Nuisance Wildlife and Animal Control

Confrontations between humans and wildlife are becoming increasingly frequent as development shrinks animals' natural habitats.

As Pennsylvainaians, we respect and enjoy wildlife. We consider the presence of Pennsylvanias's woodland animals like squirrels, raccoons, chipmunks, and skunks to be part of the character of rural and suburban life. But animals in the wild can carry serious, sometimes deadly diseases like rabies, plague, giardiasis, Lyme disease, and numerous arboviral and vector-borne diseases. In addition, wild animals often damage property and may attack when accidentally confronted.

Nuisance Animal Control in Warren County, PA

When wild animals decide to move into our attics, chimneys, and other areas of our homes and property, professional animal control is needed. Williams Pest Control is the leader in animal control in Warren County, PA. We offer animal control services for all species that tend to make a nuisance of themselves from time to time in Warren County.

Raccoon Control

A lot of people think raccoons are rodents, but they're actually members of the family Procyonidae. They're omniverous animals, eating insects, small mammals, berries, fruits, and human garbage.

Raccoons can become a problem in residential or commercial areas because of their destructive habits, their aggressiveness when confronted, and their relatively high incidence of serious, often fatal zoonotic diseases including rabies and raccoon roundworm.

Raccoon control is usually accomplished by trapping and relocating existing raccoons, repairing any damage they did, and performing structural exclusion to prevent raccoons from getting in again. Sometimes additional work is required for decontamination of interior spaces and control of parasites (fleas, ticks, mites, etc.).

Squirrel Control

Squirrels are rodents who are closely related to their poorer cousins, the rats. They're skilled aerialists who spend a great deal of their time in trees. They usually become a problem for humans when squirrels get into attics, lofts, and other areas of buildings.

Squirrels can cause considerable damage to buildings and stored property through their gnawing and scratching, and can cause fires when they gnaw through the insulation on wiring. They also carry disease-carrying parasites (fleas, ticks, etc.) and contaminate insulation and stored property with their urine and droppings.

Squirrel control usually consists of trapping existing squirrels, repairing damage and performing exclusion work, and (when necessary) treating for displaced parasites and cleaning up contamination.

Skunk Control

Skunks (sometimes called polecats) are small- to medium-sized animals of the family Mephitidae. They are nocturnal and omniverous, although they survive mainly on insects, earthworms, small vertebrates, eggs, human garbage, and occasionally fruits, seeds, and nuts.

Skunks are disliked mainly because of their ability to spray a foul-smelling liquid that is potent enough to ward off even bears. Few animals will attack a skunk; and even fewer will do so twice. But skunks are passive by nature and usually will attack only when provoked.

Skunks also have a fairly high incidence of rabies, accounting for slightly less than one-third of rabies cases in the United States. They also may carry parasites that can vector diseases.

Skunk control is accomplished by trapping and exclusion. On occasion, treatment for displaced parasites and removal of skunk by-products is also needed after skunk trapping.

Groundhog Control

Groundhogs (sometimes called woodchucks or whistlepigs) are large, burrowing rodents of the genus Marmota, which includes all ground squirrels. They are primarily herbivores (although they'll sometimes eat insects and other small animals) and can cause crop losses.

In non-crop areas, groundhog burrows can ruin lawns, golf courses, and other recreational areas. Aside from being unsightly, the burrows create a hazard for humans and domestic animals who may injure their feet, ankles, and legs when they stumble upon (or into) groundhog burrows.

Groundhog control is usually accomplished by trapping. Exclusion from certain areas may also be possible, but it's not always a practical option.

Mole Control

Moles are small burrowing mammals in the family Talpidae. (They are not rodents, contrary to popular belief.) They have small eyes that are hidden behind fur and the folds of their facial skin, and close-cropped ears that are hard to see. They're carnivores who feed upon insects, grubs, and other small invertebrates found underground. As such, they can be beneficial in some settings.

Moles are disliked mainly because of their burrowing activities, which can ruin lawns, golf courses, and recreational facilities. Their burrows may extend for fairly large distances and are often visible (and unsightly) from above ground, especially on finely manicured lawns.

Proper lawn care can help prevent mole problems. Existing mole infestations can be controlled by trapping, baiting, or gassing, depending on the nature and extent of the infestation.

Other Wildlife and Animal Control Services

There are many, many other animal species in Pennsylvania that occasionally create a nuisance, many more than can be decribed here. These species include chipmunks, voles, feral (stray) cats, and others. (We also provide bat control, which has its own page that can be found here.)

Whatever your animal control problem, we can help. Please contact us.