Wildlife Removal/Exclusion
Raccoons, skunks, bears, squirrels, groundhogs, whatever is pestering you, we can help! With a licensed trapper on staff and many years of experience, we can rid any animal from your yard, home, cottage etc. The cost to remove nuisance wildlife is completely dependent on the circumstances. Contact us today to discuss your situation and we'll help you figure out a personalized solution. Our assessment will always include tactics for exclusion to make sure the access points are permanently sealed. We also do clean outs for full service, worry-free wildlife eradication.
You never know what can come from a simple question! One of our customers originally came to us with an issue of woodpeckers. Relentless, noisy, destructive woodpeckers that were creating holes in the outside of his cottage. Eager to help him out and unbelievably curious, we assessed the damages, asked all sorts of questions, identified the type of woodpecker (pileated - just like Woody) and surmised that the birds were actually after carpenter ants within the walls. We ventured inside to look for carpenter ant evidence, and found galleries in the beams. We treated the ants and the woodpeckers were gone - this happy customer has now been woodpecker (and ant) free for 2 years!
Bears
You wake up to find a bear in the back yard. It happens. What do you do?! Call us, we'll talk you through it. 705-286-BUGS (2874) or send us an email, we can help identify what's pestering you.
Beavers
Beavers are known as 'ecosystem engineers' because of their ability to alter a landscape so dramatically. When that landscape is one that you treasure, we can run into problems.
But why do beavers do what they do? They have an insatiable hate of running water. If they hear running water, they must stop it by damming. Once the dam is complete, they pack feedbeds for the winter and will chomp trees for food, shelter or construction.
We have a licensed trapper on staff who can help with nuisance beavers on your property. Every situation is different, so call or email us about yours and we can get you a free quote.
Bird Control
One of the greatest things about spring is the return of the birds and their cheerful chirps. Most will agree that it's lovely to have birds in the yard or visiting a nearby feeder, but when they are too close or there are too many, they are downright dirty.
We have helped a local business with so many birds roosting on the roof, their feathers clogged the exhaust fans and contaminated the air inside. We were called to a cottage where renters were reacting to something in bedrooms on one side of the building. Upon close inspection, there were thousands of bird mites originating from a nest on the wall outside! We even have a solution for the birds, geese and ducks that poop on your docks and rafts!
In most scenarios birds can be controlled in a non-lethal manner. We install deterrents to keep them off your property and send them elsewhere. They have wings, they may as well use them! Price is entirely dependent on the situation and the type of control that will work best. We have a number of options to discuss, just tell us the situation and we'll come up with a customized solution!
Snakes
Ophidiophobia, or fear of snakes, is one of the most common fears worldwide. Lucky for you, our team members love snakes and have worked with reptiles all over Ontario. We are very familiar with the species that can be found here and can identify most species based on description or a photo.
Snakes don't often get into homes or cottages, but it happens a few times a year and we safely remove them and relocate. Some people don't even want snakes on their property, and while snakes are difficult to deter, there are ways to make your property less inviting - mainly ensuring that grass is trimmed, limiting the use of rocks in the landscaping and controlling snake food sources, such as mice and frogs.
Cost for snake removal depends on your location and the situation, give us a call or send an email for a free, customized quote!
Squirrels
That thump in the night (or day) could be squirrels in the attic. Especially in fall, but also through winter and spring, they try to escape the cold by accessing our warm spaces. The attic may not seem warm to you but if you could burrow in the insulation and escape the outdoor elements, it's definitely a better alternative. They also seek indoor, protected spaces to give birth in spring.
Squirrels are difficult to keep out because they love to chew and have very strong jaws. A flying squirrel has more power (PSI) in its jaw than a wolf!! Even if a hole is large enough for them to get through, they will keep chewing leaving us telltale signs of their activity!
The main squirrel offenders in cottage country are red, grey (black squirrels are also grey squirrels) and flying. Red and grey squirrels are diurnal, or active during the day, whereas flying squirrels are nocturnal. It's important to note what time of day the ruckus can be heard to determine what kind of squirrel you're dealing with. Flying squirrels tend to have higher numbers inside, with an average of about 7-10 inside the same building. We helped one cottager with a total of 27 in their cathedral ceiling! Red and grey squirrels tend to congregate in smaller numbers, with the largest group being 6 in our experience, and an average of 1-2. There was an anomaly with about 16 black squirrels at one cottage but that was an outlier! The longer squirrels are in the area or in the house/cottage, the higher the numbers tend to be and the longer it takes to get control. They create a habit of getting inside for winter and pass that behaviour on through generations.
There are several options for squirrel removal and exclusion, with sealing being an imperative aspect of any squirrel program. If their access points are left open, it will just invite other squirrels - or smaller animals like mice - back in the same area. Price depends on the situation and how many visits are required. Call us today to discuss your scenario, we'll make suggestions and come for a site visit to put together a customized solution.
Flying Squirrels
There is no denying the 'cool factor' of flying squirrels. They're one of the softest creatures we deal with (though in no way do we recommend handling one!), they're evasive, able to glide silently above our heads and go largely unnoticed. They have big, adorable eyes and more crushing power (PSI) in their jaw than a wolf!
When they are in your ceiling or attic space, they tend to be slightly less evasive and cute. They chew insulation and wiring, like any rodent, and make an absolute mess.
Flying squirrel evictions start with an inspection where we fully assess the situation and first focus on trapping/eviction, then exclusion, ensuring no future rascally rodents can enter through the same area. Cost for wildlife work is highly variable but we can give you a good idea after the inspection, which is generally around $200 plus tax.
Photo credit: Bill Drummond Photography