Wildlife Removal + Exclusion

Why this matters

Nuisance wildlife (raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, bats) is the highest-margin work in a pest-control route. Single-job revenue. Customer pays cash for relief from animals in the attic; insurance often covers if damage is documented. Many states require a separate Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) license - confirm yours before quoting.

Scope + license

Applies to:

• Raccoon, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, flying squirrel, opossum, skunk, chipmunk
• Bat exclusion (protected; DO NOT trap-out; exclusion only, performed outside maternity season). Be precise about which law applies: a handful of species are federally listed under the Endangered Species Act (northern long-eared bat, Indiana bat, and others), while the common house-roosting species are protected under state wildlife law in nearly every state. The operational rule is the same either way, but the permit you need is not. Check the state wildlife agency and the USFWS county species list before you schedule.
• Bird exclusion (pigeon, starling, sparrow are non-protected invasive species; native songbirds + raptors are federally protected)

Excludes:

• Deer, bear, coyote, large predators (state wildlife agency call)
• Federally protected species (eagles, hawks, owls, woodpeckers, native songbirds) - DO NOT remove without USFWS permit
• Domestic animals (animal control jurisdiction)

License required: most states require NWCO license + commercial GL covering wildlife work. Many states ALSO require humane-trap certification + chemical-immobilization endorsement separately.

Inspection (60 - 90 minutes per home)

Wildlife removal is 80% inspection + 20% trapping. The customer paid for the inspection; do it thoroughly.

1. Customer interview. Sounds (when, where, scratching vs scurrying vs walking)? Smell? Visible damage?
2. Exterior walk. Identify ALL potential entry points:

• Gable vents (squirrels + bats)
• Soffit-fascia gap (raccoons + squirrels)
• Roof-pipe boots (squirrels)
• Construction gaps at brick / siding (mice + small wildlife)
• Chimney cap missing or damaged (raccoons + birds + bats)
• Foundation gaps + crawl-space vents (opossums + skunks)
• Roof intersection valleys (squirrels)

1. Roof inspection. Visual or drone (preferred for steep / multi-story). Photograph every potential entry.
2. Attic inspection. Crawl in (PPE required); ID species by scat, damage, nesting material, sound.
3. Document. Photo every entry + damage + scat.

Species ID + key behaviors

Raccoon - scat 1/2 - 3/4" diameter, dark, often in piles; entries 4" round or larger; daytime sleeping in attic; nocturnal activity. Females with young - never trap-out without exclusion plan; mother will tear the house apart returning.

Gray + fox squirrel - scat 1/4" cylindrical; entries 2 - 3" round (chewed); daytime activity; scratch sounds early morning + dusk. Aggressive chewers - wire damage = fire risk; trap + exclude is the standard call.

Flying squirrel - scat similar to gray but smaller; entries can be 1.5" - they fit through smaller gaps; nocturnal activity. Often in groups of 5 - 15 in attic.

Bat - scat (guano) is 1/8 - 1/4" cylindrical, in piles below roost; entries can be 3/8 - 1/2" wide; nocturnal exit + return at dusk. PROTECTED in most states. Maternity season (typically May - August) - exclusion is illegal during this window; defer the work + bill for inspection only.

Opossum - under-deck + crawl space typically; scat 3/4 - 1" cylindrical; nocturnal. Generally not aggressive but will defend young.

Skunk - burrow under porch / shed / deck; scat 1/4 - 1/2" cylindrical with visible insects + fruit seeds; nocturnal. Smell is unmistakable. Capture / release with extreme care + odor protection.

Removal procedure

Step 1: Trap selection + placement

• Live cage trap (Tomahawk, Havahart) for raccoon (32 - 42 inch), squirrel (16 - 24 inch), opossum
• One-way exclusion door at entry point for trapping-while-still-in-house scenarios
• Set traps along travel paths; bait per species (peanut butter + crackers for squirrels; cat food for raccoons + opossums; sardines for skunks)
• Cover trap with light fabric if customer is squeamish

Step 2: Daily checks (state-mandated typically 24-hour max)

• All states regulate maximum trap check interval - most are 24 hours; some 12
• Document each check
• Trapped animals released or dispatched per state regulation; many states require release within X miles OR euthanasia (varies by species + state)

Step 3: Final-animal confirmation

Before exclusion, confirm zero animals remain inside.

• Trail-camera monitoring at primary entries
• Trap-set with attic access verified for 7 - 14 days no captures
• Sound monitoring: silence for 7+ days

Step 4: Exclusion (the actual long-term value)

1. Seal every identified entry with appropriate material:

• 1/4" hardware cloth + sheet metal for chewed openings
• Sealed soffit with bracket + flashing
• Chimney cap install (mandatory in raccoon territory)
• Gable vent screening
• Foundation vent screening

1. One-way excluder door at primary entry for any final animals
2. Remove excluder after 7 - 14 days of no activity
3. Final seal of that entry

Step 5: Sanitation

1. Remove contaminated insulation (raccoon scat carries roundworm - Baylisascaris)
2. Vacuum droppings with HEPA filter ONLY (standard vac aerosolizes)
3. Disinfect surfaces with enzymatic cleaner OR diluted bleach for hard surfaces
4. Replace insulation as needed (often customer-billable as separate insulation work OR refer to insulation contractor)

Bat exclusion (specialty)

Bats are protected: some species federally under the ESA, the rest under state wildlife law in nearly every state. Confirm which applies in your state and county before quoting. Procedure:

1. Confirm maternity season is over (typically September - April; varies regionally; check state DNR)
2. Identify ALL exits via dusk emergence count
3. Install one-way valves (excluder cones, mesh tubes) at every exit
4. Bats fly out, can't return
5. Leave excluders 7 - 14 nights
6. Remove excluders + seal entries permanently with copper mesh or hardware cloth
7. Sanitize guano + disinfect; histoplasmosis risk requires PPE

References

• NWCOA (National Wildlife Control Operators Association) best practices
• USDA APHIS Wildlife Services technical guides
• State wildlife agency regulations (varies)
• CDC guidance on zoonotic disease + PPE
• Manuall internal: Rodent Exclusion & Trapping, Integrated Pest Management Customer Education