Salem Wildlife Removal

You wouldn’t expect birds to be a problem for homeowners, but these flying animals love to get into vents to nest. These nests trap heat and particles that can ignite and can clog air vents which can quickly become a fire hazard. Their droppings carry many diseases and their nests attract parasites. It’s not uncommon for these insects to come out of bathroom and stove vents as birds build their nests. Here in Salem, you also have to worry about a particular species of bird, woodpeckers. They make hundreds of holes in the side of your house which can get bigger and other animals can get into your house. It’s a hassle to keep these birds out of your house. Especially if they are above ground floor.

If you want to learn more about Bird Removal click here.

Inspection – We will search the home for vent openings such as dryer vents, oven vents, chimneys, etc. These openings will allow wildlife to get in, and their covers could have eroded over time, or never installed in the first place. Then we try to find other openings such as attic vents, holes in the soffits and gutters for any other areas of potential damage. We will base these inspections on what you the customer have told us and any other evidence such as abundant bird droppings.

Removal and Exclusion – When we start we will remove the nests from your property that are nesting in your home. We will remove them from the vents, chimney, soffits, and then clean out debris. After removal we will install vent covers and if wanted, install bird exclusion devices such as bird spikes, visual reflectors, acoustic emitters, and sprays. Each home is different so we apply many different tactics as one method may not work for your home.

Repairs – Our repairs mostly involve adding covers to vents and sanitation. While the birds are gone, the insects and parasites they carry will not be. Last thing you’d want is a bug falling out onto your stove or bathroom.

Snakes play an important role to the ecosystem here in Salem. They reduce rodent and insect populations and control pest populations in your garden and home. These reptiles do no harm to your home and prefer to be left alone to rest and to hunt. So if you find a snake in your garden or yard leave it alone and it will go away.

Salem has two types of venomous snakes, the Eastern Copperhead and the Timber Rattlesnakes. These snakes can be deadly as their bite will require you to go to the emergency room. We know that your family and loved ones are you top priority so if you have a snake in your home or you frequently see them in your yard give us a call. As abundant snakes means that you have a rather large rodent problem on your hands.

Inspection – When we begin our inspection we will search for snake skins, droppings, the snake, and most importantly prey. Snakes only frequent areas where food is plentiful, and they often travel to areas where these is food. This means that if you have snakes in your yard or home, then that means you have a lot of prey animals around or in your home. We offer free inspections where not only do we search for evidence for snakes, but for prey as well.

Removal and Exclusion – We make sure to remove these snakes humanely and safely according to Virginia’s Laws. While the law states that we can kill if warranted we make sure that, that is the last resort as how beneficial they are to the environment. We use repellents and traps to make sure that they do not come back, and we will check frequently to make sure that they are effective.

Repairs – Snakes do not damage homes, but we are happy to remove snake skin and droppings from your property. We will discuss with the homeowners how to prevent snakes in the future, such as plants that work as a natural repellent or removal of debris that snakes like to hide in.

Raccoons are nocturnal, which means they are active during the night. Which is why you tend to find the evidence of raccoons rather than raccoons themselves. Contrary to their appearance, a raccoon’s jaws and claws are tough and sharp which can be used to easily damage homes and trash cans if it wanted to break in.

These animals carry many diseases such as roundworms, leptospirosis and rabies. And when they feel threatened they will attack, which will allow them to spread these diseased. Due to this, never approach a raccoon without protection and a plan. Especially if one is out during the day as day roaming raccoons are very likely to have rabies. Due to the danger calling a professional is highly recommended.

Inspection – We offer free inspections which include searching the areas where they were seen and trying to find the location of their nest if they are nesting in your home. We search for evidence such as damage, footprints, and feces.

Removal and Exclusion –  We use Bait and traps that are installed near the entrances and near where they are frequently seen, which we will check frequently. We also install one way doors on the entrances so that they can leave, but they cannot get back in.

Repairs – After we have confirmed we have fully removed the raccoons from your home, we will start on the repairs. We will seal up the holes, remove the one-way-doors, and remove and replace contaminated insulation. We will also decontaminate the area which includes the removal of fecal and animal matter, cleaning the messes, and spraying to stop the growth of bacteria and parasites in the area.

Inspection – When we inspect your home for bats, we commonly search areas around your roof and soffit to find openings and guano. Because if we find a lot of guano, then we can easily pinpoint where they are getting into your home. We will also check other areas of the home such as the chimney, fascia and attic vents for signs of bats. The attic vents is one of the most common places where we find bats in the home.

Removal and Exclusion – We here at Blue Ridge remove bats as humanely as possible. We do not do any extermination methods on bats, as we find that to be highly unethical. Due to this, we find the best method for bat removal is bat exclusion. Instead of physically removing them, we install one-way-doors so that they can leave their roost, but they cannot get back in, forcing them to roost elsewhere.

Repairs – After we confirm that the bats have all left we will remove the one-way-doors and install guards that blend in with your home to prevent them from roosting in your home again. Afterwards we will start the cleaning and disinfecting process. This cleaning and disinfecting involves removing and spraying down areas that the bat guano has touched. Due to the nature of bat guano, this process is hazardous and must be done by professionals with the right protective equipment to keep themselves safe.

In Southwestern Virginia, we have two species of squirrels that we treat differently: tree squirrels and flying squirrels. While both are squirrels, their habits and dangers are different. Flying squirrels can glide and are nocturnal, but most importantly they are carriers for the disease called Typhus. A disease that has caused millions of deaths throughout history, but is now a rare occurrence. But almost all of the occurrences of Typhus here in the United States has come from flying squirrels.

But these squirells and flying squirrels can be a menace in other ways. They can tear open shingles and burrow holes in soffits to get into your home to nest and have children. Which can attract other pests such as insects, parasites, and predators such as snakes.

Click here to learn more about our squirrel trapping.

Inspection – We will inspect your home for squirrel activity such as: openings in your home, nesting debris, and feces. We will also pay close attention to signs of intrusion attempts such as claw marks and scratches on rain gutters and on the soffits

Removal and Exclusion – Squirrels are very skittish and breed frequently, which makes their trapping extremely difficult. This is why we outsmart them by installing one-way-doors, live traps, and other deterrents such as pellets and sprays. We will treat these animals according to Virginia Laws; as humanely as possible

Repairs –  If we find squirrel damage in eaves or gutters, we will repair it on the spot. We take pride in ensuring your home looks just like it did before the squirrels started making a mess. This includes decontamination, nest cleaning, and removal.

Inspection – Rats are very messy, so finding them is not difficult. When you have a problem with rats, we often find droppings and nests very quickly as their evidence is very apparent. We look for signs of infestation such as droppings or movement on walls, ceilings, and floors.

Removal and Exclusion – All homes are different. There is a difference between the Forest House near Fairview and the home near Fairlawn. We typically use one-way doors and spray to keep rats out, but we’ll tell you about planning your unique home.

Repairs – Our team can apply caulk to cracks, and seal holes, install grilles in vents, and even clean up after rodent removal, including removing nests and removing excrement and other animal matter.

Vinton