How much does animal in attic removal cost?

Raccoons occupying your attic may be quite a handful, yet it is possible to get rid of them. A for the wild animal in attic removal cost, though… this is a whole new question.

The short answer for it would be “It depends,” slightly longer one “You may get a free raccoon removal, but conditions apply,” and the one closest to the truth – “There is no way getting the specific full raccoon removal cost from the internet, each removal situation has to be evaluated and priced accordingly.”

“Conditions” that sounded so lovely in the second answer, though, apply that you are the one doing your job. It is not the end of the world, not exactly as scary as you may have been picturing it in your head, and there are lots of guides and checklists available online that can get you through the process absolutely for free.

If you feel more like hiring professional help, the price will vary both on your location and on the situation itself. Beware that some wildlife removal companies may not have your best interest in mind and overcomplicate the job to make it more expensive. We suggest studying the average prices in your area beforehand and trying to estimate the situation and related expenses.

image

Free Removal

As was discussed earlier, the only scenario when you do not need to pay for the removal is when you do it yourself or get some help from your friends and acquaintances. To do so, you should get familiar with the removal process itself, security preventative measures, possible equipment required, etc.

Animal in attic removal cost, average prices

Prices vary from situation to situation and from one location to another, so there is no unique average price for everyone. In a way, you can compare it to car repair: the job is always different and different companies will give you different prices that they decided on for themselves.

Try not to read too much into it. Usually, this phenomenon is simply a business motivation. The price-to-quality ratio’s correlation will also vary quite a lot, and more expensive will not always mean better.

Cages, traps, and removal process

There are various points of view about which trap to choose and how does it impact animal removal. For instance, in some states, a cage-trapped dead animal removal cost must be euthanized. Cage trapping as a service has also received its share of critique due to the process’s deficiency – extracted by cage raccoons soon are replaced with new ones.

Cage trapping is one of the easiest ways, though, so many companies engage in this kind of service. Many people see it as the exterminators’ fundamental job, to capture the animal and proudly walk away with it in a cage.

The fee the companies charge usually comes in two parts: a service fee or a trap setup fee – covering them coming to the house and setting traps, and the fee per animal removal or return trip. As we mentioned earlier, raccoon in removal cost tends to vary a lot, starting from $150 and to reach $1000 in certain cases, changing by the company, the number of animals caught, and service trips made.

Special cases

Sometimes even a trap will not allow you to do the work yourself, and it would be necessary to call the specialists and extract the animal manually. To these particularly challenging cases, we can relate when a female raccoon would have babies, and you should transport the whole family, or the other variation – babies extracted manually and the mother trapped.

The point is, in some cases, a very delicate and gentle approach is a must, and these cases will cost you $300 and higher. You would probably not like googling “how much does it cost to remove a dead animal removal”. Although if you are the unfortunate neighbor of a raccoon family, your biggest trouble would be repairing and cleaning up removal costs.

9f630e27 cbe1 4eed bdb2 45839d83ea6d

Damage repairs

This is the essential part of the process that enables you to escape getting the same problem repeatedly. After occupying your attic for quite a while, raccoons surely left some damage behind. The usual victims are insulation materials and pipes; thus, your new agenda will consist of ductwork, removing insulation, and some others.

You would likely require professional help with these operations, and based on the type – an HVAC company, a plumber, or an insulator, or some combined – the cost will differ.

Factors in Calculating Wildlife Removal Cost

Finding the most effective service providers for wildlife elimination isn’t a thing that many people include as a priority item on their budget. But it’s essential to comprehend the removal costs involved when one wildlife removal specialist (or group of wildlife removal cost) is in a residence. It allows homeowners to determine which DIY as well as professional removal of wildlife removal cost is the better option for their specific situation, and if an estimate given by a professional is reasonable.

Animal Protected Species

Certain animals are more straightforward to get rid of than others, and the difficulty can impact the cost. While some animal removal are simple to relocate and capture other animals, like bats and skunks, require specialized handling for the wildlife removal specialist and capture. They can be costly to expel.

Number of Animals

A squirrel in the attic is a simple catch and release. However an entire squirrel families will require longer and require more planning and the cleaning of the mess will impact the cost of removal. The amount of animals involved will be the primary element in the overall price.

Infestation Location

Certain locations around the home like under the deck or in an addition, provide an easy entry point to the animal. Once the wild animals are in the house, prices begin to increase since access for wildlife removal is more difficult. Engaging a professional for wildlife removal of rodents out of attics could cost as low as $200, however it could rise to $1,500 when access to the area is restricted. Removal of walls from the inside removal costs approximately $350. Chimney removal can range from $180 for an upper-level nest to $560 for an intricate wildlife removal close to the damper.

Service Type

In the majority of cases the best solution in the event of wild animals living in the house is to eliminate and relocate them. Some circumstances might require the extermination of animals, which is when an expert will use baits, poisons or other methods to kill animals in the house, and then take them out of the animals and dispose of them.

This will cost lower than the live-killing process but with more cleaning. In both cases the professional might also strongly recommend exclusion treatments which entails sealing off the entry points that wild animals made to enter the house to begin with. This may be done by sealing the roof or areas around pipes and vents as well as filling up gaps in the foundation; installing fencing, nets, or other barriers to entry points; and taking away backyard materials that could act as temporary nesting spots for wild animals, which they then move within the house.

AnimalAverage cost
Squirrels$300 – $600
Raccoons$200 – $300
Groundhogs$150 – $300
Bats$250 – $600
Rodents$150 – $600
Possums$250 – $350
Skunks$300 – $700
Foxes$250 – $450
Moles$300 – $400
Birds$250 – $750

Useful Tips: How to Get Rid of Raccoons in the Attic

This video is about how to get rid of raccoons in the attic.

Cost factors of wildlife removal

The cost to remove the wildlife removal that is causing problems differs based on the following variables:

  • Inspection A first assessment by a specialist in wildlife removal cost is priced between $100-$300. This is typically a part of the final cost when you choose to use the removal service. Some companies provide a free inspection when you’re in their service zone.
  • The size of an infestation The removal of a one animal is more affordable than the removal of a complete colony. Removal costs increase with increased complexity and the number of visits required to deal with more extensive infestations.
  • Entry point the more entrance points animals need to get access to your property, the more expensive the cost of removal will be. Each entry point will require sealing or installing an exclusion fence for an additional fee.
  • Accessibility and Location The removal of HTML0 from difficult-to-access locations such as attics or vents for roofs on multi-story buildings or second-story areas increase the cost of labor.
  • Services area Although many companies that specialize in wildlife removal cost offer flat fees for local work, services that are required outside of their normal zone or over longer distances are charged extra.
  • Removal and cleaning from dead animal carcasses Dead animal removal is priced at between $100 and $250 depending on the area of the carcass and the size of the cleaning. Expect to see prices rise when the removal of several deceased animals, or even a group of.
  • Cleanup Removal costs could include sanitization to remove nests, droppings and damaged insulation and other debris.
  • Removal method The price will also be contingent on the method used to remove it. For example, the installation of barriers for exclusion is generally more costly than a simple trap-and-release work outside your home.
  • Services for emergency Services provided on weekends, holidays and beyond regular hours will add an additional $100-$300 or more than the fee.

Exclusion barriers

Also, the raccoons did get somehow inside, so it is essential to check how they do it and if the pathways are possible to seal up.

You may find a raccoon under the house in some cases – it is usually an elevated one – or a shed, a deck, a porch, or any other ground structure. And then you probably should consider installing an exclusion barrier that would prevent the raccoons and various stray animals too from entering there again.

An exclusion barrier is bolted to the structure steel mash barrier burrowed into the ground. The minimal cost for such a tool comes around $10-20 per linear foot, but you can always find a more expensive one.

Cleanup expenses

Not only do raccoons scratch, bite and make noises in the attic, but they also leave after them quite a lot of residue. The worst part of it is that the droppings may be hazardous to health, triggering allergies or containing raccoon roundworm. This worm is infamous for its eggs that can survive a long time, become transmittable by air, and later be inhaled by a human infecting him/her.

The worm is not so widespread, yet it does exist. Therefore it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious. Due to their chaotic eating behavior, raccoons are usually carriers for various parasites, but they don’t survive long outside the carrier. Another problem with raccoon droppings – they tend to attract new wildlife removal, cockroaches, and many others.

All this is to give you an idea of the importance of cleaning up the attic. Many people followed this logic and decided to go for it.

Many other business-minded people decided to exploit it and formed a whole industry around cleaning the attics inhabited by raccoons, which is quite smart considering the special loophole the homeowner’s insurance often covers such a cleanup. This allows them to drive critter wildlife removal cost crazy, like $10,000 and higher.

Even if you make a part of this scheme, the cost will not be yours to pay. However, be prudent to the cleaning company’s evaluation approach and pricing strategies.

Remember, they exist specifically for these situations and therefore have quite limited specialization. You can find a company with a more broad palette of wildlife removal services that would do a more modest cleanup, that still would include the wildlife removal of all feces, contaminated insulation, and proper antimicrobial fogging, and only charge you around $500.

Who do you call for wildlife removal?

If you have to get rid of animals, call:

  • Pest control experts
  • Wildlife removal services
  • Environmental consultants
  • Local department of forestry or conservation of nature

Questions to ask

Before you hire a company to eliminate wild animals from your property, you should ask:

  • Do you know how many years have in getting rid of animals?
  • What are the steps you’ll take to take these animals away and then make sure they’re kept out?
  • What is your procedure for examining my property for colonies of animals?
  • Do you ensure the humane elimination of all wild animals?
  • Do I have a chance to get a promise that the animals won’t come back for a minimum of a year?
  • What timeframe should I anticipate to completely expel animals from a colony?
  • When is the best time to begin wildlife removal process? Does this depend upon the time of breeding?
  • How often do you check the traps or monitors?
  • Do you have examples of past clients that have similar removal of wildlife removal?
  • What are the possible dangers that could arise from this process?
  • Do you offer cleaning services for afterward? And is it a cost-per-hour charge?
  • Are you able to seal all entry points to avoid any future outbreaks?
  • What can you do to make sure that I am safe on my property throughout the process?
  • Can home improvements be included within the quote?

All in all

Of course, it is your house, and the call is yours. But whatever your decision would be, we strongly suggest finding a local raccoon professional beforehand and getting an estimate so that you avoid paying a fortune for absolutely useless service.

These professionals vary, like everything else in this topic: some can consult you on the phone, some will arrive to give an on-site inspection, some will find their own way of interaction. Go for the one that sounds just right for you, and check and double-check.

FAQs

Do I need wildlife removal?

If animals have invaded your home, you must to eliminate them because of:
Your home inspection will fail and won’t be able sell your home.
Wild animals could transmit infections or parasites that can infect your pets and family members.
They can damage different parts of your house, such as the insulation, utilities lines or wooden constructions.

How do I save money ?

To reduce removal costs for removal, purchase or lease humane traps for animals and set them up with bait your self. Contact a wildlife removal expert to get the animal off your property in a safe manner. Make sure that wild animals are kept away by preventing access to their sources of food near your property.
However, you’ll need to completely seal the building and disinfect the affected areas that may require professional assistance in the case of a serious infestation.

How long does it take to remove animals from my house?

Eliminating animals from your home requires just one visitto catch one creature within living spaces, or up to 2 days to catch them. However, getting rid of a huge group of squirrels or bats within the attic can take about a month to secure the entry points and the monitors that block out animals.

Does homeowners insurance cover wildlife removal?

The majority of homeowners insurance policies don’t pay for the cost of removal since they see it as an expense that could be avoided due to poor maintenance. Certain policies will include coverage for the cost of cleaning and repairs resulting from wildlife removal damage, however this is contingent on the particulars of the policy.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top