erick.merced | Critter Control Dallas

Can I Use Bait to Trap a Wild Animal?

Posted on July 12, 2019July 12, 2019 by erick.merced

Can I Use Bait to Trap a Wild Animal? If you’re experiencing a pest problem, you may consider bait trapping as a quick, convenient, and simple solution to rid your property of wild animals, but you should never take shortcuts when it comes to animal control. Even if you manage to safely capture and release your property’s pest with bait trapping, you won’t be prepared to keep them from returning.

Although wild animals can be a nuisance to both homes and businesses in the surrounding Dallas/Fort Worth area, thorough removal and proactive prevention are the only ways to ensure that your property becomes and stays free from pests.

What Is Bait Trapping?

To successfully trap a pest, you must strategically place one or more cages in locations you’ve previously spotted the animal or think it may be living. Keep in mind the size of the critter when selecting a cage, because insufficient room could be harmful to the trapped animal.

Baiting each cage attracts animals to the trap; however, the type of bait to use depends on the type of critter you are dealing with. Listed below are a few examples of common household pests and the right lures to attract them.

Raccoons

peanut butter (chunky or smooth), dry pet food, and marshmallows
Rats/Mice

peanut butter, cheese, marshmallows, sausage, and pet food
Opossums

fish, apples, and canned pet food
Armadillos

insects and grubs (earthworms, meal worms, and maggots)
Squirrels

cereal, grains, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and oranges

Is Bait Trapping Effective?

Bait trapping can be an effective way to lure and catch wild animals, but it’s only a short-term solution to your pest problem. Wild animals often revisit the places that provide food, water, and shelter. So, although bait trapping may temporarily rid your home of pests, it won’t protect your property if they return.

When considering bait trapping, it’s important to understand the dangers of handling your own pest problem. Bait trapping isn’t completely safe unless handled by a professional, because, when you trap a wild animal inside a cage, it can become afraid and likely to defend itself. This puts both you and the animal at risk of injury.

Call the Experts

Although there is a variety of store-bought traps and baits that may seem like a convenient option, expert pest control is the safest long-term solution. At Critter Control® of Dallas, our number one priority is the security and comfortability of local property owners, which is why our experts study the safest and most effective methods of removal.

Once we’ve cleared your home of pests, we can seal the points of entry they came through and guard your home with preventative tools to deter them from visiting again. If you have any questions about removing wildlife or would like to schedule your free consultation, please call our Critter Control® of Dallas professionals at 817-222-1101 today.

How Do Mouse Traps Work?

Posted on June 7, 2019 by erick.merced

How Do Mouse Traps Work? Gnaw marks against a wall, little droppings left around your home, and the sound of tiny feet scurrying across the floor are just a few tell-tale signs that you have a mouse problem. Mice are sneaky little critters. To effectively take care of such nuisances, you may decide to use a mousetrap. However, with so many different types of traps on the market, you may experience some confusion when deciding which trap is best to use. Listed below are three of the most common types of devices available on the market and how they each work.

Snap Traps

A traditional snap-trap uses a powerful, touch sensitive spring — usually triggered by the rodent’s feet — to release a metal bar with just enough force to kill the mouse. In order to lure the mouse onto the trap, a bait must be set. Peanut butter or cheese are the more popular choices of bait, as mice tend to enjoy high-calorie sweets. These traps need to be placed in the locations you have seen the droppings and/or gnaw marks, which indicates high levels of mouse traffic. Mice are incredibly quick and highly skilled at avoiding danger, so setting multiple traps throughout your home will guarantee the best results.

Glue Traps

Glue traps are placed in the exact same locations as the snap traps, that is, wherever you have noticed indications of a mouse infestation. Bait also needs to be set directly on the glue trap in order to lure the mouse. Upon contact with the trap, an adhesive material immobilizes the mouse. Once immobilized, the lack of body movement and rapid reduction of body temperature will cause the mouse to perish of hypothermia.

Live-Catch Traps

For homeowners who don’t wish to kill the mice, a live-catch trap would be the best option. These traps use the same method of attracting mice via bait. Once the mouse is inside of the cage investigating the bait, a trap door will be triggered and close behind the mouse — safely securing the animal inside. The mouse can then be released in a safe area away from your home. Although live-catch traps are the more peaceful option, they do not guarantee permanent mouse removal. Caught mice tend to return to the homes they have been released from.

Mouse Removal Experts

At Critter Control of Dallas, our specialists know the most effective techniques for mouse removal. Our number one priority is ensuring that you and your family have a safe and comfortable living environment. Not only will we permanently solve your mouse infestation, but we will keep the pest from returning and clean up any mess that is left behind. Contact us today at 817-222-1101 to schedule your free inspection.

5 Things That Attract Rats to Your Kitchen

Posted on May 8, 2019 by erick.merced

Whether you find yourself screaming at the sight of a rat or you feel indifferent about rodents, everyone can agree that having rats in your kitchen is a major health concern. Their bites can cause fevers and renal failure in humans and pets while their feces carry many diseases. To keep yourself and your family safe from the effects rats can have on your health, the first step is to eliminate the things that attract them to your kitchen in the first place.

Food

As with all creatures, food is a primary attractant for rats. The problem with rats is that they are omnivorous, which means they will eat almost anything. Some of the most common foods that attract rats include nuts and fruit, rotten meat, pet food, and even animal byproducts like old leather. But they aren’t too picky and will scavenge for whatever they can get. To keep the rats away, store food securely in bins.

Water sources

More important than food for survival is water. Things like leaky faucets and pipes are an oasis for rats. They provide a steady source of hydration and therefore attract rats like a magnet. Tightening up loose faucets and repairing old pipes will minimize the likelihood of rats taking up residence in your kitchen.

Open Trash Cans

An open trashcan is another source of unprotected food. While you might keep your pantry food in plastic containers, open trashcans are an easy access to leftovers that rats will see as a feast.

Warmth

The insulation, wood, and wires found inside your home are prime construction materials for rats. Rats have the ability to gnaw through some surprisingly dense materials, which means they can use these things to build themselves cozy nests inside of your walls.

Fruit-bearing Plants

Plants, especially nut and fruit-bearing ones, offer a huge incentive for rats. They provide a permanently replenishing source of food, and some rats like to use them as cover. If these plants are near your home, they will likely be attracted by the additional food sources they can get at inside your house.

To further help prevent rats from settling into your kitchen, contact Critter Control® of Dallas for our prevention services. If you suspect rats have already invaded, we can help! We offer free inspections and thorough, humane removal services. To book your initial inspection, call us at 469-805-6267.

How to Remove the Dead Animal Smell from Your Home

Posted on April 12, 2019 by erick.merced

How to Remove the Dead Animal Smell from Your Home When a wild animal invades your home, the sound and damage it makes can be a frustrating nuisance. However, if that critter were to perish within the walls, attic, or structures of your residence, the smell that remains can be nauseating because a wild animal carcass can take weeks to fully decompose. Unfortunately, the smell of a decomposing animal is so overwhelming that it can be difficult to locate its source. Here are some tips on how to locate and rid your home of the dead animal smell as quickly and efficiently as possible.

If You Can Find the Dead Animal:

Wear protective gloves when attempting to remove the animal or call an expert to handle it.
Dispose of the carcass by burying, burning (if allowed), or throwing it in the trash.
Clean and sanitize the area using an enzymatic cleaner like Ultrazyme or EmPower foam.
Clean any fabric that may have been contaminated such as curtains or rugs and throw them in the wash with Hydrogen peroxide, bleach, or Pine Sol.
Dispose of and replace any material that can not be fully sanitized like attic insulation.

If You Can’t Find the Dead Animal:

Locate the general vicinity of the odor and drill discrete holes to release the smell.
Use a strong odor eliminating spray like Bac-A-Zap and spray into the holes you created.
Hang odor eliminating bags in the area.
Replace the bags regularly and keep spraying into the holes until the odor dissipates.
Plug up the holes afterwards.

Additional Dead Animal Smell Elimination Tips

Ventilate the Area

Keep the area ventilated by opening up some windows and setting up fans — especially when the animal is in an unreachable place.
Use Household Deodorizers

Bleach-soaked rags, baking soda, coffee grounds, and even charcoal can help deodorize the stench of a dead animal while Lysol and Febreze can help sanitize.
Freshen the Air

Some easy air freshening tips would be using scented candles, an essential oils diffuser, incense, or even some potent dried herbs in a cloth to freshen the smell of the air.

Dead Animal Removal Experts

If you hear noises inside your wall, or notice any odors contact Critter Control® of Dallas to perform a free animal entry home inspection. Our certified wildlife management technicians will identify the cause of the disturbance and locate and remove the animals. After they’re gone, we’ll help keep them out by sealing all the entry ways in to your walls or attic. We can even repair the damage caused by the pests while they were making your home their own. Call Critter Control® of Dallas at 469-805-6267 and let us show you why we’re the best choice in animal removal.

The Symptoms of a Sick Raccoon

Posted on March 8, 2019March 8, 2019 by erick.merced

Raccoons have developed a reputation as a carrier for rabies in many areas, and not for no reason. In fact, some areas have raccoons classified as a “rabies vector species,” meaning they have a higher-than-average potential for carrying and transmitting rabies.

Though it is not as prevalent an issue as it has been in the past, rabies is typically fatal to animals and can be fatal to humans if not treated in a timely manner. Rabies is normally transmitted via bite, but infection is possible through contact with saliva, feces, or blood.

Signs that a raccoon is infected

It’s stumbling around

The animal appears to be having a difficult time standing or walking as if their hind legs are paralyzed. Look for the raccoon to possibly be walking in circles or pacing back and forth as well.

It appears dazed

Rabid raccoons often appear disoriented, slowed, or confused. A healthy raccoon is always doing something purposeful, like eating, sniffing the ground, or surveying their surroundings in an alert manner.

It’s barking loudly

Healthy raccoons make quiet chattering noises between one another, or loud noises during mating or when fighting. If you hear one making strange screeching or barking noises, steer clear.

It’s mouth is foaming

Perhaps the most widely-known symptom of a rabid raccoon is foaming at the mouth or excessive drooling. This is because rabies causes damage to the animal’s nervous system and affects their ability to swallow properly.

It acts aggressively

Most wild animals will run away from you if you approach them, and a sick raccoon may growl or even try to attack.

If you come across a potentially sick raccoon:

Do not approach it for a closer look to determine if it is rabid or not
Do not chase the raccoon
Do not attempt to capture the animal on your own. Leave that up to a professional

If you’ve come across a potentially rabid raccoon on your property, let the experts here at Critter Control® of Dallas help. Our technicians are trained and equipped to safely handle any wildlife problems so that you and your family can stay out of harm’s way.

5 Things that Attract Wild Animals to Your Yard

Posted on February 6, 2019 by erick.merced

Animals that are attracted to your yard Why is wildlife (raccoons, opossums, squirrels, rodents) destroying your yard and even sneaking into your home when your neighbors say they don’t have an issue with animal infestations? It could be one or more of the following reasons:

1. Birdfeeders and birdbaths

If you are a bird watcher, this may not be what you want to hear. Unfortunately, wild animals are constantly searching for food and water, and when they find a reliable source of nourishment, they’ll return every day if possible.

2. Peripheral landscaping

Beautifying your yard with trees, shrubs, hedges and flower gardens sends a clear signal to wild animals that you are open for business. While installing a fence around your home and landscaping items can help keep larger wild animals from invading your yard, fences won’t stop raccoons, squirrels and other animals that are expert climbers and diggers.

3. Piles of deadwood in your yard

Dying trees shedding dead limbs in your yard, piles of chopped wood for your fireplace and other lawn debris naturally attracts wild animals looking for shelter. In addition, dead wood lures grub-like insects which, in turn, invites hungry raccoons and rodents. Snakes especially love to find piles of lawn debris to slither under and hide.

4. Backyard fountains

Although they had charm and beauty to your yard, they also charm wild animals into invading your yard every day for a drink of cool, clean water. Animals won’t leave right away drinking from your fountain, either. They will sniff around, look for food resources and potentially discover a small hole through which they gain entrance into your home.

5. Outside pets

Leaving pet food outside for outdoor pets is one of the leading causes of pest problems. Whether it’s dry dog or cat food, hay for goats or chicken feed for chickens, wild animals roaming around the edges of your yard will pick up the scent of food and make a beeline towards it.

Don’t waste time and money on DIY pest control. Call Critter Control® of Dallas today for immediate, professional removal of wild animals from your yard or home.

Dallas Opossum Removal

Posted on January 8, 2019February 6, 2019 by erick.merced

Dallas Opossum Removal You won’t find opossums in your home very often around Dallas, but when you do they can be a real problem. No matter what type of critter you have invading your personal space, it’s important that you have it taken care of to minimize damage to your home and health risks to yourself. Here are some opossum basics.

Signs

There are a number of warning signs that you might have an opossum in your home. For starters, you might notice damage to the exterior of your home where the opossums are trying to get in. You might even hear the scratching that causes this damage from time to time. However, some of the most common opossum warning signs are pet food disappearing, lots of animal noises and unpleasant smells. If you notice any of these signs, you should call somebody right away.

Problems

Opossums aren’t the most aggressive animal, but they still pose risks when they enter your home. If you scare an opossum and get too close to it, there is a chance that you’ll be attacked. However, most of the risks that come with having an opossum in your home aren’t that direct. What’s much more likely is an opossum attacking your pets. The one piece of good news is that opossums almost never have rabies, so you probably don’t have to worry about diseases if an opossum bites you or one of your animals.

Aside from this, opossums will cause damage to your home from trying to get in and out, using your home as a bathroom and more. This is why it’s important to have opossum problems taken care of as soon as you’re aware of them.

Make the Call

If you have a critter in your Dallas home, the best thing you can do is get rid of it as soon as possible. Critter Control® of Dallas has been dealing with animals in homes for years, so we have what it takes to take care of your opossum problem. If you need help ridding your home of critters, give us a call at 817-222-1101.

How to Keep Wild Animals Out of Your Garden

Posted on December 5, 2018February 6, 2019 by erick.merced

We all appreciate the tranquility of wildlife – until some critter threatens our gardens. It’s difficult to sustain that peaceful feeling when the adorable bunny or graceful doe chomps down on your newly planted veggies. So how do you keep these unwelcome guests out of the garden in a natural, humane, and eco-safe way?

Don’t Invite Them

Like your pesky neighbor, Bob – the one who desperately wants to come over for game night – avoid inviting these guests into your yard and garden. Cover compost piles, seal garbage can lids, and don’t leave uneaten pet food outdoors. These delicacies draw animals into the yard and closer to the goodies in the garden. Alternatively, you may choose to allow bushes and plants around the exterior of your yard to grow wild or plant tasty alternatives away from your fruits and vegetables. Rabbits, for example, would probably rather munch on clover and dandelions in the shelter of an overgrown brush than eat the veggies in the middle of an exposed garden.

Withdraw Your Welcome

Like with your grown son who refuses to move out on his own, start making things more unpleasant for the creatures that venture near the garden. Most animals have a keen sense of smell, so try natural scent repellents like coffee grounds, vinegar, ammonia, hot pepper flakes, garlic, or even human hair. Harassment techniques, such as noise-makers, motion-activated lights and sprinklers, leashed dogs, and visual scare devices like scarecrows and metallic streamers can be successful, but wild creatures often find a way around these deterrents, so plan to vary them periodically.

Fences Make Good Neighbors

The most obvious prevention for unwanted guests (both human and wild creature) on your property is a fence. Although fencing your garden can be expensive, you can save money by using inexpensive materials like chicken wire or hardware cloth. The height of the fence can range from a few feet (for rabbits) to 8 feet high for really determined deer. If you have burrowing visitors, bury the fence at least 10” deep in the ground.

Call for Help

Finally, if you have wild critters who have overstayed their welcome, like your mother-in-law who came for a visit and never left, help is available. Engage a respected authority in wildlife control, like Critter Control® of Dallas. Critter Control company has created the standards for animal control and wildlife management nationally. We use a variety of humane methods to remove live animals from your property and discourage them from returning.

For service call: 817-222-1101 or email us at [email protected].

Do Pest Control Companies Get Rid of Snakes?

Posted on November 7, 2018 by erick.merced

Although common garden snakes in Texas are non-venomous and help to keep rodents and other invasive pests away from your home, the sight of a snake on your property can be terrifying. With more than 50 different native species of snake in the state, it can be hard to identify whether it’s friend or foe as it quickly slithers across your yard. If you’re worried that you may have a venomous snake on your property, Critter Control® of Dallas can help.

Identifying Dangerous Snakes

Thick humidity and a high heat index make the Lone Star State an ideal home for cold-blooded, carnivorous reptiles. Out of the many snakes that call Texas home, there are four types and six species of venomous snakes in the state.

Cottonmouth-Also known as a water moccasin, cottonmouths are aggressive snakes usually found in swampy areas.
Rattlesnakes- Species include diamondback, timber, and pygmy rattlesnakes — which cause the most venomous bites in Texas because their small size attracts children to pick them up.
Southern copperhead- found in the wooded areas and pastures around Texas, Southern copperheads are limited to the eastern-third of the state

Rely on Expert Removal

Because snakes are aggressive and often rest in hard to reach places, their removal requires proper equipment and expertise. Never attempt to capture a snake on your own. Venomous or non-venomous, a snake will strike and sink its sharp fangs into whomever it deems a threat. Keep your distance and contact professional pest removal services to handle your snake problem.

The technicians at Critter Control® of Dallas are fully licensed animal control professionals with years of experience in snake removal. If you have an unwanted snake on your property or in your house, contact the experts at Critter Control® of Dallas. Call 817-222-1101 today to schedule a free consultation.