Expert Animal Control Services in Wilkes-Barre PA: Your Guide to Wildlife Removal

Welcome to Shock Naue’s guide on managing wildlife issues in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Dealing with unwanted animal visitors can be stressful and even dangerous. If you’re searching for reliable and professional animal control in Wilkes-Barre PA, understanding your options is the first step towards a safe and humane solution. This article provides essential information based on local services available to residents facing wildlife conflicts.

Wilkes-Barre wildlife control technician removing an animal

Wild animals are a natural part of the Pennsylvania landscape, but sometimes they venture too close to our homes and businesses. Scratching sounds in the attic, damage to property, or sightings of animals like raccoons, squirrels, bats, or birds inside buildings are common problems requiring expert intervention. Infestations of rodents such as rats and mice also pose significant risks, including potential fire hazards from chewing electrical wires.

Professional wildlife control services specialize in addressing these specific issues. They are equipped to handle the complexities of removing wild animals from urban and suburban environments, ensuring the safety of both humans and the animals involved.

The Need for Professional Wildlife Damage Management

Many of Pennsylvania’s wild animals have adapted surprisingly well to living alongside humans. Attics, crawl spaces, porches, and sheds offer appealing shelter, especially during harsh weather or breeding seasons. While seeking refuge, these animals can cause considerable damage.

Rodents in attics often chew on wiring, creating a serious fire risk. Raccoons can contaminate spaces with droppings and parasites, posing health hazards. Bat or bird colonies can cause similar issues, including odor problems and structural damage from guano accumulation. Addressing these problems requires specialized knowledge and equipment to ensure effective and lasting results.

Comprehensive Wildlife Control Solutions

A full-service wildlife control company offers a range of solutions to tackle various animal problems. These services go beyond simple removal and often include preventing future intrusions.

Some key services provided by experts include:

• Humane wildlife trapping and relocation services when appropriate and permitted by state regulations.
• Specialized removal of common attic dwellers like raccoons and squirrels.
• Essential building repairs and exclusion work to seal entry points and prevent animals from returning.
• Permanent elimination strategies for rodents like rats and mice, and humane bat removal.
• Thorough cleanup of animal waste, including decontamination and odor control services.
• Emergency response for urgent animal issues and removal of dead animal carcasses from properties.

Wildlife removal expert inspecting an attic or building

Professional services understand the habits of local wildlife and use humane, effective methods to resolve conflicts. They aim for permanent solutions rather than temporary fixes.

Wildlife control technician using equipment for animal removal

Understanding the Difference: Wildlife vs. Domestic Animals

It is crucial to distinguish between wild animal issues and problems involving domestic pets like dogs and cats. Wildlife control services are specifically licensed and equipped to handle wild species. They do not handle domestic animal issues.

If you require assistance with a domestic animal problem, such as stray dogs or cats, issues with pet licenses, vaccinations, adoptions, bite reports, or reporting neglect or abuse, you need to contact your local animal services or humane society. For residents in Wilkes-Barre, this falls under Luzerne County Animal Services.

Domestic animal services notice or logo for Luzerne County

Contact for domestic animal issues in Luzerne County: (570) 825-4111.

There is typically no free Wilkes-Barre animal control available from government agencies for wildlife removal from private property, unlike services for domestic animals.

Insights and Tips from Wildlife Experts

Dealing with wildlife requires understanding animal behavior and legal regulations. Experts often share tips based on their experience. For example, handling captured animals, especially potentially dangerous ones like raccoons, must be done humanely and legally. While the method of killing an animal is sensitive, professional guidance emphasizes ethical practices that comply with local laws. Methods often discussed involve quick, humane dispatch methods if relocation isn’t feasible or permitted, stressing that poison is never a humane or recommended option.

Humane raccoon trapping cage

What to Expect Regarding Pricing

The cost of professional wildlife control services varies greatly depending on the specifics of the situation. Factors influencing the price include the type of animal, the location of the problem (e.g., attic vs. yard), the extent of the damage, and the complexity of the work required (e.g., repairs, multiple visits).

Since each job is unique, a fixed price list is generally not possible. However, services can often provide a price estimate over the phone after discussing your specific problem. A full inspection on-site allows for a detailed assessment and a written price quote.

Example price ranges might include:

• Small jobs (e.g., single animal removal in the yard): Starting from around $100.
• Medium jobs (e.g., animal removal from inside the house with minor repairs): Starting from around $300.
• Large jobs (e.g., complex projects requiring multiple service trips and extensive work): Starting from around $500.

These are just examples; the actual cost will depend entirely on your unique situation. Professional companies aim to provide fair pricing reflective of their expertise and success rate in solving wildlife problems permanently.

Resources for Free or Assisted Wildlife Help

While professional services are often the most effective for complex issues, residents who cannot afford private wildlife control may seek assistance from government or non-profit agencies.

Resources that might offer some level of free wildlife help or guidance in the Wilkes-Barre area include:

• Luzerne County Animal Services: (570) 825-4111 (Primarily domestic animals, but may offer general guidance)
• Pennsylvania Wildlife Commission: 717-787-4250 (For reporting wildlife issues, regulations, general information)

Resources list for free wildlife removal options in Wilkes-Barre

It’s important to note that these agencies often have limitations on the type of assistance they can provide for wildlife problems on private property. If they cannot help, hiring a professional service remains the most reliable option for effective and timely resolution.

Local Wildlife Conditions and News

Understanding local wildlife populations can offer insights into potential issues residents might face. According to recent reports regarding areas including northwest Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County, wildlife populations like skunks show varying trends. For instance, wildlife biologists have noted improvements in skunk-to-trapper ratios in certain areas, suggesting a healthy male skunk population, which is positive for trappers but indicates their presence in the environment. Other areas, like the Cache unit, might see lower skunk populations compared to females.

Experts note that factors like winter weather, precipitation levels, and food availability influence where wildlife congregates. Abundant food and water sources can cause animals like skunks to be widely scattered, while dry conditions might concentrate them near water sources.

These local insights are valuable for both wildlife management officials and residents, highlighting the dynamic nature of wildlife populations in the region. They underscore why encountering wildlife in residential areas remains a possibility and why professional intervention is often necessary.

Common Animals Requiring Animal Control in Wilkes-Barre PA

Residents in Wilkes-Barre and surrounding Luzerne County may encounter a variety of wild animals that require professional control:

• Raccoons: Often found in attics, they tip garbage cans, damage lawns, and can contaminate areas with droppings. Trapping can be challenging.
• Opossums: May take refuge under porches or in homes and can appear threatening to pets.
• Squirrels: Frequent attic and wall inhabitants, often requiring removal services.
• Skunks: Known for digging in lawns and living under sheds, requiring careful handling due to odor.
• Groundhogs: Common in northern areas, known for burrowing and damaging gardens/lawns.
• Moles: Cause damage to yards and lawns with their tunneling.
• Rats and Mice: Common indoor pests requiring permanent elimination, often contrasting with pest control methods that use poison and require recurring contracts. Professional services focus on trapping, removal, and sealing entry points.
• Bats: Can form colonies in buildings. Bat control is often complex and requires humane, certified methods for removal and exclusion, especially in Pennsylvania where bats are protected.
• Birds: May roost in unwanted areas, requiring prevention and removal services.
• Snakes: Can enter properties; services include identification and safe removal, even of venomous species.
• Dead Animals: Removal of carcasses and associated odor control services are often needed.

Regardless of the specific critter causing trouble, experienced animal control in Wilkes-Barre PA should have the tools and expertise to handle the situation safely and effectively.

In conclusion, managing wildlife conflicts requires professional knowledge and adherence to humane practices. If you are experiencing issues with wild animals on your property in Wilkes-Barre, PA, contacting a reputable wildlife control service is the most effective way to ensure the problem is resolved permanently and safely.

For assistance with wild animal issues, contacting local experts like Fur and Feathers Wildlife Control at 570-240-4883 can provide the necessary support. They are available to discuss your problem, provide pricing information, and schedule appointments to address your wildlife concerns professionally and humanely.