Wildlife is a beautiful part of Kansas City’s natural landscape, but when animals start invading your home or property, they can become a nuisance or even a health risk. Whether they’re nesting in your attic or searching for food in your garbage, wildlife pests can cause damage, spread diseases, and pose threats to your safety. At Critter Control of Kansas City, we specialize in humane wildlife removal, ensuring that animals are treated with care while solving your pest problems effectively.
Here’s a look at the top five most common wildlife pests in Kansas City and how we handle them humanely.
Raccoons
Raccoons are clever, nocturnal creatures that often seek shelter in attics, chimneys, or basements. These animals are highly adaptable and will find ways into your home through small gaps or holes. Once inside, raccoons can cause significant damage by chewing through insulation, wires, and even drywall. Raccoons can also spread diseases like rabies and leptospirosis through their urine and feces.
How to Handle Them Humanely:
Our humane raccoon removal process involves trapping the animals in non-lethal cages. Once captured, the raccoons are relocated to a safe, natural habitat away from your home. We also thoroughly inspect your property for any entry points and seal them to prevent future invasions. It’s important to address any damage caused by the raccoons to keep your home safe and secure.
Squirrels
Squirrels are another common nuisance in Kansas City, especially during colder months when they seek warmth and shelter inside attics, walls, and ceilings. While they may look harmless, squirrels can cause significant structural damage by chewing on electrical wires, insulation, and even wooden beams. They also carry diseases such as salmonella and lyme disease, which can be transmitted through their droppings and urine.
How to Handle Them Humanely:
We use live traps to safely capture squirrels, ensuring no harm comes to the animal. After removal, we’ll inspect your home for any potential entry points and seal them with durable materials to prevent re-entry. In addition, we’ll repair any damage caused by the squirrels to restore your home to its original state.
Bats
Bats are important for the ecosystem, as they help control insect populations. However, when they decide to roost in your attic or walls, they can cause a lot of trouble. Bats can spread diseases like rabies and histoplasmosis, a fungal infection that can be contracted through inhaling bat droppings, or guano. Bat infestations often lead to a buildup of guano, which can create health risks and damage your property.
How to Handle Them Humanely:
At Critter Control of Kansas City, we utilize exclusion methods to gently encourage bats to leave your home. We install one-way doors that allow bats to exit but prevent them from re-entering. Once the bats are safely removed, we will seal any cracks or openings to ensure they do not return. We also clean and sanitize areas affected by bat droppings to minimize health risks.
Opossums
Opossums are often found rummaging through garbage or seeking shelter in attics, basements, and under decks. These marsupials are opportunistic feeders and will typically go wherever food is available. While they are relatively calm animals, opossums can carry diseases such as tuberculosis, leptospirosis, and toxoplasmosis, which can be transmitted through their urine or feces.
How to Handle Them Humanely:
Our team uses live traps to safely capture opossums without causing harm. After the animal is removed, we inspect your property for any potential access points and seal them to prevent future entry. We also ensure that all trash and food sources are securely stored to reduce the chances of attracting opossums in the future.
Mice and Rats
Mice and rats are perhaps the most common pests in Kansas City homes. These rodents are adept at finding their way indoors, especially when the weather turns colder. Mice and rats can cause a great deal of damage by chewing through wires, insulation, and even structural beams. More importantly, they can spread diseases like hantavirus, salmonella, and leptospirosis, which can affect both humans and pets.
How to Handle Them Humanely:
At Critter Control of Kansas City, we take a humane approach to rodent control by using catch-and-release traps to capture and relocate the animals. We also identify any potential entry points and seal them to prevent future rodent infestations. To further prevent rodents from returning, we recommend keeping food sealed and addressing any other attractants in and around your home.
Why Humane Wildlife Control Matters
At Critter Control of Kansas City, we believe that the key to solving wildlife issues lies in humane, environmentally responsible methods. We prioritize the safety and well-being of animals while protecting your home from potential damage or health risks. By choosing humane wildlife control, you can ensure that both your property and local wildlife are treated with respect.
Preventing Future Wildlife Problems
While removing wildlife from your home is the first step, prevention is equally important. To minimize the chances of future infestations, here are a few tips:
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Seal Entry Points: Check for gaps or holes in your attic, roofline, vents, and foundation, and seal them with durable materials.
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Trim Trees and Shrubs: Keep trees and branches trimmed back from your home to reduce access to your roof.
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Secure Trash: Keep trash cans tightly closed and store food in sealed containers.
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Maintain Your Yard: Remove food sources and nesting sites from your yard, such as bird feeders, pet food, or wood piles.
Contact Critter Control of Kansas City
If you’re facing a wildlife issue in your home or on your property, don’t wait until the problem worsens. Contact Critter Control of Kansas City today for humane and effective solutions. Our expert team will assess the situation, remove the pests humanely, and work with you to ensure your home remains protected.