech Wildlife Service operates throughout the U.S. It can provide wildlife removal for residential and commercial buildings, in addition to exclusion and remediation services. It has expertise with raccoons, rats, armadillos and more. Every technician is licensed and fully trained, offering free inspections, even if households are unsure of the problem. The team even offers a quick quiz to help you get an early idea of what the issues could be. Every assessment is recognized as one of the most detailed in the industry, complemented by quality long-term prevention services.

5. The Wildlife Pros

The Wildlife Pros are available in every U.S. state, and each branch has regional experience to tackle the area’s unique wildlife needs. It focuses on bats, raccoons and birds, among other animals. The teams are available all day, every day, providing swift responses to any call. The professionals are always willing to provide a no-risk estimate for any request, even if the issue is happening on a weekend. From recurring infestations to structural maintenance and prevention, The Wildlife Pros cover the gamut.

6. Skedaddle Human Wildlife Control

Skedaddle Human Wildlife Control is present throughout most of North America. It has been in operation since 1989, representing some of the most tenured and educated professionals in the region. Over the years, the team has perfected humane removal and ethical release for captured animals. Its primary focus is on ensuring families, including children and pets, remain safe from unfamiliar wildlife, with decontaminations and captures prioritized. You can trust Skedaddle to reunite animals with their homes.

7. NY-NJ Wildlife Removal

NY-NJ Wildlife Removal is certified by the National Wildlife Control Operators Association, offering 24/7 services, even in an emergency. From fixing animal damage to decontamination, its regional expertise is exactly what you need in these states’ unique urban environments. The company offers technologically advanced methods for safely removing animals from your home and installing preventive measures to prevent future issues. With its comprehensive program, you should not have to worry about critters for a while.

8. Wildlife Removal Lafayette

Wildlife Removal Lafayette is a service for indoor and outdoor animals based in Louisiana. One of its specialties is coyotes, which is more niche to the region. The wildlife removal company also specializes in raccoons, bats, rodents and more. The team promises permanent solutions for rats, and it has 100% success in handling bats. If you are looking to learn more about the area's wildlife, the company features articles to help you learn more about what to do for long-term maintenance. The team also has clear policies concerning pricing and how they execute removal, so everyone is on the same page.

9. Best Pest & Wildlife Control

Best Pest & Wildlife Control has a diverse focus, including pest and wildlife control, attic and crawl space restoration and insulation replacement. It outlines its strategy for all customers, beginning with a home inspection and culminating in the creation of a long-term solution. This can include monthly service checkups. Its blog is highly extensive, so you could become a wildlife expert even before you call them. Best Pest & Wildlife Control offers discounts to make services as affordable as possible.

10. Ehrlich

Ehrlich is one of the longest-standing wildlife and pest control companies in the U.S. With over 24,000 reviews, it boasts an average rating of 4.7, with 100% satisfaction guaranteed. While its specialty is in in-depth pest control and extermination, it offers wildlife control for bats, chipmunks, gophers, shrews and more. Whether you are facing something eating crops out of your garden or sleeping in your crawl space, Ehrlich can take care of it in no time. Payment plans make even the most in-depth operations accessible.

A Summary of Features

Here is a brief overview of each wildlife removal service, emphasizing key features and unique value propositions.

Company	Service Area	Established	Service Highlights
Urban Jungle Wildlife Removal	Texas	2016	Informative and transparent
Urban Wildlife Trapping Experts	Southern California	2011	Quick responses with phone updates
Wildlife X Team	Nationwide	2013	Family approach with a sustainable lens
Truetech Wildlife	Nationwide	1984	Hand-delivered, written plans with follow-up
The Wildlife Pros	Nationwide	2007	Rapid response times for complex situations
Skedaddle Human Wildlife Control	Canada and the U.S.	1989	Children- and pet-focused approach
NY-NJ Wildlife Removal	New York and New Jersey	2007	Attentiveness to urban and suburban dwellings
Wildlife Removal Lafayette	Louisiana	2019	Transparency and education
Best Pest & Wildlife Control	Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico	2023	Dedicated and thorough, especially for cleaning services
Ehrlich	Nationwide	1928	Experienced with additional insights on pests

All of these companies have repair or prevention services, many years of experience and emergency or same-day availability. To further narrow down your choices, consider reading reviews, exploring local case studies for each provider, or evaluating the service’s post-removal support and warranties.

Evaluation Criteria for the Top-Performing Companies

Additional characteristics make a wildlife removal business stand out among the rest, in addition to the aforementioned highlights:

High sanitation standards: Unwanted animals often introduce cleanliness problems or create a mess, for which removal services should be available to clear with industry-leading techniques.
Educated staff: Ideally, workers should have backgrounds in biological or animal sciences, enabling them to provide the safest and healthiest environment.
Adherence to laws: Wildlife removal is subject to numerous rules and regulations that ensure public and animal safety, and companies must be aware of and comply with all of them.
Clear communication: The people who trap and remove animals should inform households about their actions at every step, including how they will assist and reintegrate the animal into its natural habitat or keep the house safe from future intruders.

Organizations handling animal removal in a local radius should have expertise on regional wildlife. Nationwide businesses should have specialized teams to handle more specific species and know how to ethically manage them, taking local ecosystems into account.

FAQ on Home Wildlife Removal and Prevention

Here are the internet’s most common questions about hiring a wildlife removal company.

How Do You Get Rid of Unwanted Animals?

There are several approaches to stopping animals from entering your home. First, you can call animal control or a wildlife removal service. You may be able to handle smaller situations by yourself by using repellents, humane traps or scaring the critter away.

However, it is advisable to seek the help of a professional before handling or capturing unknown animals. Dealing with wildlife could expose you and your family to disease, or they could bite and injure loved ones. Reaching out to an expert is safer — especially since they typically have insurance.

Is There a Fee for Calling Animal Control?

Animal control is a separate public service provided by a private company. Most of the time, animal control does not charge a fee, especially in cases such as an animal stuck in an attack or one that poses a potential threat to your family. They could issue fees depending on the circumstances, such as if you are surrendering, boarding or quarantining an animal. Services may be backed by a warranty.

What Should You Expect During a Wildlife Removal Appointment?

The typical process includes inspection, identification, removal and prevention. Humane wildlife removal professionals often use traps or one-way exits and decontaminate affected areas, and they can help prevent future infestations by sealing potential entry points or repairing damages. The total appointment time varies depending on the severity of the problem.

Before the professional team arrives, clearly share your observations and concerns, and ensure easy access to attics, crawl spaces, chimneys, or other areas where you suspect animals may be present.

What Smells Keep Animals Away?

Some homes with frequent animal intruders use creative tactics to deter them from coming inside. Some smells are universally disliked by many common animals, such as peppermint. While these are not one-size-fits-all solutions, other DIY options include:

Garlic
Vinegar
Cayenne
Lavender
Clove

How Do You Keep Wild Animals Away From Your House?

The best way to keep animals from your home is by sealing every part of the exterior. First, you should keep trash sealed away. Containers should have lids and be stored in a secure location.

Second, find gaps in the foundation or facade. This can be in doors, windows, pipes, roofing and more. Add weatherstripping, caulking or insulation to seal any cracks where a small animal could fit.

Finally, you can install sensory deterrents to safely discourage entry. Motion-activated lights, sprinklers and scents are harmless ways to dissuade animals from coming closer. Even brief but unexpected sounds can spook an animal, discouraging them from investigating the property further.