Is Animal And Wildlife Removal A DIY Job?

The internet is a treasure trove of information and DIY how-tos. But just because you can  do something doesn’t mean you should. That sentiment is especially true when it comes to pest control such as wild animal removal. Maybe you’re considering trying your hand at animal or wildlife removal for the sake of time and money. Maybe you’re considering trying it simply because it seems interesting and you saw a video online. But the reality is there’s a lot more to consider before tackling such a job, and the variables make hiring a wildlife removal technician the smartest and safest choice.

While your intentions are likely good, trying to get rid of wildlife in or around your home or property on your own isn’t just dangerous, it is also typically ineffective. That’s why whatever the concern, whether it’s squirrels in your attic, racoons on your roof, or opposums in your yard, the issue should always be dealt with by a professional wildlife removal expert.

The Risks of DIY Animal and Wildlife Removal

Property Damage

When you hire a licensed experienced professional for animal removal, their methods and tools are created with the safety of people and property in mind. Without years of training, experience, and proper materials, you risk damaging your property in an attempt to trap and remove wildlife. A wild animal in your attic is already enough of a headache, just imagine the chaos if it was to end up running loose through your home during a botched trap and removal!

Personal Injury

Wild animals are not the same as cute, fuzzy pets. Though they may look harmless, these critters are not docile houseguests. Many animals typically avoid humans and are not a threat in the wild. However, they can become disorientated or feel threatened if they become trapped in your home, leading to an attack. Wild animals under duress can be more aggressive than they would be otherwise. And with some animals, such as snakes, it may be difficult to identify which species are dangerous. Many venomous species look similar to their nonvenomous counterparts; you don’t want to test your luck by guessing based on photos you found online. Professional animal and wildlife removal specialists have the proper training and materials to reduce the risks and save you a trip to the hospital.

Spread of Disease

Nowadays, we are all hyper aware of the possibility of diseases spreading from animals to humans. We’ve seen many large scale examples such as avian flu and of course the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, on a smaller scale, interaction with wild animals can be dangerous, as well. Many wild animals are carriers of zoonotic diseases, diseases that can be spread from animals to people. Attempting to remove such animals on your own can put you at risk for contracting one of the diseases that wild animals are known to carry. Additionally, animal excreta can contain salmonella, giving rise to food poisoning and contamination in your home. Professional animal removal specialists are equipped with the technology and skills required to stay safe from harm and keep you and your home clean and disease free.

Chemical Risk

Pesticides and chemicals are commonly used as animal deterrents and can easily be found online and even in local hardware stores. However, such products can be incredibly harmful to you and your family’s health especially if used incorrectly. Professional animal control technicians are fully trained on using these chemicals without putting you, your family, your pets, or your home at risk.

Animal Injury

As terrible as it would be for you to incur an injury during a bungled animal removal, consider that your attempt may also cause undue harm to an innocent animal. When you hire a licensed expert to do your wildlife removal, you can feel secure in the knowledge that they will opt for humane methods to capture the animal. Many animal control and wildlife organizations have reported treating squirrels, raccoons, and other animals that were badly injured during a DIY animal removal attempt. You don’t want to add to those stats.

Laws and Regulations

Depending on where you live, wildlife removal may be carefully regulated. Many animal removals require a permit or special license. In some states, there are exemptions to seasonal game regulations in regards to “nuisance animals” such as raccoons, skunks, and some small mammals. However, even with a nuisance animal removal permit, there are still rules and regulations to follow. For example, some states will require you to prove a threat exists to human health or safety before you may attempt to remove skunks, raccoons, or other animals. Skunks have to be euthanized by a licensed professional, and raccoons must be released on the property where they were trapped.

Certain animals, including skunks, raccoons, squirrels, and even snakes are considered protected wildlife. In some states there are even specific game seasons for these animals. Regardless of species, most states require you to contact your local parks and wildlife department or county extension office prior to attempting snake removal or relocation. While you could spend time searching the regulations in your state through your local parks and wildlife department or fish and game commission, you could save that effort by hiring a professional who is well versed in the law.

Disposal Concerns

Not all animals or wildlife removals involve living animals. Sometimes homeowners feel they are equipped to remove deceased pests from their properties. However, proper disposal of any deceased animal is a critical step to a sanitary animal removal job. You cannot just dispose of a carcass into the garbage and leave it for your trash pickup service to handle. Not only is that illegal, but it puts you and sanitation workers at risk. Animal carcasses must be removed from your home properly, by a qualified wildlife control service, in order to meet local safety requirements.

Recurrence and Prevention

An important, but often ignored, step of wildlife or pest removal is proper identification and prevention. Professional wildlife control companies use technicians that are trained not just in removal but also are experienced in wildlife identification. That’s necessary because it’s important to know what type of pest you are dealing with in order to identify how and why they’ve taken up residence in your home. While you may be able to identify the critter correctly you may not be able to determine the extent of the infestation or how to prevent the problem from coming back. Trusting the professionals means you’re less likely to deal with a recurring issue.

Time and Money

When you think of DIY projects, you often feel tempted by the opportunity to save money as opposed to paying someone else to do the dirty work. But once you consider the fact that if you don’t get the job done right the first time it will result in a lot more time and money wasted, it becomes a whole lot less appealing, In fact you may find that the time and money you invest doesn’t really save you much at all when you compare it to the service of a professional wildlife control expert.

Why You Should Trust the Experts 

Professional animal and wildlife technicians take a process-oriented approach to your situation to deliver the best outcomes. They’ll typically start with an inspection to identify the wildlife, entry points, and conditions which might be attracting the animal. Next, they’ll focus on humanely trapping and removing the critters. They’ll follow this step with “Exclusion” which means sealing up all possible entry points to your home. Lastly, they’ll help you address clean up and any additional prevention to keep the pest from returning.

If you want the best solution to your wildlife infestation problems in Columbia, SC and the surrounding counties, don’t do it yourself! Contact Wild Thingz Wildlife Removal at (803) 738-8003.