Skunks

Skunks are one of the most common nuisance wildlife animals found around homes, farms, and businesses. While they may appear calm and slow moving, skunks are well known for their powerful defensive spray that can cause serious problems for homeowners and pets.

When threatened, a skunk can release a strong oily spray from glands near its tail. This spray can travel several feet and has an extremely strong odor that can linger for days or even weeks. Pets, especially curious dogs, are the most common victims. Once sprayed, the smell can be very difficult to remove and often requires special cleaning solutions.

Skunks often live under decks, porches, sheds, and crawl spaces where they dig shallow burrows for shelter. They are also attracted to garbage, pet food, gardens, and insects found around residential properties. When a skunk feels cornered near a home, it may spray people, pets, doorways, decks, and even the side of buildings.

Beyond the smell, skunks can also carry diseases and parasites that pose risks to pets and humans. Because of this, it is important not to approach or attempt to remove a skunk yourself.

At Urban & Country Wildlife, we specialize in safe and humane skunk removal. Our technicians locate den areas, remove the animal, and secure the property to prevent future problems.

Snakes Inside the Home

Finding a snake inside your home can be a frightening experience for any family. Snakes usually enter houses while searching for food, warmth, or shelter. Basements, crawl spaces, garages, and kitchens are common places where snakes may appear after slipping through small openings around foundations, pipes, vents, or gaps in siding.

In many cases, snakes enter a home because there is a food source nearby, most commonly rodents such as mice or rats. If rodents are living in or around the structure, they can attract snakes looking for an easy meal. This is why snake problems are often connected to underlying rodent activity.

At Urban & Country Wildlife, our technicians safely remove snakes found inside the residence and inspect the home to determine how the animal entered. After removal, we focus on exclusion work, sealing gaps, repairing entry points, and reinforcing vulnerable areas around the structure to prevent future wildlife from getting inside.

Because snakes are often following rodents, addressing the rodent issue is also critical. By eliminating rodent activity and securing entry points around the home, we remove the food source that attracts snakes in the first place.

Our goal is not only to remove the snake currently inside the home but to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

If you see a snake inside your home or around your property, do not attempt to handle it yourself.

Mice and rats are remarkably well-adapted for living year-round in homes, food establishments, and other structures. Homeowners are especially likely to notice mice and rats during winter, following their fall migration indoors in search of warmth, food, and shelter. Once established inside a home, they can be extremely difficult to control.

Bats are a common wildlife issue for homeowners throughout the Hudson Valley. These animals often enter homes through small openings along rooflines, vents, chimneys, or gaps in siding and fascia boards. Because bats can fit through extremely small spaces, it doesn’t take much for them to gain access to an attic or wall void.

Once inside, bats will gather in groups called colonies, usually roosting in dark, quiet areas such as attics. Over time, their droppings, known as guano, can build up and create strong odors, staining, and potential health concerns if left untreated.

Many homeowners first notice a bat problem when they hear scratching or fluttering noises in the attic at night or see bats flying around the outside of the home near sunset. Bats often return to the same roost year after year if the entry point is not properly sealed.

At Urban & Country Wildlife, we specialize in professional bat exclusion. This process safely allows bats to leave the structure while preventing them from getting back inside. After the colony exits, we seal all entry points and reinforce vulnerable areas of the home to prevent future infestations.

Because bats are protected wildlife in many areas, removal must be handled carefully and legally. Our technicians follow proper exclusion methods to solve the problem safely and permanently.

If you suspect bats in your attic or see bats flying around your home, contact Urban & Country Wildlife for professional inspection and bat exclusion services.

Squirrels (Gray Squirrels & Flying Squirrels)

Squirrels are one of the most common wildlife animals that enter homes throughout the Hudson Valley. Both gray squirrels and flying squirrels frequently invade attics, wall voids, and rooflines while searching for shelter and nesting areas.

Gray squirrels are active during the daytime and are often seen running across roofs, climbing trees, and chewing through soffits, vents, and siding to gain access to attic spaces. Once inside, they may build nests using insulation and other materials, causing damage to the home.

Flying squirrels are smaller and mostly active at night, which means many homeowners don’t realize they have a problem until they hear scratching or movement in the attic after dark. These squirrels are excellent climbers and gliders, allowing them to move from trees directly onto roofs and into small openings around the home.

Both species are known for chewing on wood, wiring, and insulation, which can lead to structural damage and potential fire hazards if electrical wires are damaged.

At Urban & Country Wildlife, we provide professional squirrel removal and exclusion services. Our technicians locate the entry points squirrels used to access the home, safely remove the animals, and repair or seal those openings to prevent future infestations.

If you hear scratching in the attic, see squirrels running along your roofline, or notice damage to vents or siding, it may be time to call a professional.