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Do You Need an Opossum Removal Service? | Critter Stop

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Opossums can be bad news for home owners with a beautiful vegetable garden, pet food, or unsupervised garbage bins. These annoying critters are known for being mischievous and can decimate a garden or empty out an entire bird feeder in one night if they are given the opportunity.

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Find Out What Critter Is Making the Scratching Noise Inside Your Wall

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Find Out What Critter Is Making the Scratching Noise Inside Your Wall

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Becoming a homeowner means welcoming house problems with open arms and solving them. After all, you would not want to waste time eradicating such delicate issues. Some houses can be so problematic that you will witness other problems arising if you don't take necessary actions quickly.

This will become a domino effect, and we don't want that. One of the common house problems many homeowners face is disturbing noises. You will hear these disturbing noises from time to time in your house.

For example, you may hear rattling noises in your air conditioning or heating system. However, those typically arise due to technical issues. But what if you hear scratching noises within the walls of the house? Fear not; it won't be a ghost!

Typically, this scratching noise in wallis due to a rodent or critter infestation. If this noise continues a few nights longer, you will have a problem. Then, you will have to contact a critter control company and have the house inspected to find out the culprit.

But which critter can create these noises? Let's find out in detail:

Causes of Scratching Noise in Wall

Scratching in walls can be caused by many wildlife creatures. You may hear squeaking, thumping, slithering, or chirping along with scratching sounds. Usually, animals scratch when they want to build nests, walkaround, or store food.

Unfortunately, linking this sound to a particular critter isn't easy. The volume of scratching won't determine the size of the animal. However, some critters are more likely to be the culprit than others regarding the scratching noise in wall.

The most common critters to make these scratching noises are:

1. Squirrels

Squirrels can easily get trapped inside the house. When there are squirrels in walls, you will hear noises as squirrels are active during the daytime. So, you may hear disturbing noises in your waking hours if the house is squirrel infested.

Moreover, squirrels tend to move randomly, resulting in inconsistent sounds. Furthermore, you may also find squirrel droppings in your house. These droppings will be lighter in color than mouse or rat droppings.

2. Mice

Another common culprit that produces scratching noise in wallis mice. In fact, they are a common reason why noise ensues from the ceilings. Other than scratching noises, you will hear their skittering - light footsteps as they run around the house.

Another big giveaway is that you may hear chewing or gnawing sounds that indicate that your house is mouse infested. Typically, mice are more active at night. However, if they are looking for food, they will move about in daytime as well.

You will hear the mice in walls soundat day or nighttime. But it is most common when the house is quiet, and the mice feel safe and away from danger.

3. Rats

Like mice, rats can also be the reason behind the scratching noise in wall occur. They also chew on food packages and other items. So, when you see bite marks on packaging, be prepared for the possibility of rat infestation.

You will hear scratching noises at night as rats are more active at night. Moreover, rats tend to leave urine tracks no matter where they go. This urine smell can be intense. So, if you experience foul odors along with scratching noises, chances are you have a rat problem.

4. Raccoons

Although raccoons are large enough to sneak their way into your house, they can still slip through. The baby or small raccoons can easily make their way inside through gaps and get trapped in your attic or other places of your house.

Since raccoons are pretty larger than rats, mice, and squirrels, you will be hearing lots of noises and other sounds showing an animal in distress. With that said, it will be easier for you to find out which critter has infested your house.

5. Bats

Another reason for scratching noise in wallis bats. Like other rodents, bats can carry numerous diseases. However, the scariest prospect is that they can fly. Just like other animals, bats can make scratching noises in your attic or other places of the house.

However, remember that bats are relatively quiet. In fact, homeowners wouldn't even know that bats have infested their houses for years. But most likely, homeowners find out about their presence when they start falling behind the walls.

Juvenile bats tend to fall more often into the wall crevices when they initially learn how to move around. These nocturnal creatures usually make scratching noises at night. When they fall behind the wall, they become disoriented. And if they can't fly, they will try to climb to get out while scratching on the walls.

What to Do When You Hear Scratching Noise in Wall?

If you have heard scratching noises in the walls of your house but haven't yet seen any critters, the best thing to do is call a Critter Removal company. The professionals will come out and inspect your house. Remember that although these critters may look harmless, like mice, they can host multiple diseases.

Even the sweet-looking raccoons can become aggressive. And although bats don't bite unless provoked, the last thing you want to face is an injury. It is best not to trap these creatures yourself to keep yourself safe. Let the professionals do the work.

Critter Stop has the right equipment to deal with all kinds of critters. We will define the type of infestation in your house and how to address it. If there is a rodent infestation like mice or rats, we will likely use glue traps or other traps.

We will also determine all the entry points and seal them so that the critters won't go back inside. If there is raccoon infestation, you will need animal control, where the professionals will come and work to remove them from your house. We will also give you tips on how to keep these critters away.

How to Keep These Unwanted Visitors Away?

After determining the animal or critter problem, you don't want it to repeat. To put a full stop to future infestations, do the following:

· Inspect your house for any holes or gaps that could welcome these pests. The critter control company will help identify these entry points for you to seal them.

· Keep the gutters free of debris. Also, stop leaving scraps of food around the house.

· Don't leave pet food out during the night.

· Secure the garbage cans and bags, especially when there's food inside them.

· Use a mesh screen to cover the chimney. It will help you avoid any future squirrel infestations.

Conclusion

Scratching noise in the wallis common. For this purpose, you must have the right critter removal company. Keep your house safe from all kinds of critters. Remember, don't wait for long to have these pesky animals removed. The more time you take, the more costly the removal will become.

The best in town is Critter Stop. The company specializes in removing all kinds of critters. From bats, squirrels, mice, to raccoons, you name it, and the company will eliminate them for you.

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What Critter Is Making Noise Inside Your Walls? | Critter Stop

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Becoming a homeowner means welcoming house problems with open arms and solving them. After all, you would not want to waste time eradicating such delicate issues. Some houses can be so problematic that you will witness other problems arising if you don't take necessary actions quickly.

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Commercial Rat Control - How to Permanently Get Rid of Rats

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Commercial Rat Control - How to Permanently Get Rid of Rats

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A rat infestation can be a huge problem for any business. From causing structural damage to devastating reputational damage, rats can become a huge nuisance for business owners. Even if one customer spots a rat, your business's reputation will be tarnished within a minute. Also, in the era of social media, bad news travels faster than the plague.

However, the rat problem doesn't stop there. Such news will, of course, find its way to local authorities, and health inspection authorities will take strict action against your business. First, they will give you a warning with instructions to immediately consult with a professional rat removal company.

Failure to do this will lead to a complete shutdown of your business along with a hefty fine. So, do you want to lose the chance of achieving your business goals because of these nasty creatures invading your property? Of course not. Business owners can protect themselves against rats and the problems they cause by taking strict commercial rat control measures.

In this way, business owners can rest assured that they never have to face the destructive consequences that rats carry with them wherever they go.

Types of Businesses That Can be Affected Significantly by a Rat Infestation

Some industries where rats can cause severe problems are:

Food Serving Companies & Facilities

Rats can transmit many harmful diseases through their fur, droppings, and saliva. Therefore, if rats gain access to restaurants, hotels, or care homes, they can expose people to many harmful diseases such as plague, rat-bite fever, leptospirosis, and many others.

Also, rats can chew through packaging and contaminate the food inside. These nasty creatures can also carry infected ticks, fleas, and mites in their fur. So, imagine how many unsanitary conditions it could cause in your food serving business. They will not only make your customers sick, they will also put your and your employees' health at tremendous risk.

Furthermore, care homes must be extra careful when it comes to dealing with a rat infestation. The residents of these homes are often weak or in poor health. Therefore, they are more vulnerable to diseases that rats can spread.

If you suspect an active rat infestation in your restaurant, hotel, cafe, or care home, you should take quick action for rat removal before it gets too late. Remember, no one wants to eat in a restaurant, stay at a hotel, or live in a care facility that is severely infested by rats. One rat sighting will be enough to tarnish your hard-earned reputation.

Factories and Warehouses

Rodents are pretty fond of warm, dark, and cluttered places. Therefore, properties such as factories and warehouses can be perfect hiding and nesting spots for rats as they offer warmth and a steady supply of water and food.

Rats are not picky eaters at all. They can feed on anything for their survival. Dark and cluttered corners of warehouses and factories can make an ideal spot for rats to hide and build their homes.

As with the food serving industry, a rat infestation can also cause huge damage to factories and warehouses by destroying food packaging and contaminating the food. Whether you own a clothing factory or a furniture warehouse, a rat infestation can become a huge nuisance for you.

Not only will it damage your products and their packaging, but they can cause huge structural damage to your property. Many factories and warehouses have caught fire because of chewed electric wires and cables. Furthermore, rats can also chew wires and cables of crucial machinery that will require thousands of dollars to repair or replace.

Also, it is worth mentioning that a rat infestation can lead to loss of revenue and loss of employees through the spread of many harmful diseases. So, if a rat gains access to your factory or warehouse, you will be much closer to substantial structural and reputational damage if you do not employ a commercial rat removal company to help you eradicate your rat problem.

Therefore, factory or warehouse owners should regularly inspect their properties to look for an active rat infestation so commercial rat control methods work quickly and effectively.

Agriculture and Forestry

Rats can also cause serious problems for agriculture and forestry-related businesses. Rats can not only spread many harmful diseases to the farmers, but they can also cause severe damage to the plants and crops while foraging for food.

Furthermore, plants and trees that were recently planted are more vulnerable since their softwood is easy for rats to chew through. A rat infestation will result in loss of crops and potentially cause huge damage to farmers and the overall population.

Tips on How to Get Rid of Rats Permanently From Your Business Property

Some of the effectiverat removal methods are:

Natural Repellents

When it comes to getting rid of rats, a few simple and natural ingredients can also work. You can try these natural options to eliminate rats from your business property or even house:

➢ Blend of essential oils: Rats are usually allergic to strong fragrances, so a blend of peppermint oil and geranium oil can be used to deter the rats away from your property. All you need to do is spray a fine mist of peppermint and geranium oil in the areas that rats frequently access.

➢ Crushed pepper: Another natural rat deterrent is crushed pepper. Sprinkle crushed pepper near rat holes and nesting places. It will irritate the rats' noses and discourage them from entering your property again.

➢ Predator urine: Like all prey, rats are hesitant to live in areas where they believe predators may be lurking. For this reason, fox, coyote, and other predators' urine can act as an effective, all-natural rat repellent.

While they may last a couple weeks, you will have to reapply these natural ingredients after a heavy storm or rainfall.

Trapping

In various countries, governments have banned the usage of harsh poisons and rodenticides in commercial and residential properties. However, the option of trapping is still available to kill rats fast and effectively.

Trapping is a poison-free method for controlling rat populations. If you want to get rid of rats from your commercial building or industrial property, you should place them in their high-activity areas. You can use peanut butter, walnuts, and other attractants as bait.

The only catch is that you will have to check the traps frequently and clean up dead rodents' mess.

Ultrasonic Rat Repellents

Nowadays, many ultrasonic rat repellents have emerged in the market. These devices emit sound waves that irritate rats. However, these devices rarely provide a permanent solution.

Rats are quite suspicious of unfamiliar and new activities in their environment. While the change may keep the rodents away initially, they will eventually get used to it and ignore it. So, ultrasonic repellents may help for a short time, but they will not provide a permanent commercial rodent control solution.

What to Do If Rats Have Severely Infested Your Business Property?

Business owners do not have the luxury of free time on hand to try various methods for eliminating rats from their property since their reputation is at stake. They need an effective solution to get rid of their rat infestation as soon as possible. Otherwise, they may have to shut down their business temporarily or, in the worst-case scenario - permanently.

Therefore, business owners are wise to enlist help from a professionalrat removal company to deal with the rat infestation in their property. Here are the common steps a professional rat removalservice company will take:

Inspect

Rat removal professionals will inspect your property thoroughly to determine the severity of the infestation and what techniques will be required to eliminate it. Therat removal experts will also try to find their nests to put traps and baits there.

Exclude

Killing rats is of no use if more can invade. Therefore, rat removal professionals will cut off all their entry points and make the environment quite unfavorable for them. From sealing all the holes and cracks to removing all their attractants, commercial rat control experts will do their best to prevent more rats from entering your property.

Eliminate

After the exclusion step, rat removal professionals can address the rats directly. If all entry points were properly sealed on the first go-around, any rodents still trapped inside will have to go to the baited traps, as it will be their only food source. Rats are smart and they often know they should avoid the traps, evidenced by their avoidance when exclusion work is not done. However, hunger forces them to try.

On some occasions, rats will cannibalize themselves before choosing to try the traps. At Critter Stop, we have seen severe rat infestations drag on months and only catch one, very large rat, after which all attic noises subsided.

Conclusion:

Critter Stop is a reliable commercial rat control company in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. While based in Southlake, with many customers in the Colleyville, Grapevine, Trophy Club, and Flower Mound, our services extent through the Metroplex. Contact us to solve your rat problems! We provide free estimates and will help you identify the entry points for rats and mice and eradicate the problem without causing any damage to your property.

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Commercial Rat Control - How to Permanently Get Rid of | Critter Stop

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A rat infestation can be a huge problem for any business. From causing structural damage to devastating reputational damage, rats can become a huge nuisance for business owners. Even if one customer spots a rat, your business's reputation will be tarnished within a minute.

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Having a well-insulated house is a great way to live comfortably and save money on cooling and heating bills. Increasing the energy efficiency of insulation in your attic is a daunting task.

People living in the hottest and coldest regions must consider replacing their home insulation to keep their properties cool in summer and warm in winter months. However, the financial payoff of replacing your insulation can be substantial in the long run.It is worth paying close attention to what's happening up there.

Every year, new insulation materials are introduced in the building industry. In the past, people used crumpled-up newspapers and old clothes for attic insulation. However, now things have changed significantly. Fiberglass and spray foam have become the most common insulation materials.

With so many different insulation materials, choosing the best attic insulation has become a challenging process for homeowners.

Why Is Home Insulation Important?

Insulating your home with suitable material provides several benefits beyond comfort. Some of the major reasons why proper home insulation is worth the investment are:

Lower Energy Bills

By insulating your house, you will be able to keep your house warm in the coldest months and cold in the hottest months of the year, which substantially reduces your heating and cooling costs.

Sound Control

Who does not like quieter and more peaceful homes? Insulation absorbs sounds, reducing unwanted noise from appliances and audio equipment. So, if you also want to make your house quieter, consider insulating your interior walls for sound-control.

Even if you only insulate rooms subjected to party events and large family gatherings, you will feel a huge difference.

Moisture Control

Many people may not realize that daily routine activities such as cooking, washing, and bathing can add a huge amount of moisture to the air in their houses in the form of water vapors.

However, vapors, if trapped inside the walls, can result in mold and mildew growth. Mold and mildew can cause a huge amount of damage to your house's interior structure and become a severe health concern for you and your family members.

So, if you want to control the moisture in your house, home insulation is a great option as it will act as a strong barrier between the water vapors and walls of your house.

One-Time Investment

Insulating your house will be a one-time investment only, and it will not wear out or need maintenance for many decades. Also, it will offer you many benefits such as reduced utility bills, moisture and sound control, and much more.

If the right insulation is installed in the right way, it will work well for more than 50 years unless your attic becomes severely infested by rodents. If rats or squirrels get in your attic, they can make the insulation unsanitary and less effective, necessitating replacement. For this reason, if you hear noises in your ceiling or walls, you should call an animal removal company to come check it out.

So, insulating your house might be a one-time investment, but it is definitely worth the money.

Understanding R-Values

R-value is an insulating material's resistance to heat flow. Generally, R-values lie within a range of 1.5 to 7 per inch, and the higher is the R-value of insulation, the more effective it will be insulating your house.

If you want to choose the best attic insulation for your house, it is necessary to check what R-value is recommended for your home based on your location. You can easily find your house's R-value from the U.S. Department of Energy. For customers in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends R-38.

Up R-value

It is a measure of the insulation's resistance to heat flow out of a house. Another term used is winter R-value because up R-value is usually desirable in the coldest months of a year to keep precious heat in your home.

Down R-value

It is a measure of the insulation's resistance to heat flow inside the house. Another term used is summer R-value because down R-value is usually desirable in the hottest months of a year to keep the heat out of your home.

Total R-value

Total R-value is a total of both up and down R-values, so whenever you hear the term R-value, it combines up and down R-values to give you the total R-value of your house.

Tips on How to Choose the Right Insulation For Your House

Selecting the best attic insulation for your house can seem confusing as different materials are designed for different applications. Some insulation materials are specifically designed to perform well in damp conditions, while others might be unsuitable.

So, to help you choose the best insulation for your house, some of the major tips that are worth paying close attention to are:

Choosing the Right Material

Nowadays, there are many types of insulation available in the market. So, if you want to replace your old insulation, you should know about the different kinds of options available. Here are the common types of insulation materials:

➢ Batt and blanket insulation - perfect for unfinished walls, ceilings, and floors

➢ Blown-in and loose-fill insulation - best for attics, sloped ceilings, or roofs

➢ Rigid board insulation - great for roofs, walls, and foundations

➢ Spray foam insulation - best suited for attic and wall insulation

Each type of insulating material has different R-values per inch of thickness.

Consider the Space

Once you know about the options available, you will have to decide the area or areas of your home that needs insulation. While exterior walls and floors can be insulated, attics offer homeowners the biggest bang for their insulation buck, by far. Once you have decided on your areas for insulation, it will be easy for you to choose the insulating material.

It is worth remembering that any insulation is better than no insulation. So, don't focus too much on insulating material just. Also, it is not necessary to insulate the entire house at once, as even insulating a small area in your home will still make a positive difference in saving energy.

Once you have decided the space you want to insulate, do some additional research to help you identify what type of insulation will work best for you based on your location and the characteristics of the area you are insulating.

For example, if you only have 5 inches of space available for insulation, you will need insulating material with high thermal performance, such as plastic fiber or phenolic foam, which will cost you more.

For customers in Dallas-Fort Worth looking to insulate their attic, most DFW insulation professionals recommend fiberglass blow-in insulation for its effectiveness and affordability.

Costs

The insulation cost depends on various factors, such as the type of insulating material and how much of it you will need. For calculating the cost to insulate your house, you will also need to assess the condition of your home. Start by checking the R-value of your old insulation and see if you can improve it somehow. One way you can do this is by a simple "top-off," adding 5-10 inches of insulation on top of your old insulation materials.

While spray foam offers many benefits, it is often the most expensive option. Alternatively, cellulose is often the most affordable option, but has many drawbacks.

Get An Unbiased Opinion

Before moving forward with your insulation of choice, it is wise to reach out to professional insulation companies to get an unbiased opinion on your insulation needs. They can help you determine what type of insulation will work best for you and also provide an estimate of how much insulation you will need.

Conclusion

Insulating your house will have outstanding comfort and energy-saving impacts for many years to come. In Texas, many homeowners don't realize the importance of a well-insulated home until the dog days of summer, when the best Dallas-Fort Worth insulation companies are booked out many weeks, or even months.

Unless you have ample insulation, you should consider making the investment in replacing your old insulation with more efficient and durable insulating materials. There are many important things to consider when installing insulation, so it is advisable to get an insulation contractor's expertise on the best path forward. If you are planning to replace your home's insulation, contact Critter Stop. They have a team of insulation experts that will install your insulation the right way. Your well-insulated, more energy-efficient house is one call away!

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How to pick the right insulation for your house or atti | Critter Stop

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Having a well-insulated house is a great way to live comfortably and save money on cooling and heating bills. Increasing the energy efficiency of insulation in your attic is a daunting task. People living in the hottest and coldest regions must consider replacing their home insulation to keep their properties cool in summer and warm in winter months.

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Can You Poison Squirrels On Your Property?

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Can You Poison Squirrels On Your Property?

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Squirrels are cute little furry animals that most people love until they decide your house is the perfect place for an extended stay. Although known for their love of nuts and furry tails, squirrels can be a huge issue for homeowners by destroying flower beds, munching on electrical lines, and tearing apart insulation.

If squirrels have infested your house or yard, you might feel helpless at some point. During their stay squirrels can cause a lot of issues; however, they are small and fast creatures, making it very difficult to catch them.

You're probably asking yourself, what is the best say to get squirrels off my property? The first thing that might come to mind when dealing with squirrel problems is to poison them and get rid of them once and for all. This might seem like an easy fix but really does nothing to solve your squirrel problem and may even make matters worse.

Why Not Poison Squirrels?

Having your house invaded by squirrels is undoubtedly a frustrating experience. You may hear squirrel sounds at night, they smell terrible and squirrels can also cause extensive structural damage to your property. Keep in mind, these critters can also pose a serious threat to the health of you and your family as squirrels are known to be carriers of many harmful diseases.

As the squirrels begin to become a serious problem you might become tempted to take matters into your own hands and poison them, ending your problems for good. Although the idea of using poison for squirrel removal may sound appealing, you may want to take a moment to reconsider.

Here are a few reasons why should you not resort to poison to deal with squirrels on your property.

Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun!

Squirrels - the little furballs are quite entertaining to watch jumping from tree to tree. The cute little furry animals may chew up on your electrical lines or get themselves fed on your pet food, but whatever they do is for their survival.

Poising these animals is a harsh way to get them off your property. Poisoning the squirrels will mean they die slowly and painfully from the poison over the course of many days. There are plenty of humane alternatives to keep squirrels off your property that can be implemented before you consider poison.

Poisoning Squirrels Is Difficult

In Texas, and most of North America, there are no specific poisons for squirrels on the market. The vast majority of the poisons available on the market are meant for smaller critters like rats and mice. Since these poisons are not squirrel specific there is not guaranteed they will work the same way they do on smaller animals.

A big reason why squirrels are difficult to poison is because of the time is takes for the poisons to take effect. While you are waiting for the squirrel to find the poison, ingest a suitable dose, and succumb its effects, the squirrel can be actively causing damage to your property. The longer it takes to solve your squirrel problem the higher your squirrel removal cost will be. Since the rat and mice poisons on the market are not meant for squirrels, it may take a long time before the poison takes effect, even after the squirrel has taken a bite. If you are looking for a more time sensitive approach to your squirrel problem you may want to consider another option.

Furthermore ,rodents have a habit of "sampling" their food before eating it to ensure there are no funny taste or odors. This means your new furry guest will probably stayaway from any poisoned treats with strange flavors or strong scents. With this in mind, it is also important to consider how many rodent poisons on the market work. Many rodent poisons require the rodent to take in the poisons over multiple feeding sessions. Even if you fool the squirrel the first time, there is no guarantee it will continue to take in the poisonous food over multiple feeding sessions.

It Can Be Dangerous for Pets and Toddlers

Poisoning a squirrel can potentially lead to many unwanted accidents. If you are a parent to a toddler or own a domestic pet, you may want to reconsider poisoning squirrels. If you are planning to use poison for squirrel removal, cross-contamination this is something you should take into account. Squirrels are always running around and may be taking the poison with them as the travel around your property.

Your domestic pets may touch or ingest the poisonous bait you kept for squirrels, or they could also end up eating the dead animal and ingesting the poison indirectly. Needless to say, this can cause a lot of harm to your pet.

Horrendous Smell of Dead Squirrels

Even if the squirrel poison works, you will still have to do a lot of work - disposing of the dead squirrels. Unfortunately, if squirrels have died in any hard-to-access area the foul smell emanating from its dead body will be a huge issue.

Breathing in the same space as the dead squirrel will be near impossible, not to mention the horrendous odor can attract many other larger critters looking for a meal. Considering the risk, your efforts may be better spent using a different method for squirrel removal.

Poisoning Squirrels Is Illegal

Poisoning Squirrels may be illegal depending on where you live. In Texas, poisoning squirrels is illegal as squirrels are considered game and may end up being ingested by humans. This means poisoning squirrels may not be and option at all and you should look for the best squirrel removal company you can. If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Critterstop is your best option.

Instead of poisoning squirrels, you can contact the squirrel removal company to carry out the process. Squirrel removal professionals will find a better method to get them out of your property without harming them, such as trapping and relocating.

Squirrels Are Endangered Species

Another good reason to avoid using poison for squirrel removal is that certain species of squirrels are already endangered. Many homeowners might not differentiate between the types of squirrels that are common or endangered and accidently kill one of an endangered species.

For example, people who poison an albino squirrel may face criminal charges in a city in Illinois. You might not live in Illinois, but you may still face fines for killing an endangered squirrels depending on where you live.

How To Get Rid of Squirrels Without Poison?

Squirrels may seem cute and harmless creatures nibbling on acorns or nuts, but once they are inside your property tearing up the walls, you'll be singing a different tune. However, poisoning is still not the best solution.

Here are some humane squirrel removal methods to help you fix the squirrel problem on your property quickly, safely and effectively.

Install A Motion-Activated Sprinkler

These cute little furballs are naturally jumpy creatures. They are tiny and only have their teeth and jaws to fight danger. When they are frightened, they will runaway rather than put up a fight.

Due to the nature of squirrels, you can easily scare them off without much effort. You will not have to cause any pain or harm to these cute little critters. A sudden movement or splash of water is enough to startle them and make them run away from your property. A motion-activated sprinkler is the perfect tool for the job.

If there was ever a safe, harmless, non-toxic squirrel repellent, it's the motion activated sprinkler.

Ultrasonic Squirrel Repellents

Another option is ultrasonic squirrel repellents. There are many effective ultrasonic devices available in the market to deter squirrels and other rodents from your property. These devices produce sound waves at a high frequency which irritates and squirrels and deter them from stepping foot on your property.

Remove Squirrel Attractants from Your Property

If you want to stop squirrels from entering your property, you need to understand why they love hanging out there in the first place. Often times, it is because of a steady supply of food.

Squirrels are not picky eaters at all. You might have seen them munching on the acorns and nuts, but they can eat almost anything. Usually, squirrel problems can start from leaving the pet food out, planting fruit or nut-producing plants, installing an easy-to-access bird feeder, or failing to dispose of the trash on time.

Before you start buying poison in bulk you should make sure you make sure you engage in early squirrel prevention first.

Seal Off Entry Points

Squirrels find human homes quite attractive. They are warm, have a steady supply of food and water, and offer protection against harsh weather conditions and any hungry predators.

If there is a tiny hole in your roof vent or a crack in the exterior wall, Squirrels can easily manage to squeeze through it because of their tiny and fluffy body. If you are wondering how to get rid of squirrels from your home, the simplest solution may be to prevent them from coming in. There is no point in poisoning squirrels if more can slip in anytime.

If you suspect squirrels are making their way into your home, you should walk around your home to look for any possible entry points like cracks in the foundation, broken roof vents, or even pet doors. If you have successfully found any possible entry points, you should consider sealing them off completely before they become a gateway to paradise for squirrels and other pests. Many critters removal companies, like Critterstop, can inspect your home for these entry points and seal them off so it is impossible for squirrels or other critters to get in.

Live Traps

Trapping the squirrels is another alternative to poison. Live traps will help remove the squirrels from your property without causing any harm to them. It will allow you to get rid of the squirrels without touching them or killing them.

This requires you to purchase a squirrel trap and some tasty bait to attract the squirrels towards the cage-like trap. Once the squirrels enter the cage to eat the bait, the door will snap shut behind them, trapping the squirrel. Although trapping squirrels is a more effective and humane way to get rid of these critters, trapping an animal yourself can be dangerous and comes with its own set of problems. It is also important to keep in mind trapping squirrels may be illegal where you live, meaning this method is not an option.

One problem with trapping squirrels is trapping a single squirrel may not mean much if there are multiple squirrels on your property. It could be the case you trap the mother squirrel but overlook the babies who are hiding somewhere else on your property. Big problems can come in small packages!

Another problem with trapping squirrels is the question of what to do with the trapped critter. You could relocate the squirrel yourself but there is the possibility the squirrel will find its way back to your home, wasting your efforts. In order to avoid these difficulties, it's better to call squirrel removal experts.

Conclusion:

Poisoning squirrels may do more harm than good. Instead, you can install live traps, motion-activated sprinklers and take advantage of other humane squirrel removal methods to make your property squirrel-free. Unfortunately, squirrels are persistent, and no matter how hard you try to handle the problem yourself, it can be difficult for you to get under control.

In order to deal with your problem quickly and effectively, you should take help from the best squirrel removal company to help you fix the problem. Critter Stop is a reliable squirrel removal company located in Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. We have helped many homeowners in making their homes squirrel-free. Not only will we humanely remove the squirrels from your property, we help get rid of the mess and prevent any more critters from finding their way inside your home. Before taking on the hassle and risk of handling these wild animals yourself, give us a call for the squirrel removal in a humane manner.

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Can You Poison Squirrels On Your Property? | Critter Stop

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Squirrels are cute little furry animals that most people love until they decide your house is the perfect place for an extended stay. Although known for their love of nuts and furry tails, squirrels can be a huge issue for homeowners by destroying flower beds, munching on electrical lines, and tearing apart insulation.

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Are you hearing suspicious scratching noises from your attic? If so, chances are that a mother squirrel has picked your attic for a nursery. Squirrels always search for warm, dark places with lots of food nearby to create their nest and eventually raise their young. During birthing season especially, it is important for a mother squirrel to find a safe place to have her babies. Unfortunately, this safe place might just be your attic.

In Texas, the wildlife population is increasing day by day. That is why Texas residents must prepare themselves to come into contact with these furry creatures. How do you know if baby squirrels are in your attic? Thankfully there some key signs and signals you can look for to determine if you have baby squirrels in your home which we will cover in this blog.

If you notice your property has an unusually high traffic of squirrels, or hear unusual noises in your attic, especially at night, these are usually the first signs that squirrels have taken a liking to your property. Also, it is worth keeping in mind that squirrels do not make great house guests. The longer they stay in your attic, the greater structural damage they cause which ultimately increases your squirrel removal cost.

When Are Baby Squirrels Born?

Usually, spring is officially the birthing season for squirrels. While you wait for your summer pool parties, squirrels are anxiously awaiting to raise their babies. It is important to note a few species of squirrels, such as eastern grey squirrels, reproduce twice a year - once just before spring and again in mid-summer.

Also, the gestation period for squirrels is45 days. This means you can expect to see squirrel babies a month and a half after the start of the birthing season. If you have spotted any squirrel activity in your attic, especially during the birthing season, chances are high that they are either about to give birth or they have given birth to their babies already.

In both cases, your property is at a huge risk and you should seek to evict your uninvited guest as soon as possible. You can give it a shot by yourself but for the fastest and most hassle-free approach you should seek professional help.

How Many Babies Do Squirrels Have?

Like other rodents, squirrels do not have a rapid reproduction rate. They typically birth two to five young ones per litter. Keep in mind some species of squirrels reproduce twice a year meaning it's possible you will have two litters of baby squirrels to deal with if you leave the squirrels to their own devices.

The squirrel babies are naked, deaf, and blind when born. As a result, these babies are helpless and fully dependent on their mothers. Without a mother, it is near impossible for baby squirrels to survive.

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How Do I Keep Baby Squirrels Out of My House?

It's pretty wonderful to see squirrels jumping from tree to tree from your patio or balcony. Once they get inside your house and start a family, it is no longer entertaining.

From disturbing your sleep at night to tearing apart your insulations, squirrel infestation is not something you should take lightly. If you suspect that squirrels along with babies are nesting in your attic, you must get things back on track by arming yourself with the knowledge you need to remove squirrels from your house safely. The best kind of squirrel removal is one that never happens in the first place. You know what they say, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." For tips on early squirrel prevention make sure to check out the Critter Stop blog.

Take Action Immediately

Mother squirrels will take care of their baby squirrels until they grow entirely and become independent. Usually, baby squirrels will become fully grown after seven to ten weeks; however, they will stay with their mother for several more weeks to learn a few survival skills from her.

Therefore, if you hope squirrels will leave your attic themselves, you are highly mistaken. Squirrels are quite fond of warm and dark places so your attic will be their favorite place on earth for many months to come. The best thing you can do when you suspect you have a squirrel infestation is to seek squirrel removal from a company like Critter Stop.

The Destructive Nature of Squirrels

Some kind-hearted homeowners may want to help a mother squirrel take care of her babies by allowing her to stay in their attic. These home owners are very empathetic, as squirrels that have become accustomed to the cozy conditions of an attic typically don't survive when moved back into their natural habitat. Despite this fact, the destructive and unsanitary nature of squirrels makes it better to remove them from your property all together.

They may look like cute, harmless creatures but in reality, they are capable of causing a tremendous amount of structural damage to your property like other rodents. Squirrels mainly do this by using the big teeth they are so famous for. They tend to constantly chew on something to keep their teeth short and trimmed, which is a huge problem when squirrels live in your home. Wood furniture, pipes, electrical wires, insulation material, and other belongings are on a squirrel's long list of items to munch on. During their stay, squirrels will also urinate and defecate all over your attic, making it hard for you to breathe in the same space.

Like other rodents, squirrels also transmit many harmful diseases through their fur, droppings, and saliva. The longer the squirrels stay in your house, the more damage they cause and the more opportunities they have to spread disease.

Timing is Everything

Timing is everything when it comes to planning squirrel removal strategies. The good time to remove squirrels from your property is before they give birth to babies. If adult squirrels are in your attic during birthing season, it may be wise to assume the worst case and consider that there are baby squirrels in the attic too. If you get the squirrels out of your attic before they give birth you will significantly reduce any damage to your property and reduce the cost of your squirrel removal.

Squirrel removal professionals will not only get them out of your attic without hurting the babies, but they will also relocate them somewhere safe. Some companies, like Critter Stop, will even provide options for repairing the damage to your home caused by the squirrels.

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Squirrels Are Not Good Pets

Homeowners should never think of keeping squirrel babies and expect them to become permanent pets. Once they are mobile, they will be mobile. They will tear your house apart and may become more aggressive if confined to a cage.

Therefore, the wiser decision would be to get them removed safely along with the mother squirrel. Squirrels are not indoor animals. In case you need another reason to get rid of these furry creatures, keeping squirrels as pets is illegal in many states, including Texas.

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Time to Call the Professionals

If squirrels are nesting in your attic, you must take quick action for their removal. It is very important that the entire family is removed. The baby squirrels will die without the support of their mother so leaving babies behind means you will have to deal with a baby squirrel corpse in your home. Not fun. It is always better to call squirrel removal experts to deal with the situation.

If you want to go the DIY route, you may hurt the squirrel babies or, in the worst-case scenario, be left with helpless babies with no one to take care of them. The squirrel removal professionals will evict the adults humanely and safely remove the babies to reunite them with their mothers later.

The professionals will also take measures to ensure that no more squirrels invade your attic again. This may come in the form of closing up any openings in the exterior of your home or installing a special trap door that prevents squirrels from breaking in.

Conclusion

Squirrels gnaw on almost everything they can reach so you can imagine the amount of damage they can cause to your attic while nesting in it. These little fur-balls are smart and sneaky creatures, making them very hard to catch.

If you don't want a squirrel family growing in your attic, you must take help from a professional squirrel removal company. Remember, the more you delay, the higher the squirrel removal cost. Contact Critter Stop to provide guaranteed squirrel removal with no hassle for you!

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Baby Squirrels in the Attic? Read This! | Critter Stop

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Are you hearing suspicious scratching noises from your attic? If so, chances are that a mother squirrel has picked your attic for a nursery. Squirrels always search for warm, dark places with lots of food nearby to create their nest and eventually raise their young.

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How Can Rodent Removal From Your Attic Save You Thousands in the Future?

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How Can Rodent Removal From Your Attic Save You Thousands in the Future?

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Do you hear noises of partying rodents in your attic? Do you find it difficult to sleep at night due to the scratching noises of rodents? Rodents are quite fond of warm and dark places. Sounds familiar, right? Your attic can be a perfect spot for rodents, especially rats, mice, squirrels, and raccoons, to build their homes.

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There is nothing more unsettling than knowing your attic is severely infested with rodents. Not only will they make scratching noises at night, but they are also known to carry many contagious diseases wherever they go.

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Therefore, if you suspect an active rodent infestation in your attic, you must act fast before the problems worsen. If left unattended, rodents will multiply in numbers as their reproduction rate is insanely fast. The more they are in number, the higher the risk of spreading many harmful diseases and causing a tremendous amount of damage to your property.

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So, homeowners must never take a rodent infestation lightly. When rodents have invaded your property, it is necessary to consult with a professional rodent removal service immediately to avoid severe problems in the future.

7 Signs of Rodents Infestation in your Attic

A tidy and well-maintained house is always rodent-free, right? Not necessarily. Rodents are attracted to homes for various reasons, many of which have nothing to do with cleanliness. They do like messy and cluttered attics, but they can still enter your neat and clean attic for shelter and food.

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While some invaders may make it evident that they are there, generations of rodents can nest in your attic without a peep. Some of the most common signs of rodent infestation in your attic are:

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Droppings

Urine odors

Gnawed holes

Grease marks along pipes or wires

Nests

Unusual noises

Making an appearance during the daytime (a sign of severe rodent infestation)

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How Rapid Rodent Removal Will Help You Save Thousands in the Future?

Of course, you want the nasty creatures out of your house. However, rapid rodent removal is a good idea for more than just the obvious reasons. Getting rid of rodents from your attic can help you prevent many serious household issues and avoid significant health concerns, ultimately saving your home and, of course, your hard-earned money.

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Some of the reasons why rapid rodent control can help you save a lot of money on repairs and replacement costs are:

Health Hazard

Rodents are filthy creatures that transmit many harmful diseases such as plague, hantavirus, salmonella, leptospirosis, and many others through their fur, droppings, and saliva. Rodents are not just a nuisance; they also pose a serious health risk.

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They will contaminate food regardless of whether it is packed or not since they can so easily chew through food packaging. If rodents are left unattended, they will expose you and your loved ones to many harmful diseases, resulting in costly medical bills.

Electrical Wiring

Rodents have a habit of chewing to keep their long teeth trimmed. As a result, they will chew any and everything they can find. Once they have invaded your attic, they will soon find their way to scuttle between walls and chew up the electrical wiring along the way, putting you and your property at huge risk of an electrical fire.

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Have you ever noticed your lights flickering for no reason at all? A rodent might be chewing on your wiring. If you have experienced this issue, it is highly recommended that you, or a trained professional, inspects your attic thoroughly to look for an active rodent infestation. While a chewed wire may be causing the flickering, finding the exact wire causing the issue will be much more difficult to pinpoint than the likely root of the issue - mice, rats, or squirrels in your attic.

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If you have electrical appliances in your attic, they may be covered with rodent droppings, gnawed on, or have wires chewed, making the machine useless. Once rodents have gained access to your attic, they will soon find their way to enter the inside of your house, putting all your electrical appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, air conditioning systems, televisions, and many other household items at huge risk.

Therefore, if you want to keep your house's electrical appliances and electrical wiring safe and you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, you should consider consulting with one of Texas' most reliable rat removal companies - Critter Stop. Otherwise, it will cost you a lot to repair and replace your electrical appliances.

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Damage to Belongings

As mentioned above, rodents, mainly rats and squirrels, are pretty fond of chewing. They will chew something every day to keep their growing teeth short. Therefore, when rodents invade your attic or house, they will not hesitate to chew through your favorite winter jacket or summer dress. If you have any garments in the attic, they may become rodents' favorite nesting material no matter what the fabric or material is.

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Rodents will destroy many of your belongings during the period of their stay. From couches to clothing, blankets, and towels, rodents will munch on almost everything. Therefore, it is essential to take quick action for rodent removal to keep your belongings safe.

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Otherwise, they will make many of your expensive belongings useless, and then you will have to spend a lot of money repairing and replacing them.

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Insulation

If rodents have invaded your attic, they will cause extensive damage to the insulation of your house. Attics are one of the important areas for home insulation. With attics being rodents favorite nesting place, this puts your insulation at risk.

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One of the biggest reasons rodents are attracted to attics is because the surface area is often filled with insulation. The warm and soft insulation will create a perfect environment for rodents to nest.

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During their stay, rodents will either rip it up into tiny pieces to build their nests or nest directly in the insulation. Both scenarios produce similar results - the efficiency of insulation is significantly compromised.

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Also, rodents urinate and defecate frequently, littering your insulation with droppings and creating urine-soaked insulation that can be impossible to fully cleanse. If the contaminated insulation is not removed, it can transmit many harmful airborne diseases to you and your family.

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Therefore, it is recommended to get help from a professional rodent removal service to eliminate the rodents from your attic. Otherwise, they will cause extensive damage to the insulation of your house, resulting in an unsanitary and less energy-efficient home.

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If your home's insulation is less efficient in limiting the heat transfer, you will notice a spike in your energy bills. You may save money by not calling a professional rodent removal service near you, but you will pay for it in the long run, via increasing energy bills. Worse yet, the cost of removing and replacing old insulation, which is all but inevitable if the problem goes unaddressed, is relatively high - especially when compared to the cost of simply eradicating the rodents.

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Thus, it is crucial to get rid of these nasty creatures as soon as possible. Otherwise, their ultimate cost to your family's health and your pocketbook will increase with time. Save yourself the cost of replacing your insulation by having the rodents removed immediately.

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Uncontrollably Breeding

Rodents, especially rats and mice, have insanely fast reproduction rates. A single female rat can give birth to 10 babies within three months. It is easier and less expensive to get rid of one or three rats than eliminate a dozen or more.

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So, if you have rodents nesting in your attic or house, it is important to get rid of them immediately. Otherwise, they will continue to breed and take over your entire house month by month.

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Ventilation

Rodents are fond of making their nests in hard-to-reach areas. Often they get stuck between the walls, resulting in foul odors lingering around your entire house. Also, rodents urinate and defecate frequently. So the longer they are in your house, the worse your attic, and sometimes your entire house, will reek of foul smells.

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If you want the air quality of your attic or house to be better, you must get rid of these nasty creatures as soon as possible before they make your lovely house their restroom.

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Why Do You Need a Rodent Removal Service?

Economic pressures along with a global pandemic have affected everyone. Many homeowners might think they can deal with a rodent infestation themselves, or a rodent removal service is not worth the investment.

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However, in reality, skimping on rodent removal service makes little sense in the long run. Kicking the can down the road by either ignoring the problem or putting a band-aid on the issue, will likely end up costing you much more in the long run. Therefore, it is often better to leave the job to the people with the necessary expertise - the rodent removal professionals.

Reputable rodent removal service provides such as Critter Stop will provide humane rodent removal and help you avoid rodent infestations for years to come.

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Conclusion:

A rodent-free home is undoubtedly a happy home. Even the sign of a single rodent is enough to give a severe headache to the homeowners. While many homeowners understand the importance of rapid rodent removal, some homeowners might take rodent infestation lightly. Rodents are not only capable of transmitting many harmful diseases, but they can also drain you of thousands of dollars in repair and replacement costs in the future.

It is often better to get help from a reliable rodent removal company before the situation worsens. Critter Stop, with years of experience and hundreds of stellar online reviews from its customers, is one of the best rodent removal options in Texas. We will not only help you get rid of rodents from your attic or house but also help you remove your old contaminated insulation. Just give us a call, and we will get you taken care of!

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Rodent Removal From Your Attic| Raccoon in Attic Danger | Critter Stop

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Do you hear noises of partying rodents in your attic? Do you find it difficult to sleep at night due to the scratching noises of rodents? Rodents are quite fond of warm and dark places. Sounds familiar, right? Your attic can be a perfect spot for rodents, especially rats, mice, squirrels, and raccoons, to build their homes.

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Raccoons are smart and quirky animals that might be fun to observe from afar. However, they are not an animal you want to share your home with. Once they have invaded your house, they can cause a tremendous amount of damage to your property.

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From digging through your trash to destroying your lawn, damaging your building's materials, consuming pet food, and transmitting many contagious diseases, a raccoon infestation in your house can cause huge problems for you, your family, and pets.

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With all that in mind, it is easy to see why raccoon removal from the attic or house is necessary. Your well-maintained garden or dark attic can seem quite appealing to raccoons. Once they gain access to your property, they often refuse to leave unless absolutely forced to do so.

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Winters are usually a busy time for raccoons to prepare their nests for staying warm and safe during the coldest months of the year. So, chances of raccoons entering your property in, and directly preceding, winter months are high.

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If you hear noises in your attic, it is best to contact a raccoon removal company that knows how to remove raccoons from the attic, garage, or any other area of your house, as it is unlikely to be a one-time occurrence. By taking strict measures for raccoon control, you can keep yourself, your family, and your lovely home safe.

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Signs of a Raccoon Infestation in Your Attic

Like the rodents that they often hunt, raccoons are nocturnal. Unless the raccoon has rabies, they will be most active at night, making their presence harder to detect. If you suspect you have an active raccoon infestation in your house, you must pay attention to the clues they leave behind.

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You must be wondering what those clues are that raccoons leave behind during their period of stay. Here are some of the most common signs of a raccoon in your house:

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Clear Evidence of Raccoon's Feeding

Raccoons are usually messy creatures. Therefore, they often leave a trail behind after their mealtimes, such as knocked over trash cans, dug up gardens, spilled dog or cat food, or empty or broken bird feeders.

Raccoons usually walk flat-footed as humans do, and they have claws on all their toes. The primary differentiating factor is that their foot tracks are diagonal, just like deer. The most common areas paw prints are visible is in wet soil or mud on the outside of your home and on dusty duct work in your attic. If you see any diagonal track pattern about the size of a raccoon paw, you are likely in need of raccoon removal services before the situation worsens.

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Droppings

Since raccoons are pretty large, they produce large-sized droppings. If you spot piles of large-sized droppings, often in one area called a "latrine," it is very likely you have a raccoon problem on your hands.

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Unusual Noises

If raccoons are nesting in your house, you will hear unusual noises, especially at night. The sounds raccoons make are often described as moaning, growling, and whistling. There are many videos online that can help you pinpoint exactly what to listen for. If you hear strange noises at night and you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, you can call Critter Stop, one of the most reliable raccoon removal services in North Texas.

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Critter Stop will inspect your property thoroughly to look for an active raccoon infestation. If you have raccoons in your attic, the team will remove them in the quickest and most way possible.

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If you think you might have a raccoon in your attic but have been hesitant to make the investment needed to address the issue, it is worth keeping in mind that a raccoon infestation often just gets more expensive with time due to the damage they can do to duct work, radiant barrier, insulation, soffits, and chimneys, to name a few home features often damaged by raccoons.

7 Effective Raccoon Control Tips

The best and most permanent solution for raccoon removal is to enlist the help of a professional raccoon removal company that guarantees their work (and has the reputation to back that guarantee!). If the cost of professional raccoon removal is out of your budget, here are the seven most effective tips to get rid of raccoons from your house fast:

Raccoons Are Better Outdoors Than Indoors

Raccoons generally enter your property in search of shelter, water, or food. If you have an attractive garden full of vegetables and fruits, you will have more raccoons trafficking your property.

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Once on your property, they will be enticed to enter your house for its warmth and shelter, since attics are a perfect place to build their nests and raise their babies. If you have mice or rats, raccoons will be even more attracted to your attic, since raccoons hunt mice and rats for food. Raccoons are usually solitary animals. However, a single mother raccoons can turn into a large family in a matter of months, urinating and defecating all across your attic, quickly making the insulation unsanitary due to airborne diseases they can carry and ineffective due to the raccoons' heavy wait compressing the insulation.

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If a raccoon or group of raccoons have gained access to your attic, you must take quick action for their removal. Otherwise, it is only a matter of time before they cause extensive damage to your belongings and building materials.

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Raccoons, like rodents, can carry infected fleas, ticks, and mites in their fur. If the diseases carried by raccoons were not enough, these insects can expose you, your pets, and your family to many more harmful diseases. For obvious reasons, a raccoon infestation inside your home is more dangerous than an outdoor raccoon infestation.

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Now you must be wondering how to keep raccoons out of your attic or house. Raccoons are fond of climbing. Therefore, if there are any tree branches near your home, raccoons will easily jump from them to the roof of your house. While raccoons can still climb straight up brick walls, trimming trees will at least help deter roof and attic activity.

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Once the raccoons are on your roof, they will soon find their way to the inside of your attic. Thus, it is recommended that you keep the branches of trees near your house trimmed and short. Also, make sure to be on top of repairs. Otherwise, raccoons and other wildlife - especially rodents - will enter your house through broken roof vents, chimneys, and windows.

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Cut Off Their Food Supply

Raccoons always prolong their stay where there is a steady supply of food. Therefore, you must make sure to remove all their attractants from your property. If you have outdoor pets, you must bring their food inside before nightfall. Also, make sure to cover your garbage containers with heavy or tightly-secured lids.

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Furthermore, if you have a garden full of vegetables and fruit-bearing trees, you must look regularly for fallen fruits and nuts. Otherwise, they will attract raccoons and many other pests to your property.

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Eliminating the food source, whether it is mice in your attic or fruit in your garden, will work to address one of the root causes raccoons are coming to your property.

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Frighten Them

Raccoons are naturally easy-to-scare animals. Therefore, you can use their weakness as your strength by installing motion-activated sprinklers, lights, or radios to scare them and keep them from wanting to make your home their regular stomping grounds.

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These methods might only offer a temporary solution to repel raccoons away from your property though, as raccoons are very intelligent creatures. They will often figure out these deterrents are rather harmless.

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Dogs Are a Real Threat to Raccoons

If you own a dog, raccoons may avoid your property altogether. Raccoons may give a tough fight to your dog though and even bit or scratch them, so it is wise to make sure your dog keeps a safe distance if they do enter a standoff.

Several breeds of dogs such as Black, Tan, and Blue Tick coonhounds are specially bred for hunting raccoons. So, if you have a dog of one of those breeds, it will help you a lot in keeping the raccoons away from your house.

While dogs can scare raccoons off your property, if your yard has a steady supply of dog food and water, it may act as an attractant, causing raccoons to take the risk in order to feast on your dog's yummy food.

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Use Live Traps

Another effective method for raccoon control is trapping and relocating them. Many homeowners install a few traps in areas frequently accessed by raccoons and use their favorite food as bait to attract them towards the trap. At Critter Stop, we have found cat food, sardines, and tuna to be effective baits for trapping raccoons. Once a raccoon enters the trap to get the bait, the door snaps behind it.

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However, after trapping a raccoon in a live trap, you will also have to relocate it somewhere safe. If dealing with a wild raccoon is not something you are comfortable with, professional raccoon removal companies can often help you with the relocation part of the process.

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If you want to get rid of raccoons from your property without killing them, live trapping is a good option.

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Shooting Raccoons

In some states, shooting raccoons can legal if they are causing damage to your property. Before killing these innocent animals simply looking for a home, we highly recommend consulting a raccoon removal company that may be able to offer a quick and humane solution to your raccoon issue. If you are still set on killing the intruders, it is very important that you check your state, local, and federal laws and guidelines before proceeding.

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Take Safety Precautions

In Texas, much of the raccoon population carries parasites and roundworms that can expose you, your family, and your domestic pets to many contagious diseases. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you consult with a company that offers professionalraccoon removal services to deal with a possible raccoon infestation on your property. Companies such as Critter Stop will not only quickly and humanely remove the raccoon from your attic, they will also provide necessary sanitation services to ensure your home is safe for you and your family.

If you think you can handle it all yourself, it is important to always keep a safe distance from raccoons. Additionally, you must wear gloves and a mask or respirator when disposing of their droppings or cleaning up the traps since the diseases that can be spread through their feces are contagious via both direct contact and airborne particles.

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Conclusion:

Critter Stop is one of the most reliable raccoon removal companies in Texas. We provide a wide range of animal removal services for residential and commercial properties. If you see raccoons around your property, call us and see why we are one of the best-reviewed companies in the entire state.

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Seven Raccoon Control Tips | Signs of Raccoon in House | Critter Stop

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Raccoons are smart and quirky animals that might be fun to observe from afar. However, they are not an animal you want to share your home with. Once they have invaded your house, they can cause a tremendous amount of damage to your property.

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When is the Best Time to Remove Insulation?

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When is the Best Time to Remove Insulation?

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Do you feel like your home is not keeping in warm air like it used to do before? Does it seem like cool air easily escapes your house? This might be because your attic insulation is aging and losing its effectiveness.

Just like anything else in your lovely house or sturdy commercial building, your attic insulation will not last forever. When your home insulation starts to wear out, you will be exposed to many problems. In addition to high energy bills, degrading insulation may leave your home or commercial building vulnerable to other hazardous substances, such as mold, creating a health risk for you and your loved ones.

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Owners with cellulose insulation will sometimes notice abnormal amounts of dust or a thin powder in their house as their cellulose insulation begins to break down and the dust seeps into their living areas. This can be particularly bothersome for homeowners with pre-existing respiratory issues.

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If a home or commercial building owner has had animals in their attic, the health risks present dramatically increase. Diseases can live in critter feces for years and be spread through the air, putting residents that have had animals in their attic at an even higher risk of contracting a disease or illness if they do not replace and / or sanitize their attic insulation.

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One of the best solutions to avoid all these issues is to remove your insulation at the right time. But how do you know when is the best time to remove insulation?

7 Signs Insulation Removal Is Necessary

In the dog days of summer, homeowners and commercial building tenants feel the heat in their houses (or in their checkbooks!). For the large majority of homeowners, proper insulation is the best way to save your hard-earned money on utilities. However, many homeowners might not know how to check the condition of their attic insulation. How do you know if your insulation is normal or could get a significant upgrade?

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The best time to consider insulation removal is when you notice one of these signs mentioned below:

Hot or Cold Spots

The purpose of attic insulation is to regulate the temperature of your house. If you have a proper covering of insulation throughout the house, the temperature will stay relatively constant across different areas of the house. However, if you have a piping hot kitchen or a drafty home, then it is evident that insulation is not doing its job.

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Over time, insulation can shift from its original even distribution. One cause of this is home service providers working on home features in the attic. If you get your ductwork, HVAC, wiring, lighting, or other features in the attic worked on, the insulation will inevitably get redistributed, resulting in thicker layers and thinner spots. Another common cause of redistribution is having animals in your attic. Whether it's mice, rats, squirrels, opossums, or raccoons, animals will create nests in certain parts of your attic and stomp down other parts. Insulation goes from looking like a fresh snow to a dirty slush.

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When insulation coverage is uneven, air can more easily penetrate through gaps or thin spots, resulting in cool or warm drafts. If your house has become drafty, it is a good time to consider insulation removal.

Unusually High Energy Bills

When insulation starts to wear out, the sign most commonly noticed by homeowners is unusually high energy bills. After creeping up slowly over many years, homeowners often look up and realize they are spending significantly more on utilities than even a few years prior.

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Poor attic insulation results in higher HVAC utilization, and thus higher energy bills. Efficient and up-to-date insulation helps homeowners save a tremendous amount of money on utility bills. So this should come as no surprise - if your energy bills have gotten out of control, you should consider removing and replacing your insulation.

Wildlife Infestation

One sign confirming you need to consider insulation removal might walk in on four legs. Most of the time, squirrels, bugs, rats, raccoons, and opossums build their nests in the plush warmth of your attic insulation.

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They will not only live comfortably there but also multiply and invite all their friends to their new home. Do you want critters to party in your attic insulation? Of course, not. You will have to hear them scratching and tapping around your attic all night.

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Other than causing a disturbance at night, their fecal droppings and urine can carry airborne diseases, making it unsanitary to breathe in your own home. If these critters are not taken care of immediately, they can destroy your insulation, leaving you with no choice other than considering insulation removal.

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Because fecal droppings and urine can be quite hazardous, but it can only thoroughly be removed by removing all of the insulation simultaneously, replacing your attic insulation can often be necessary when dealing with a wildlife infestation in your attic if you want to preserve a safe environment in your home for you and your loved ones.

Old Home

In the last few decades, insulation technology has rapidly advanced. Insulation companies' previously used materialis being replaced with more efficient and durable materials. So, if your home was built in the 1980s or earlier and the insulation has not been replaced since then, it is high time for you to consider insulation removal.

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With each passing year, attic insulation deteriorates. After several decades without replacing or adding to your insulation, you can be left with a mere fraction of what newly constructed buildings have when built to code. Additionally, your old insulation could contain many harmful substances, which the most notable being asbestos. Asbestos can cause lung cancer and many other fatal diseases, yet, sadly, is still residing in many homeowners' attic.

Water Damage

There is a saying that perfectly goes with Texas' weather, "If you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes (and it will change)." In Texas, people are used to sudden rainstorms and flash floods, especially in the spring and summer months.

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So if your roof has a water leak or your house was severely damaged by floodwater, you will have to consider insulation removal for your house. Even if a small amount of water breaches your wall or roof, it will be soaked up by insulation, which eventually compromises its effectiveness and results in larger issues such as mold growth.

Mold Growth

Even if you live in a dry environment, your house is not entirely immune to mold. Whether it occurs naturally from the spores in the air or is brought in by water, mold can rapidly grow in dark attic insulation.

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Mold is definitely a threat to you and your family members' health. However, it cannot be removed without replacing your insulation.

Cold Interior Walls

One simple test to assess the condition of your insulation is by simply conducting a touch test. All you need to do is touch the interior walls of your house. Are they warm and dry? If yes, then your insulation is in good condition, and there is no need to remove it. However, if the walls are cold and moist, either your insulation has completely deteriorated or is close to wearing out.

Basics of Attic Insulation Removal

Attic insulation removal is no walk in the park. At Critter Stop, it is the toughest work we do. The process itself may be simple, assuming you have all the right equipment, but it is extremely taxing work - especially when it is even moderately warm outside.If a homeowner decides to do it themselves, it is important to invest in the proper safety equipment and to take necessary precautions.

Essentials

To remove the attic insulation of your house all by yourself, you will need to invest in some protective gear to make sure the project goes smoothly and safely. Before starting an insulation removal project, it is necessary to buy rubber-coated gloves, either a respirator or surgical masks, and reliable goggles with anti-fog coating. While not necessary, full body jumpsuits are also often used by professionals.

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Rubber-coated gloves will help protect your hands from any hazardous substances, while masks will help protect your lungs from any potential dust or mold. The same thing goes for goggles - they will ensure your eyes remain safe from irritation and contamination. Full body jumpsuits protect your skin from irritation and itchiness, both of which are common when removing insulation regardless of the type or amount of insulation.

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Other recommended supplies before removing attic insulation by yourself are:

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A Flashlight - attics are usually darks areas, so you will need it to see what you are doing

Hard Hats - attics are generally not designed with tall people in mind and usually have nails sticking through the roof

Water - removing insulation is very taxing so it is important that you stay hydrated!4

Safety Precautions

Attics are generally not built to have multiple people walking around for long periods. Keep your eyes on the floor and make sure you are stepping on floor joists only to ensure your safety.

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If you accidentally step on drywall and apply too much pressure, your foot, or even your entire body, will go through it. So, it is important to watch your step to keep yourself safe.

Why Should You Consider Hiring Insulation Companies For Insulation Removal?

Doing home improvement projects yourself can be rewarding and economical, but some home projects are much more challenging than others. If you have never dealt with insulation before, getting professionals to do it for you is usually the best option.

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Insulation removal can be anything but easy. Suppose your attic is severely infested with rodents or other wild animals. A DFW insulation company can replace the insulation for you, but Critter Stop can replace the insulation and seal off all of the entry points into the house to ensure animals cannot continue to get into your attic.

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Regardless of your initial inclination, getting a quote from an insulation company near you is a good first step. They will provide detailed insights and cost estimates for adding new insulation to your attic to save energy and improve comfort.

Deciding to Remove or Repair Insulation

Even after knowing all the signs to consider insulation removal, it can be challenging to decide whether you need insulation service, repair, or other home improvements. Fortunately, there are many DFW insulationprofessionals that can assess the situation you are facing and help you determine the work that is needed.

Conclusion

Removing old attic insulationhelps in improving the energy efficiency of your house once it is replaced. Also, it will keep you and your loved ones safe from hazardous substances such as mold and diseases carried by rodent and other wildlife feces. If you suspect your attic insulation has deteriorated, consider reaching out to a reliable insulation removal company in your area.

‍ Critter Stop has attic insulation professionals that have many years of experience helping homeowners in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. We can help you get rid of old insulation and replace it with new, more efficient insulation. With proper installation, energy efficiency will be maximized, along with your return on investment. So, if you want to get your insulation removed or get a quote on it, give us a call or check our website. Let us handle your insulation problems!

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When is the Best Time to Remove Insulation Safely?-Blog | Critter Stop

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Do you feel like your home is not keeping in warm air like it used to do before? Does it seem like cool air easily escapes your house? This might be because your attic insulation is aging and losing its effectiveness.

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The Importance of Critter Control for Your Home’s Value

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The Importance of Critter Control for Your Home’s Value

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As every homeowner knows, critters are a big problem when it comes to your home. They can infest and destroy almost everything in their path as well as spread diseases that could lead to major health problems for you and your family. If you hear noises in your attic, or think there might be animals living in your attic, investing in a high-quality animal removal partner will provide a handsome return on your investment.

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Pests don't discriminate between residential homes and other buildings like restaurants so they're not just an annoyance - but rather a threat to food security too! You may think pest control sounds pricey at first glance; however there's no price tag on keeping out nasty critters from getting into places where they shouldn't be (like inside walls). If only half-measures were taken against them then all the time

Return on Investment

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If you take nothing else away from this article, know that nipping a critter problem in the bud can be one of the best financial decisions you make all year! If animals in your attic are left untreated, they can destroy ducting, electrical wiring, HVAC components, and / or make the insulation so unsanitary that it must be removed. Each of these repair work items are often many times more expensive than animal removal services.

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Critter Stop recently helped a customer with a ~2,500 sq ft 3 bed, 2 bath home that was hearing noises in her attic. We investigated and found a severe rat infestation in her attic. If the homeowner had contacted an animal removal services company as soon as they heard scratching noises in the attic, they would have lowered their total cost of remediation by 86%! "Exclusion," or the sealing all of the entry points around a house or commercial building that a rodent can use to gain access, trapping, and sanitation were a fraction of the customer's total out-of-pocket expenses because they also needed to remove and replace their insulation and replace all of the ductwork due to rodents' chewing through it in various spots.

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Critters Bring Diseases Into Your Home

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Critters can be a homeowner's worst nightmare. Not only do these unwanted visitors often cause structural damage, but they can also carry potentially life-threatening diseases into your home! Diseases such as Hantavirus, Leptospirosis, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCMV), Salmonella, and Rabies are all transmitted by critters.

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While most critters avoid human interaction and are even considered cute by many, the diseases they can carry should be taken very seriously. While modern science has provided a solution to many diseases, such as the bubonic plague, which infamously killed 30-60% of the European population in the 14t century, not all diseases carried by critters have cures. For instance, 36% of hantavirus cases - a disease that can be spread simply by inhaling air exposed to infected rat feces - in the U.S. result in death.

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Other diseases, such Leptospirosis, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCMV), Salmonella, and Rabies can be treated, if diagnosed early enough, but are still very unpleasant illnesses to come down with. For instance, in the first phase of illness, individuals infected with LCMV can expect to experience any or all of the following: fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, smaller appetite, muscle aches, and headaches. In the second phase of illness, following a few days of recovery after the first phase, symptoms can include meningitis, encephalitis (drowsiness, confusion, and sensory disturbances), or meningoencephalitis (inflammation of both the brain and meninges). According to the CDC, it is estimated that ~5% of house mice throughout the U.S. carry LCMV.

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With the health risks present with rodent and larger animal infestations, homebuyers often require sellers immediately address their critter issue, sometimes requiring a full attic restoration, depending on if it is a "buyer's market" at the time. If immediate remediation is not required, buyers will often place a discount on homes with past animal infestations and / or animal removal service needs. This should come as no surprise, given the preference any reasonable person will have for a clean, critter-free attic over one that has a history of critter activity.

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A Rodent Infestation Can Lead to a Loss of Property Value

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With the structural damage and health risks present with rodent and larger animal infestations, critters can lead to a loss of property value. Rats and squirrels in particular are notorious for gnawing on just about anything, including ductwork and electrical wiring. A current or past rat problem can equate to chewed wiring, which may require replacement of electrical systems, or even worse, causes fires via short circuits!

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Additionally, if it is a "buyer's market," buyers are more likely to require a full attic restoration. This can cost sellers ~$2.50-$2.80 / square foot to full remove and replace their attic insulation, quickly costing thousands of dollars.

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Hiring A Professional Animal Removal Services Company Saves Time and Money

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The idea of hiring a professional animal removal services company might seem like an expensive and unnecessary step to take when a perceived alternative is setting out rat poison and / or rat traps. There are many benefits that come with working with a professional though, with the largest being guaranteed results. If critters are in your attic, there is at least one, and likely many, cracks, crevices, and holes on the exterior of your home that they are using to get into the attic. They may only be using a few spots to get in now, but if you find and seal those, there are dozens of other spots they could use to get back in - often with just a little bit of chewing. If you do not find and properly seal these holes, the critters usually avoid the traps since they have other food sources accessible to them. If sealed in however, it will be their only food source, and they will be forced to go for the food on the traps, regardless of whether they know better or not.

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Even if you did catch all of the critters currently in your attic - which is increasingly difficult if you are dealing with rodents - simply trapping the critters does not address the root of your problem. Without "exclusion," or sealing all of the potential entry points to your home, critters will just keep coming back in and out of your home at will.

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Another benefit of hiring a professional is the sanitation and attic remediation services they can offer. At Critter Stop, we use a blend of sanitation chemicals that aim to:

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1. Kill the micro bacteria and germs left behind by the animals in your attic. Our sanitizers will kill any diseases lingering in the animals' feces and urine that is left behind.
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2. Destroy the pheromones, biological markers, and urine markers left behind by the animals in your attic that could attract other animals in the future. Basically, we want to hide the fact that there were ever animals in your attic, or else other animals will be drawn to it as well for years to come. Put another way, if a raccoon is roaming down your street, we do not want him to smell rodent feces or urine in your attic and think they can force their way into your attic and find dinner. To combat this, we use Pro's Choice - Molecular Modifier in our fogging blend, which breaks down the molecular structures of these odor-causing substances.

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Critters are persistent and can cause significant damage to your home, if left untreated. The longer animals are in your attic, the higher the likelihood they can cause thousands of dollars of damage, whether that is to your HVAC unit, your ductwork, electrical wiring, or insulation. As such, getting a professional animal removal services company near you to quickly address the issue can save you significant time and money.

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Choosing the Right Professional

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Whether you are considering selling your house or not, choosing the right professional to help with your animal removal service needs is critical. Not all animal removal service companies are created equal, and not all of them will have the same level of experience providing a permanent solution.

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We regularly help customers who originally chose another company that simply sealed the most common entry points then were unsure what to do next when the animals got back in. Many customers will instinctively call their pest control company about their rodent or critter removal needs, only to find out the long and expensive way that many pest control companies are not well-suited to permanently solve their animal removal needs. Without experienced exclusion technicians who are continually sealing up houses from animals and receiving the benefit of constant feedback, seeing what works and what doesn't, it is difficult for a company to permanently eradicate the animals in your attic.

A good strategy for finding the best animal removal services company near you is to contact a few companies nearby and ask if they will provide you an estimate so you can learn more about their process. Critter Stop provides free estimates for customers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This includes Dallas County, Tarrant County, Collin County, and parts of Denton County. With these in-person estimates, our customers can often tell which companies have experience with the issue they are dealing with and who can provide them the best service and value that they are seeking. At Critter Stop, we are confident in the value we provide relative to our competition and encourage all of our customers to get more than one estimate and make an informed decision on which animal removal services company they want to partner with.

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Importance of Critter Control for Your Home's Value | Critter Stop

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‍ As every homeowner knows, critters are a big problem when it comes to your home. They can infest and destroy almost everything in their path as well as spread diseases that could lead to major health problems for you and your family.