Wildlife removal covers getting raccoons, squirrels, bats, opossums, skunks, snakes, and birds out of your attic, walls, chimney, or crawl space, then sealing the entry points so they are less likely to return. Keep your distance from the animal, and check your state's rules before anyone traps or moves it. Call Swupi and we connect you with an independent local wildlife removal company that serves your area, so you can talk through the job and agree on the plan and timing with them directly.
What should you do first when a wild animal gets into your home?
Keep your distance. The CDC says the way to avoid rabies in the U.S. is to keep your distance from wildlife, and it lists raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes as common rabid animals in the United States.
- Do not touch, corner, or try to catch the animal. Keep children and pets in another room.
- If it is in a living space, close interior doors to that room and open an outside door or window if you can do it without getting close.
- The CDC advises never approaching animals that seem injured, sick, or dead, especially night animals like bats or raccoons that are active during the day.
- If anyone is bitten or scratched, the CDC says to wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes and talk with a healthcare or public health professional.
Bats need extra care. The CDC's bat guidance says bat bites can be tiny, so you may not know you were bitten. If a bat was in a room where someone was sleeping, or near a child, contact your doctor or health department. The CDC says to contact animal control or your health department to capture the bat for rabies testing, and not to release it until you talk with a public health expert.
What are the signs of an animal in your attic or walls?
You often hear or smell an animal before you see it. The clues below can help you and the company figure out what moved in.
| Clue | What it may mean |
|---|---|
| Scurrying or scratching in the early morning and late afternoon | Squirrels, which are active during the day |
| Heavy thumping or walking sounds at night | Raccoons or opossums |
| Light scratching or squeaking at night | Rats, mice, or flying squirrels |
| Small dark animals leaving a gap at dusk | Bats |
| Torn vent screens, bent soffits, or chewed wood | An entry point used by squirrels, raccoons, or rodents |
| Greasy rub marks around a small opening | Rats or mice using the same path |
| Holes dug under a deck, porch, or shed | Skunks, opossums, or groundhogs |
| A strong, lasting odor | A skunk, a large nest, or an animal that died inside a wall |
Do not open walls or reach into gaps to look. Note the times you hear noises and where you see damage, and share that with the company when you call.
What does the wildlife removal process look like?
Most jobs follow the same basic steps, though the method depends on the animal, the season, and your state's rules.
- Inspection: the company walks the roof line, attic, and foundation to find entry points, nests, and droppings.
- Identification: tracks, droppings, and damage show which animal is there and whether young may be inside.
- Removal: common methods are live traps and one-way exclusion doors that let animals leave but not come back. Bats are usually excluded rather than trapped.
- Sealing: once the animals are out, entry points are closed with sturdy materials like metal mesh, flashing, or caps.
- Cleanup: droppings, nesting material, and soiled insulation may be removed, and the area deodorized.
- Repairs: damaged insulation, drywall, vents, or roof edges may need repair by the same company or another contractor.
Shy animals like raccoons can take more than one trip to catch, and exclusion doors are often left in place for several days. Ask the company how many visits it expects.
What are the rules on trapping, moving, and removing wildlife?
Each state's wildlife agency sets the rules for trapping, moving, and releasing wild animals, and the rules differ a lot. Some examples:
- Minnesota: the Minnesota DNR lets property owners and occupants take certain animals that are causing damage, and says you must get permission from the landowner or governing agency before releasing a captured animal elsewhere.
- New York: people who do nuisance wildlife control for hire need a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator license from the state DEC, which keeps a public list you can search.
- Florida: the state wildlife commission (FWC) says it is illegal to exclude or remove bats from April 16 to August 14, the maternity season, without a permit.
Bats are the most common seasonal limit. Young bats cannot fly for part of the summer, and sealing a roost then can trap them inside. The CDC suggests bat-proofing in the fall or winter to avoid trapping young bats between May and August.
Because the rules vary, check your state wildlife agency's website, or ask the company how it handles trapping, relocation, and bat season under your state's rules. Most native birds and their active nests are protected by federal and state law, so ask before any bird nest is moved.
How do you choose a wildlife removal company?
Ask the company whether your state requires a wildlife control license or permit for this work, then check it with your state wildlife agency. In states with a public list, like New York, you can look up the company yourself.
Questions worth asking:
- What animal do you think it is, and how will you confirm it?
- Will you use live traps, one-way exit doors, or another method? What happens to the animal after it is caught?
- How many visits do you expect, and how often will traps be checked?
- Which entry points will you seal, and with what materials?
- Will you handle cleanup, deodorizing, and insulation or drywall repairs, or will another company do that work?
- What happens if an animal gets back in? Ask about re-service terms and get them in writing.
The FTC's home improvement guide adds steps that fit repair-heavy jobs: talk to more than one company, ask for proof of insurance, get the agreement in writing, and be wary of pressure to decide on the spot.
When you call through Swupi, you speak with an independent local company and agree on the plan and timing with them directly. Here is how Swupi works.
How do you keep animals from coming back?
Removal is only half the job. If the opening stays, another animal can move in. Exclusion means finding and sealing every gap an animal can use.
For bats, the CDC suggests filling electrical and plumbing holes with steel wool or caulk and using screens, chimney caps, and draft guards. Other common steps:
- Cover attic, soffit, and crawl space vents with sturdy metal mesh.
- Cap the chimney and repair loose flashing or rotted roof edges.
- Trim tree branches that hang over the roof.
- Keep trash cans closed with tight lids and bring pet food indoors at night.
- Close gaps under decks, porches, and sheds, where skunks and opossums often den.
- Walk the outside of the house each spring and fall to spot new holes or chewed wood.
Animals often get in through damaged roof edges and soffits. If you see rot or holes there, ask a roofer to look too; see our roofing guide. Mice, rats, and insects are usually a pest control job; see our pest control guide.
Wildlife Removal questions, answered
How can I tell if a raccoon or squirrel is in my attic?
Squirrels are active during the day, so you often hear them in the early morning and late afternoon. Raccoons are mostly active at night and sound heavier. Look outside for torn vent screens, bent soffits, or chewed wood near the roof line, and describe what you hear and see when you call a company.
Can I trap and move a raccoon or squirrel myself?
It depends on your state. Wildlife agencies set the rules, and many limit where a trapped animal can be released. Minnesota's DNR, for example, requires permission from the landowner or agency before releasing a captured animal elsewhere. The CDC advises keeping your distance from wildlife, so hiring a company is often the simpler route.
When can bats be removed from a house?
Some states limit bat removal during the summer maternity season, when young bats cannot fly. Florida's wildlife commission, for example, bars excluding bats from April 16 to August 14 without a permit. The CDC suggests bat-proofing in the fall or winter. Check your state wildlife agency's rules or ask the company.
What should I do if I wake up with a bat in my room?
The CDC says bat bites can be tiny and easy to miss, so contact your doctor or health department if a bat was in a room where someone was sleeping. Do not touch it with bare hands. The CDC says to contact animal control or your health department to capture it for rabies testing, and not to release it first.
What is the difference between wildlife removal and pest control?
Wildlife companies handle larger animals, such as raccoons, squirrels, bats, opossums, skunks, snakes, and birds, using traps, exclusion doors, and repairs to entry points. Pest control companies mainly handle insects, termites, and small rodents with baits, traps, and treatments. Some companies do both, so describe the animal and the signs when you call.
How does Swupi help with wildlife removal?
When you call (or send a request), Swupi connects you with an independent local wildlife removal company that serves your area. You discuss the job, the removal plan, and timing with that company directly, and you are never obligated to hire anyone.
Ready to talk to a local wildlife removal company?
Homeowners pay nothing to use Swupi. We connect you with independent local pros; we are not a contractor. Calls may be recorded and connected to a service provider.
