WILDLIFE REMOVAL

There are many types of animals that may move into your walls. Here are some of the common ones in Florida with helpful signs to determine which is living in your home:

• Mice: These creatures are most identifiable by their droppings and their chewing. Their droppings are dark and rice-shaped with pointed ends. You’ll typically find them along walls, in kitchen cabinets or pantries, in your attic, or in your crawl space or basement. Mice also like to chew, so if you notice holes in floorboards or food boxes, you probably have mice living in your walls. Another sign is if you were to knock on your wall and the animals on the other side freeze and stop making noise. These creatures are most active at night.
• Rats: Many of the telltale signs for rats are similar to mice, with a few key differences. For one, rat droppings and chew marks are bigger than those of mice. Rats are also bigger and more active than their counterparts, so you will typically hear more noise coming from your wall than you would with mice. Rats are more apt to climb or swim through pipes, too. Therefore, if you notice noises or damage in your pipes, you might be dealing with rats instead of mice.
• Snakes: A big giveaway that you have a snake living in your wall is if you find a snake skin in or next to your house. You might also see slither tracks in the dust in your house or in the dirt around it. Another way to tell whether you have a snake in your house is by the odor. Some snakes, like rattlesnakes, release a strong, musky odor if they feel threatened. Their droppings look similar to those of birds except that they typically have bones or hair from prey in them. Snakes are most active in the early morning or late afternoon, so if you notice activity in your walls during these times, it may suggest the presence of a snake. Listen for sounds of slow scratching as they slither over insulation.
• Bats: These critters communicate through high-pitched chattering, so if you’re worried you have bats, listen for sounds coming from your walls, particularly around twilight. Bats usually feed starting at sunset, so check the exterior of your home around this time to see if you can find any bats exiting an opening in your house. Their droppings, also called guano, have a strong ammonia smell and are typically dry and powdery.
• Opossums: If you hear hissing or clicking noises in your wall at night, you might have an opossum living there. These creatures love pet food, so if you have one in your house, you may notice torn pet food bags. Their droppings are wet and odorous, which can give your house a strong smell as your drywall or insulation absorbs it.
• Raccoons: These animals, like mice and rats, like to chew. If you notice large chew marks in your drywall, you might have a raccoon. They are loudest at night, making scratching, chewing, and crawling sounds. Like opossums, they may get into any pet food you have around the house. To double-check whether you have a raccoon, knock on the wall where you hear the noises or notice the chew marks. If noises continue and it doesn’t sound as though the animal is trying to get away, that’s another indicator that you have a raccoon living there.
• Squirrels: Unlike many of their nuisance wildlife counterparts, squirrels are most active during the day. They typically stay on the upper levels of the home, often entering and exiting the home via a branch. If you notice squirrels on your roof often, it can be a big sign that they are living in your walls. Some of the noises you might hear in your wall if a squirrel is living there is chattering or scampering. If you knock on the wall when you hear these noises, squirrels will run away from the knock. Squirrels also chew and will even do it through your electrical wires.

While you should look out for all these signs when trying to determine which animal has taken up residence with you, you should call an animal removal company or someone with a wildlife removal certification to confirm the species and take the appropriate actions to remove it.