Blog | Critter Control Dallas

Five Signs an Animal is in the Attic

Since they’re warm and often undisturbed by humans, attics make great nesting options for many unwanted critters. Most often these pests seek shelter in attics to survive harsh weather during winter or raise young during the spring.

The most common animals that live in an attic are raccoons, squirrels, bats, mice, and rats.

Top 5 Signs of Animal in the Attic

  1. Noises at night – vocal noises, scurrying, scampering, thumps
  2. Damage to your home – animals will damage your hour getting into it and then continue to destroy the interior as well
  3. Droppings in the attic – feces and urine are some of the most obvious signs of an animal in the attic in Dallas
  4. Physical evidence in the attic – animals will leave behind signs like tracks, debris, rub marks, and runways
  5. Strong odors – the longer an animal is in your attic, the more the animal will urinate, and you may start to smell it

1. Strange Noises in the Attic

Scurrying and Scampering in the Attic or Walls

These noises indicate that you are probably dealing with rats, mice, or squirrels. If these noises occur during the night, you most likely have rats, mice, or flying squirrels, and if they occur during the daytime, you most likely have squirrels.

Loud Thumps During the Night

Louder noises during the night typically indicate you are dealing with a bigger nocturnal animal like a raccoon or possum.

Crying Noises during the Day

Unless a raccoon is sick/rabid, we typically only come across a momma raccoon active during the day if she has young, and baby raccoons are very vocal. Keep in mind, that raccoons have one litter per year and give birth in the Spring or early Summer.

Fluttering and/or Chirping

These noises indicate you are dealing with bats or birds. Bird noises will be more prevalent during the day while bats are active at night.

You are hearing vocal noises

Unless you are hearing crying during the daytime (potentially baby raccoons), a vocal noise LIKE squealing or squeaking during the day would most likely belong to a squirrel or bird, while vocal sounds at night like growling, whimpering, or screaming can typically be attributed to a raccoon.

Slithering Noises

Believe it or not, snakes can certainly make their way into your attic, however, we do not come across them often.

Buzzing noises

Buzzing is a sign of bees, wasps, or yellow jackets. You may possibly have a hive in the attic or in the wall of your house.

2. Damage to Your Home

Raccoons, squirrels, rats, and mice can wreak havoc on your house. If these critters can’t find an easy way in, they can gnaw, tear, and rip apart parts of your house. We see damage along roof ridges, vents, soffits, fascia boards, and occasionally straight through the shingles and roof.

Once inside, they continue to destroy. They can fray electrical wires and gnaw on plumbing pipes. Frayed electrical wires can lead to power fluctuations and increased risk of house fires. The combination of gaps in your roof with damage plumbing can cause water damage in the insulation and ceiling.

3. Droppings in the Attic

Not only can the accumulation of feces and urine saturate into insulation the ceiling, but also it will spread diseases to you and your family.

Raccoon Feces

Raccoon feces are typically dark in color, tubular in shape, and about 2 to 3 inches long with blunt ends. You may notice undigested food like seeds or berry skins inside the droppings. Unlike rodent droppings that are scattered, raccoons often use the same spot repeatedly as a latrine, creating a concentrated pile of waste in a corner or on insulation.

Squirrel, rat, and mice droppings do resemble one another.

Squirrel Droppings

Squirrel feces are typically oblong pellets, around ? inches in length, with rounded ends—similar to rat droppings but slightly larger and more uniform. The droppings are usually dark brown when fresh and lighten with age. Squirrels tend to defecate in scattered patterns, especially near nesting sites or along travel routes like beams or insulation trails. If you find droppings in your attic or notice gnaw marks and scampering noises, contact Critter Control for a full inspection and safe cleanup.

Rat Droppings:
Rat droppings are a clear sign of an infestation and something Critter Control technicians are trained to identify. These droppings are spindle-shaped, about ½ to ¾ inch long, and pointed at the ends. Rats tend to leave a significant number of droppings—often hundreds—along walls, in corners, and near food or water sources. Fresh droppings are dark and soft, while older ones become dry and crumbly. Because rats can spread diseases through their waste, it’s important not to handle the droppings yourself—call Critter Control to investigate and address the issue safely.

Mouse Droppings:
Mouse droppings are smaller and more numerous than those of rats or squirrels. Each pellet is about ? to ¼ inch long, black or dark brown, and pointed at both ends. You’ll usually find them scattered in drawers, cupboards, attic spaces, and along baseboards or wall edges where mice travel frequently. Mice produce dozens of droppings each day, making them one of the first indicators of an infestation. At Critter Control, we help homeowners identify, clean, and eliminate mouse activity safely and thoroughly.

If you discover suspicious droppings in your attic, avoid direct contact—raccoon feces can carry serious health risks such as raccoon roundworm. Contact Critter Control right away for safe removal and thorough attic inspection.

4. Physical Evidence

When inspecting an attic, we look for the traces an animal leaves behind as they travel through your house.

  • Tunneling
    • When dealing with mice, rats, and even flying squirrels, you will often see tunneling in the insulation of an attic because insulation makes for a great nesting material. The tunneling will look like small holes that are as big as 3 inches in diameter.
  • Prints
    • Another indicator that animals will leave behind are paw prints on your duct work. Possums and raccoons have the biggest prints. They each have five fingers, but the palm of a possum’s print is more triangular. On the other hand, squirrels and rats have much smaller prints with their front feet having four toes and their hindfeet having five.
  • Debris
    • Squirrels will often collect acorns and leave behind shells in the attic space, which is an easy way to tell when you are dealing with squirrels. Squirrels will also bring nesting material into an attic. Take into account, you may have more than one animal type in your attic space.
  • Rub Marks
    • Animals like rats, mice, squirrels, and bats will leave behind rub marks around the openings that they utilize for entry. The rub marks will be brown to dark brown in color. The more the trails have been utilized, the darker these rub marks will be.

5. Strong Odors

At Critter Control, we often hear from homeowners who notice a strong, unpleasant odor coming from their attic—and it’s one of the first signs that nuisance wildlife may have taken up residence. The smell is typically a combination of urine, feces, and the animal itself. Raccoons, squirrels, rats, and other wildlife often use insulation as nesting material and leave waste that soaks into it, creating a musty, ammonia-like odor. If an animal becomes trapped and dies, the scent becomes even more intense, carrying a foul, rotting smell that can spread through the home’s ventilation system.

These odors aren’t just unpleasant—they can signal a serious health risk. If you notice any strange smells from the attic, it’s important to act quickly. Our wildlife experts at Critter Control can locate the source, remove the animals, and provide full attic cleanup and decontamination to restore your home.

Animal in the Attic Removal Near You

The most effective means of an animal in attic control is trapping and exclusions. Attic spaces provide safety and shelter for different types of animals. Before you can seal your house, you need to remove the animals from the attic. That could include deterrents, traps, and one-way valves. The experts at Critter Control can match the appropriate animal in the attic removal technique with the wildlife species.

How to Identify What Rodent is in Your Dallas Home

There are seventy-one species of rodents found in Texas which include beavers, nutria, gophers, porcupines, and chipmunks. The rodents that cause homeowners the most problems are rats, mice, and squirrels. Rodents are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws.

Why do rodents come into your home, anyway?

Squirrels, rats, and mice infiltrate your home looking for safe place from predators and weather, and they want to establish nests near food sources.

Where Do Rodents Live Inside the House?

Generally, rodents prefer areas in homes that humans don’t frequent, such as basements, garages, attics, walls inside, or cars. Rodents love clutter, as it offers them many potential living spaces.

How Do Rodents Get Inside?

The smallest species are able to get inside through holes as narrow as half an inch in diameter. Rodents also employ their inherent climbing, running, jumping, digging, and swimming abilities to infiltrate manmade buildings. Warehouses, farm fields, and food processing factories are also prime targets for rodent infestations.

How to Identify Rodent Infestations in Dallas, TX

Rats, mice, and squirrels will do their best to avoid detection, but these rodents will leave evidence behind.

Common Signs of Rodents in Dallas, TX

  • Sounds. Squirrels, mice, and rats all make similar sounds if they’ve made it into your house; rustling or scurrying noises. The bigger the rodent, the louder the sound will be. Squirrels may also make rolling noises, as they roll nuts and acorns around. Pay attention to when the noise is being made. If it occurs during the day, it’s probably a squirrel. If you hear it more at night, it’s more likely to be a mouse or rat, since they are nocturnal.
  • Droppings. Mice, rats, and squirrels have similar looking droppings. They resemble dark pellets less than an inch long. Rats and mice will leave feces as they travel. You might find them along floorboards, behind appliances, and in cabinets. Squirrels will stay in attics, chimneys, and walls.  Droppings are found in the largest numbers near nesting sites.
  • Gnaw marks. A rodent’s teeth grow continuously, so they must gnaw on things to keep this growth in check. As you might expect, this leaves rather damning evidence. Look for gnaw marks on things like garbage cans, fences, food containers, and under porches. Squirrels sometimes chew through roof vents or attic louvres to gain access to the attic.
  • Runways. Mice and rats are creatures of habit and will follow the same route between their nest site and food and water uses. After repeated use, these paths develop dark, greasy rub marks that are accumulated from the oils and dirt on the rodent’s fur. Runways usually follow along manmade edges like baseboards.
  • Odors. When living in confined spaces like homes, rodents tend to produce an odor that is most often described as musky and resembling ammonia or stale urine.

Rats vs. Mice

There are a few notable differences between rats and mice:

  • Appearance. The most significant difference between a rat and a mouse is physical size. Rats are much, much larger than mice. They also have coarser fur, and comparatively larger heads and feet.
  • Mentality. It’s well established that rats are more cautious, while mice tend to be curious. For example, a rat will likely avoid a trap set in its path for few days, until it gets comfortable enough to approach it (this is why, when dealing with rats, it’s important to leave traps baited for a few days before setting). A mouse, on the other hand, will probably go for a trap the moment they discover it.
  • Burrowing. Mice are climbers, and generally prefer to build their nests higher up. Norway rats, on the other hand, prefer to keep their operations at ground level, and usually construct their nests in garages, basements, or burrowed underground.
  • Droppings. Since rats are larger, their droppings will be larger as well. Rat droppings are generally 3/8 inches long, with a diameter of 1/8 of an inch. Mice droppings are about half this size. Both are oblong pellets, but rat droppings have rounded tips, and mice’s have pointed tips.

Squirrels vs. Rats

The single most significant difference between squirrels and rats is that squirrels aren’t nocturnal, and are therefore unlikely to make much noise at night. But there are a few other differences, too:

  • Nesting Habits. Squirrels are much more likely to build their nests outside, usually in trees. Rats prefer building their nests inside, on the ground, and close to food and water sources.
  • Tracks & Prints. Squirrels bound, leaving significant gaps between paw prints. Rat tracks have a more alternating pattern, and unlike squirrels, their tails often leave an obvious path.
  • Droppings. While both rat and squirrel droppings can be dark brown to black in color with blunted ends, they are found in different places around the home. Squirrel droppings are often found in attics or around tree trunks, while rat droppings are more common along baseboards, in cupboards, and behind large appliances like washing machines.

How to Identify Rodents Nest in Your House

Rat Nest

Rat’s nests are a mess, design-wise. The size of a nest varies depending on the number of rats in the nest, but they are usually about the size of a cereal bowl. Rats use almost anything to build a nest—plants, garbage, cotton, insulation, sticks, twigs. Norway rats typically build their nests on ground floors or in basements. Less commonly, they burrow in the ground.

As their name implies, roof rats prefer to nest off the ground. Roof rats live in colonies and prefer sheltered habitats like lush landscapes, dense vegetation, and fruit trees (especially citrus trees in Florida). Inside, they prefer to nest in the upper parts of buildings like attics or rafters.

Mouse Nest

Mice often build their nests with soft, easily sourced materials such as paper, fabric, string, insulation, and mattress and pillow batting. The nests appear as rough, ball-like structures, around four to six inches in diameter. Unlike Norway rats, mice are climbers, and will often build their nests in attics. There will likely be many droppings surrounding the nest.

Squirrel Nest

squirrel nest in attic

Squirrel nests are much larger than rat and mouse nests. They are clumped-up assemblies of leaves, twigs, bark, and moss. Squirrels will build nests between two branches in trees, but they will also bring these materials inside to create a nest in the attic. Squirrels in the attic will use materials in the attic like insulation, cardboard, and fabric.

Dangers of a Rodent Infestation

Rodent problems can cause a number of issues:

  • Property Damage. Mice and rats will chew on anything they see as useful while building a nest. This can include prized valuables like books or other important documents, especially if they are stored in the attic or basement. Rodents also have a fondness for living in cars, and can ruin them by their compulsive wire-chewing.
  • Fire risk. Mice and rats sometimes build their nests in large electrical appliances, gnawing through wires in the process, which can increase the likelihood of a short-circuit or fire.
  • Disease. Rodents can carry many diseases including hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), Tularemia and Salmonella.

Get Rid of Rats, Mice, Squirrels in Dallas, TX

Rodents are not only a bother to have in your house, but also they spread diseases and damage your house. DIY rodent control methods are typically ineffective and can be dangerous to someone who is untrained. At Critter Control, we can quickly control the rodent population, remove the rats, mice, or squirrels, and install exclusions to keep rodents out! Call us today.

What Are The Best Rat Traps

Of all the creatures known for infesting homes, rats are among the most difficult to deal with. They are infamous for their resourcefulness, their intelligence, and the staggering rate at which they breed. So, to put it simply, a rodent infestation is a serious issue.

Types of Rat Traps

?Individuals have access to a variety of traps and toxic baits when it comes to removing rats from homes. Snap, electric, live-capture traps, and glue boards are popular means of rodent control in homes and garages where rat populations are small in number.

Snap Traps

Snap traps are as old as time. In the past, they were almost always made of wood, but some companies offer modernized versions of this age-old trap that are made of plastic and reusable. Snap traps have a small bait cup into which the bait is inserted, then you pull the metal lever back 90 degrees (watch your fingers!), and the trap is set. A mouse then steps on the plate, and is a nuisance no more.

Plastic Enclosed Snap Traps

These are very similar to generic snap traps, except they are encased in a hard plastic shell, and you use a lever on the exterior of the shell to set the trap. There is also an indicator for when a mouse is caught.

Live Catch Traps

These devices are unique in this list in that they do not kill the rodent; rather, they simply hold it until you can release it elsewhere. There are two main versions of live catch traps: metal cages, and plastic tubes, both of which are outfitted with trigger-operated doors. Metal cage traps are preferred as they are large enough that the captured mouse likely won’t get overly stressed out in the time it is detained.

Electric Traps

Electric traps work by luring rodents into a chamber and administering a lethal shock. They are gaining in popularity because they are one of the more humane options, killing mice almost instantly. They are also engineered to include a no-see, no-touch disposal procedure, and a light to indicate when a rodent has been caught. They are also designed to ensure that humans and pets cannot be shocked.

Glue Traps

Glue traps (Glueboards) are very simple. They are thick industrial cards, covered in sticky adhesive. The mouse attempts to cross it and is then caught up on the sticky surface, where it dies due to lack of water and food. Then the card is thrown away. We do not recommend glue traps. They are better at catching mice than rats. Temperature extremes and dusty areas can make them less effective. Most importantly, they are not an ethical rodent control method.

What Should You Bait Rat Traps With?

Rat traps should be baited with enticing foods like bacon, peanut butter, oatmeal, or marshmallows and placed along areas rats are known to regularly travel such as adjacent to walls or in dark corners. Toxic options, such as anticoagulant baits, may pose hazards for small children and pets. Additionally, the use of such baits often leads to rodent death in inaccessible places like inside walls or above ceilings.

Rat Bait Stations

Although they might look like a trap, bait stations or bait boxes are not a rodent trap. Bait stations contain a solid, liquid, or paste rodenticides, and increase the effectiveness and safety of rodenticides. Bait stations have two holes one for entry and one to exit. After the rodents eat the bait, they leave it. Rodenticides should be used a supplemental control option. If you need to use repeated use of baits, trapping and exclusions services are needed.

Why Are Rats Avoiding My Traps?

Rats are intelligent critters that fear changes in their environment. Successful rat control requires more strategy than a few hastily placed store-bought rat traps. Here are a few reasons rat traps are not working:

  • Wrong Sized Trap – People often make the mistake of confusing mouse traps for rat traps due to their similar design. Rat traps, however, are significantly larger and more powerful to compensate for the size difference between rats and mice. If a mousetrap is used on a rat, you run the risk of it escaping or being pinned down but still live and potentially hostile when you go to release it.
  • Ineffective Placement – An important consideration about rats is that they will typically stick to scurrying along the edges of rooms near walls where they feel safe. Placing a trap in the middle of the room will most likely not catch much. If you put the trap along the edge of the room and place the end with the trigger plate facing the wall, you will have a better chance at coaxing rats into the trap.
  • Traps Set Too Early – Rats are very aware of their surroundings, and the moment a new element is introduced, they can become weary of it. Place the traps in the room, but do not set them. This way, the rats will not perceive them as a threat yet and will be more inclined to approach your traps a few nights later.
  • Not Enough Traps – In addition to acclimating the rats to the traps early, you need to keep in mind that once the traps are shown to be deadly, the rats will stay away. That is why you should always set multiple traps. Statistically, you always trap the most rats on the first night, so by setting many overnight you increase your odds substantially.
  • Using the Wrong Bait –  Rats nibble carefully at new foods and can be rather particular about what they eat. Plus, there is a readily available food source, the rats will ignore the bait. Eliminating their food sources for twenty-four hours and baiting with a highly desirable bait can help rat traps work better.

Professional Rat Trapping

Effective use of rat traps includes proper size, bait, placement, and timing. The standard Critter Control rat trapping process takes between five to fourteen days. If the rat infestation is large, it can take longer. Once the rat population is controlled, we seal the house and disinfect the area. Rats can gnaw through virtually any material on your house. A recurring rat control plan will control any potential rat infestations.

Common Rodents in Dallas to Protect Your Property From

Common Rodents in Dallas to Protect Your Property FromThanks to its hilly landscape and diverse terrain, Dallas is the ideal home for beautiful and exotic animals. Unfortunately, there are also pesky rodents that roam the area and damage nearby property. Rodents are the guiltiest culprits, because they are notorious for scurrying into homes and businesses without welcome. Do you want to know the common rodents you should protect your property from? We’ve got the list right here for you. 

The House Mouse

These little guys are smaller on the rodent spectrum but still cause large amounts of damage. How can you tell the difference between a rat and a mouse? A house mouse will be smaller in size but have larger ears. They are about five to seven inches in length with grayish-brown fur. You’ll usually find them tucked under cabinets, furniture, kitchen appliances, and other small spaces. Because of their great hearing and vision, house mice quickly get comfortable lounging in your home and even in your business. What’s worse is their ability to squirm through a ¼-inch hole — which means they don’t need much space to enter yours. 

The Norway Rat

The Norway rat is the largest and most aggressive of the Texas rodents. Ranging from a whopping seven to nine inches in size, you can usually identify Norway rats by their thick tail and small ears. They also have bristly, brown fur sprinkled with black hairs and are more likely to enter your home or business in the middle of the night. What draws them in? Savory proteins and carbs left out in the open, like chicken, fish, and grains. Because they are expert diggers, you can find Norway rats underneath your building or burrowing through your garbage.

The Roof Rat

Roof rats are smaller than Norway rats — roughly six to eight inches — with dark brown fur. You can identify a roof rat by its pointy nose. The name “roof rat” came from their cunning efforts to find shelter in the highest points of each building. These critters spend most of their lives elevated at least four feet off the ground. Unlike Norway rats, you’ll often find roof rats climbing trees, garbage cans, or even walls to access your roof. Once inside your building, they will tear your insulation, create a nest, and stick around until told otherwise.

Squirrels

Dallas-Squirrel

While squirrels may seem cute and harmless as they dart through trees, Dallas is home to two particularly common species: the Eastern gray squirrel and the fox squirrel. These agile rodents are notorious for entering attics through roof vents or gaps under eaves. Once inside, they gnaw on insulation, wires, and wood, creating fire hazards and structural damage. Outdoors, they dig up lawns, raid bird feeders, and strip bark from trees. To protect your home, trim overhanging branches and seal any potential entry points with heavy-duty materials.

Six Signs of Rodent Problems in the House

  1. Gnaw marks. A rodent’s teeth grow continuously, so they must gnaw on things to keep this growth in check. As you might expect, this leaves rather damning evidence. Look for gnaw marks on things like garbage cans, fences, food containers, and under porches. Squirrels sometimes chew through roof vents or attic louvres to gain access to the attic.
  2. Runways. Mice and rats are creatures of habit and will follow the same route between their nest site and food and water uses. After repeated use, these paths develop dark, greasy rub marks that are accumulated from the oils and dirt on the rodent’s fur. Runways usually follow along manmade edges like baseboards.
  3. Sounds. Squirrels, mice, and rats all make similar sounds if they’ve made it into your house; rustling or scurrying noises. The bigger the rodent, the louder the sound will be. Squirrels may also make rolling noises, as they roll nuts and acorns around. Pay attention to when the noise is being made. If it occurs during the day, it’s probably a squirrel. If you hear it more at night, it’s more likely to be a mouse or rat, since they are nocturnal.
  4. Vocalizations. Both mice and rats communicate at a pitch that is undetectable to the human ear. However, if they are distressed, they may make squeaking or hissing sounds. Still, you are more likely to hear movement sounds than vocalizations.
  5. Odors. When living in confined spaces like homes, rodents tend to produce an odor that is most often described as musky and resembling ammonia or stale urine.
  6. Droppings. Look for droppings in areas that are not frequented by humans, like attics or basements. Droppings are found in the largest numbers near nesting sites.

Dangers of a Rodent Infestation

Rodent problems can cause a number of issues:

  • Property Damage. Mice and rats will chew on anything they see as useful while building a nest. This can include prized valuables like books or other important documents, especially if they are stored in the attic or basement. Rodents also have a fondness for living in cars, and can ruin them by their compulsive wire-chewing.
  • Fire risk. Mice and rats sometimes build their nests in large electrical appliances, gnawing through wires in the process, which can increase the likelihood of a short-circuit or fire.
  • Disease. Rodents can carry many diseases including hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), Tularemia and Salmonella.

Keep Your Property Protected

Rodents are some of the most destructive pests that can infiltrate your home. Do not ignore it! It only takes one hole, gap, or crack for one of these rodents to infiltrate your home. Their ability to avoid detection and breed rapidly make it a difficult task for DIY rodent control.

Protect your property from these common rodents by partnering with the rodent professionals at Critter Control®  Dallas. With over three decades of experience, our technicians will identify entry points and remove all wildlife from your home with humane rodent services. For more information, call us today at 214-225-2217 for a free inspection.

How to Get Rid of Dead Animal Smell in Your Home

How to Get Rid of Dead Animal Smell in Your Home

If your Dallas property is not well maintained or regularly inspected by pest control professionals, it may
become vulnerable to unwanted animal infestations. Invasive critters will settle in and fill your property
with strange noises, costly damage, and foul smells. More often than not, nesting wildlife can become
trapped in the walls and crawl spaces of a home and die, releasing toxic odors as they decompose. The
stench of a dead animal can quickly overtake your home and is not easy to remove without the
assistance of professional odor removal equipment. Here’s how to tackle dead animal removal and
eliminate a dead animal smell from your property.

Removing Dead Animal Smells

First, you’ll want to identify the source of the dead animal odor in your home. Common areas include
inside attics, air vents, or interior walls. Signs that a dead animal is present include:

  •  Strong odors in certain areas of your home
  • Decomposition stains along floors or walls
  • The presence of other pests in your home, such as flies

Once the dead animal and its odor are located, you’ll want to thoroughly wash the area using strong
disinfectants and warm water to dilute the strength of the smell. You should wear gloves when dealing
with dead animal odor removal.

Natural Odor Removal Remedies

In areas where the smell is still lingering, use a sponge or cloth soaked in essential oils or disinfectant to
neutralize the smell. You can also use the following common household products to control odors from
spreading while you wait for dead wildlife removal experts to arrive.

  • Vinegar: Vinegar is a natural disinfectant that helps absorb odors rather than mask them. Fill a
    bowl with vinegar and a few drops of lemon juice, then place it in the room that’s exhibiting the
    smell and let it sit overnight. Adding a few drops of essential oils to the vinegar will help
    neutralize the odors.
  • Coffee grounds: Coffee grounds help absorb odors. Coffee filter packs or coffee grounds that
    have been lightly dampened with water can be used. Place the coffee in an open container and
    let it sit for several hours in the affected area. To thoroughly eliminate the odor, you may need
    to repeat the process several times.
  • Baking soda: Baking soda is used to neutralize unpleasant smells. Sprinkle some baking soda on
    the affected area and let it sit for several hours. To remove the baking soda, use a vacuum.
    Repeat the process until the odor is completely gone.
  •  Charcoal: Charcoal briquettes are an effective method used to remove the dead animal smell.
    Place several briquettes in a bowl and place it where the smell is the strongest. Do this for
    several days to thoroughly eliminate the smell.
  • Commercial household products: These products can eliminate lingering smells by chemically
    bonding with the particles that cause the odor and neutralizing them. These products may be more expensive, but they are worth investing in if you want your home to return to being odor free.

While natural odor removal remedies may be effective short term, they will only mask the smell until
the dead animal is found and safely removed. However, contact with a live or dead animal can spread
diseases and pose a significant health threat to you and your family. Therefore, you should rely on the
experts at Critter Control® of Dallas to remove any dead animals and their odors from your home.

Dallas-Area Dead Animal Odor Removal Services

At Critter Control® of Dallas, we pride ourselves in using eco-friendly and humane methods to remove
alive or deceased animals from your Dallas property. No matter where the animal died on your
property, our licensed, trained and experienced wildlife experts are prepared to prevent the spread of
contamination, odors, and disease. If you’re dealing with the lingering smell of an unwanted dead
animal, give us a call at (214) 225-2217 to schedule an inspection and receive a free wildlife removal
estimate.

What Does Bat Feces Look Like?

Bats are some of the most common critters to roost in residential properties. However, most people don’t know they need bat removal services until they come face-to-face with America’s most well-known flying mammal. One tell-tale sign of a potential bat infestation is the presence of bat feces. Also known as guano, bat droppings produce a remarkably distinct look and smell. Here is what you should look for when encountering bat feces in your home. 

The Distinct Look of Bat Feces 

Due to their diet, bat feces has a unique look and texture compared to other invasive critters’ waste. Bat droppings tend to be oval shaped pellets, measuring from a quarter to half an inch in length. They tend to be left in small piles and have a shiny, dark brown texture. 

The Unique Smell of Bat Feces 

You may discover the need for a bat removal service before you even lay eyes on bat guano. Their droppings have a unique smell when compared to other animals, giving off the distinct and overwhelming scent of ammonia. If you smell ammonia in odd places on your property, the source is likely a growing bat infestation. 

Where to Find Bat Feces 

Knowing what bat guano looks like isn’t helpful if you don’t know where to look for it. Bats are nocturnal, so they often rest in the shade to avoid direct sunlight during their slumber. Some key places to look for bat droppings include attics, chimneys, sheds, barns, or any other cool place blocked off from light sources. 

It’s also important to examine outdoor spaces with ample shade such as a balcony or porch to ensure bats aren’t roosting on the exterior of your property. Such locations could lead bats to make their way inside of your home if they become too comfortable or there is a large disturbance outside. 

The Danger of DIY Bat Removal

If you discover bats are making their home on your property, it’s vital not to interact with them yourself. Bats are dangerous animals that can cause severe injury and spread disease if not handled properly. Furthermore, many species of bat are protected and can only be excluded from homes during certain times of the year. Unlicensed bat removal could result in steep fines and potential jail time. Therefore, bat removal should only be conducted by licensed and trained bat removal professionals. 

Rely on Your Dallas Area Bat Removal Professional

At Critter Control® of Dallas, we pride ourselves in using eco-friendly and humane methods when it comes to removing unwanted critters and their lingering odors from inside your home or workplace. If you are dealing with a bat infestation, know that we’re here to help resolve all of your wildlife removal and prevention needs. 

For fast and effective relief from bats and their droppings, call Critter Control® of Dallas today at (214) 225-2217 to schedule an inspection and receive a free bat removal estimate.

Ways to Keep Opossums Out of Your Trash

Opossums are scavengers that love to eat discarded items found in the trash. When they feast, opossums can over trash cans, leaving a mess to be cleaned up in your driveway, yard, or street. Since opossums are food-driven critters, they will continue to return and rummage through your trash until you install barriers to their entry. Here’s how to keep opossums out of your trash.

Make Your Trash Can Impenetrable

To prevent attracting hungry opossums, it’s important to have a trash can with a secure lid. Investing in a metal trash can with a lid that locks in place is ideal, but plastic cans with lids will also get the job done. However, you should note that many wild animals can chew through plastic, making entry into a plastic receptacle possible.

You can also keep possums away from your trash can by securing its lid with clamps or a locking system. To clamp the can, string rope, chains, or bungee cords around the can’s lid and through its handles, fastening them together. For further reinforcement to keep opossums from getting into your trash, you can lock the trash can lid with a combination lock or simply place a large item on top of the can’s lid that is too heavy for the critters to lift.

Keep Possums Away with Strong Scents

Repelling opossums with unappealing smells is another approach that can be taken to keep your garbage undisturbed. The overwhelming scent of ammonia causes animals, including opossums and rodents, to vacate the area. To repel unwanted opossums, spray the interior of your trash can with an ammonia-based solution. Other natural opossum repellents such as hot pepper or cayenne pepper can also be used to effectively keep possums away.

Ultimately, the best and most effective way to keep possums away or prevent them from coming back is to rely on the experts at Critter Control® of Dallas.

Your Dallas Area Opossum Removal Experts

At Critter Control® of Dallas, our licensed team of trained professionals are equipped to quickly and safely remove nuisance opossums and other unwanted wildlife from your Dallas area property. To schedule your inspection and receive a free estimate for our effective opossum removal services, call Critter Control® of Dallas today at (214) 225-2217.

How to Remove a Dead Animal Smell

How to Remove a Dead Animal SmellAs a homeowner, finding a dead animal in your home is an unfortunate, but possible, situation that you could one day face, especially if your property is not well maintained or regularly inspected by pest control professionals. In addition to getting rid of the dead animal’s carcass, you’ll also have to remove the unmistakable smell it creates. Here’s how to get rid of a dead animal smell from your property.

Removing a Dead Animal Smell from Your Home

The first thing you’ll want to do is identify where in your house the odor’s coming from. It’ll most likely be around your attic, air vents or walls as that’s how most animals enter your home. Some signs to look out for include:

  • Stronger areas of odor in certain parts of your home
  • Grease stains around floors or walls
  • Other pests, such as flies

After you remove a dead animal from your property, you’ll want to thoroughly wash the area where its body was. Use a strong disinfectant and warm water to prevent the smell from spreading. It’s also a good idea to wear gloves. Once the area is disinfected, place a cotton ball or cloth soaked in odor removal in spots where you notice the smell lingering. Odor removing sponges can also help neutralize the smell.

Ineffective Ways to Remove a Dead Animal and Its Odors

While DIY odor removal methods may take care of the job if you manage to find the dead critter quickly, you likely won’t notice a dead animal smell until it’s too late. And the longer it takes to remove a dead animal, the longer its smell will last. Unfortunately, over-the-counter deodorizers and natural at-home methods are often not strong enough to eliminate the lingering stench of a dead animal. 

Furthermore, dead animals could pose just as many health threats as live ones as their rotting carcass can be host to diseases, parasites, and contamination. So, don’t put yourself at risk by trying to get rid of the problem yourself. If you need to remove a dead animal and its smell from your home, rely on the wildlife removal professionals at Critter Control® of Dallas

Professional Dead Animal Odor Removal Services

At Critter Control® of Dallas, we pride ourselves in using eco-friendly and effective methods to remove alive or deceased critters from your home or workplace. If you’re dealing with an infestation or lingering dead animal smells, know we’re here to help. Call us at (214) 225-2217 to schedule an inspection and receive a free animal removal estimate.

Do Mothballs Work Good for Rat Removal?

When noticing signs of a rat infestation, the first instinct of many homeowners is to search online for fast and effective rat removal methods; the results of which often include natural pest control remedies. One such home remedy is the use of mothballs for rat removal, but as convenient as this may sound, are mothballs actually effective for rat removal? 

The Ineffectiveness of Mothballs for Rat Removal

While mothballs are certainly effective at repelling certain insects, the pesticides in mothballs are not strong enough to repel a creature as large as a rat. Even if they were, rats are smart creatures and will either find an alternative route around the mothballs or create one themselves. Ultimately, mothballs won’t do all that much to help the rat issue on your property, and they can actually make your problems worse. 

The Trouble of Mothballs for Rat Removal

Ineffectiveness aside, it is also important to note that the misuse of moth balls for reasons not clearly stated on its label can be dangerous, inhumane, and result in legal issues. Mothballs can only be used to keep away insects. Using them to remove rats or for any purpose other than insect prevention is actually illegal. Furthermore, filling your home with pesticide-laced mothballs can be dangerous, especially if you have curious children or pets that can accidentally find and ingest the toxic substance. 

While purchasing mothballs for rat removal might seem like a cheap option, the price tag is certainly not worth the trouble. At the end of the day, the safest and most effective way to remove nuisance rats from your property is to rely on the rat removal services provided by the experts at Critter Control® of Dallas. 

Rely on Your Dallas Area Rat Removal Experts

At Critter Control® of Dallas, we are dedicated to providing Dallas area home and business owners with non-toxic, eco-friendly, and humane rat removal methods. If you’re dealing with unwanted critters on your Dallas-area property, our licensed and trained technicians have the experience and equipment needed to quickly and affordably resolve your infestation. 

For more information on our rat removal and prevention services and to receive a free estimate, call Critter Control® of Dallas today at (214) 225-2217. 

The Dangers of DIY Possum Removal

Opossums like to sneak into homes and nest during the winter where it’s safe and warm. While these creatures may look cute, they can cause health and structural problems for you and your home. Because possums are normally docile, you may be considering trying to remove the critters yourself. However, hiring a possum removal professional to get rid of opossums is your safest bet.

Risks of Opossums

While possums do not carry rabies, the critters are known carriers of several other diseases, including leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis and even tuberculosis. They also can carry parasites onto your property that can be passed through contact. Their droppings contain bacteria that make you and your loved ones sick. 

Opossums aren’t aggressive, but they will lash out when they feel threatened. An opossum bite or scratch can pass on these dangerous diseases, putting your health at risk. If the possum tries to flee, it could also injure itself in the process. 

Get Rid of Opossums Professionally

DIY opossum removal may feel like the cheaper and better option, but it’s not worth it. At-home methods to get rid of opossums can be dangerous at best and inhumane at worst. An opossum removal professional will have access to safe and humane methods that will permanently get rid of possums in your home or business. That’s why if you’re dealing with an unwanted possum inside your Fort Worth  home or workplace, rely on the experts at Critter Control® of Ft. Worth

Expert Opossum Removal Services Near You

At Critter Control® of Ft. Worth, our licensed team of trained professionals are experienced and equipped to efficiently remove nuisance pests from your property. We’ve been helping Texans deal with opossums and other critters for more than 30 years. Our eco-friendly removal methods ensure permanent removal and the health and safety of everyone involved.

To schedule your inspection and receive a free estimate for our opossum removal services, call Critter Control® of Ft. Worth today at (214) 225-2217. 

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