If you have a problem with wildlife in your Ashland home, your best option is to hire a company that specializes in Virginia wildlife removal only. This is a specialty business, and regular pest control companies do not use the proper techniques to solve animal problems. I have spent many years reviewing Virginia and Ashland, and I recommend the following:
NOTE: If you have a dog or cat problem, call Hanover County Animal Services: (804) 365-6485
ACS Wildlife Removal specializes primarily in removing animals from attics of homes and buildings - this includes squirrels in attics, raccoons, and rats or mice in homes. Virginia also has a documented problem with
bats in buildings, and ACS Wildlife Removal is specially trained in bat removal. They also perform general wildlife trapping services, such as the capture and removal of skunks or opossums on the
property. Call 757-777-9824 to discuss your critter problem and schedule a same-day or next-day appointment. Click here to learn more about what prices we charge in 2020.
When hiring a company to solve your wild animal problem, you want these features:
ACS Wildlife Removal is a full-service Ashland wildlife removal company. This is very different from a regular Ashland pest control company. The pest control companies spray poison to kill insects. This is not at all
similar to wildlife removal. ACS Wildlife Removal performs a full inspection of the home or property, and determines why the animal(s) are there, and if inside a building, how the animals got inside. All
animals (including rodents) are trapped and removed, or if possible, removed from the building using special exclusion devices. Once the animals are gone, preventative repairs are essential, and
cleanup is sometimes recommended.
Ashland wildlife trapping - it's not as simple as it may seem. It's illegal in Virginia to trap without a license. Trap type is very important and there are many different types, bait is somewhat relevant, trap placement
is vital, and there are dozens of small things that are very important to know.
Safety is a concern. Then once the animal is trapped, it must be removed and dealt with in the proper manner according to Virginia law. We offer Ashland raccoon removal. Read more about how to get rid of raccoons.
Animals in attics - this is our specialty at ACS Wildlife Removal. Many types of animals like to live in attics. This includes squirrels, raccoons, rats, mice, bats, birds, and even possums. Critters like to go into attics for a safe place to live
and raise their young. Removing animals from attics is very complex work, partly because of the presence of baby animals. If you need Ashland squirrel removal, we can remove all the squirrels from your attic, and seal out any future ones. Read more about how to get rid of squirrels.
Rodent control must be done in a very specific way. First off, the most important thing is that all the openings that rats and mice can use to enter a house be sealed. Then all the rodents must be physically trapped and removed.
Never, ever use poison! Most Ashland exterminators will just use this lazy poison technique to kill rodents, and it causes more harm than good - dead stinky rats, and it doesn't solve the problem. Call us for correct Ashland rat removal. Read more about how to get rid of rats.
Bat removal is a highly specialized task. Virginia is known to have colonizing bats who often live in buildings. Bats love attics. If not removed, the colony can grow to a very large size over the years. The bat droppings are often corrosive and
cause health risks. The same goes for bird droppings on or in buildings. We perform Ashland pigeon removal and bird control. But our specialty is Ashland bat removal. We remove 100% of the bat colony and seal the building so that it's totally bat-proof. Read more about how to get rid of bats.
If you have animals inside a house, no job is complete without proper exclusion repairs. If you simply hire a Ashland trapper who only removes the critters, then the problem will return. You need to hire a Ashland wildlife control company that identifies 100% of the animal entry points
into your building, and seals them shut with professional repairs. In addition, in many cases animals have left waste or contamination behind, and you'll want a company that can provide professional cleaning services. ACS Wildlife Removal does both.
The above are just some of the services offered by ACS Wildlife Removal. We also trap and remove animals that destroy lawns, such as moles, or digging animals. Sometimes animals like opossums will live under buildings, steal pet food, raid garbage cans, etc.
Read about how to get rid of opossums. Skunks commonly live under sheds or decks, and set up a den. We can trap and remove them without them spraying. Read about how to get rid of skunks. ACS Wildlife Removal
also provides dead animal removal in Ashland. If you need help with any other wildlife conflict, from a fox, beaver, groundhog, or any other critter, we can solve it. We also do Ashland snake removal - most of the snakes in Virginia are not venomous, but
call us if you want safe removal, or read about how to get rid of snakes in Ashland. And remember, we are a private business, not Hanover County Animal Control Services, so if you have a dog or cat problem, call the County at (804) 365-6485.
Hanover County animal services does not handle any wildlife issues.
Every wildlife removal situation is different, from the species of animals involved, the location of the animal inside a house or outside, the extent of repairs or cleanup, etc. It's impossible to give one-size-fits-all prices. Examples MIGHT include:
Small Job: For example, a one-stop job to remove an animal in the yard: $100 on up
Medium Job: For example, getting critters out of your house with minor repairs: $300 on up
Large Job: For example, a project involving many service trips and complex work: $500 on up
Give us a phone call now and tell us about your wildlife issue and we will be able to give you a price estimate over the phone. If you're cool with it, we can schedule a same-day or next-day appointment if you like. Our prices are fair, and a good value because we do the job right, the first time.
Ashland Wildlife Tip #1:
The Diamondback Rattlesnake: Appearance, biology, life cycle, habitat, diet, behavior
The diamondback rattlesnake is frequently found in the southwestern portion of the United States and in Mexico. Of all of the snakebites that result in fatalities, the diamondback rattlesnake is the primary culprit in most of those fatal interactions. This is because the venom contained by the snake is quite potent, and clearly lethal.
The diamondback rattlesnake can grow anywhere between four and 6 feet long, although most range around 5 feet, with some exceptions reaching as long as 7 feet. Males are usually much larger than the females, which plays an important role in reproduction.
The average adult diamondback rattlesnake weighs between four and 6 pounds, with some of the larger of the species reaching his biggest 15 pounds. These are truly formidable enemies.
A rattlesnake has a fairly distinguishable pattern to its exterior. Most commonly recognized this snake because of the diamond -like pattern that is on their back, divided by a lighter outline to each section on its back. Colors usually range in the patterned areas between black, brown, and tan, with the outlines of these patterns usually in a white or tannish color.
Where you will find most rattlesnakes is in desert areas. These animals prefer the heat, and will likely die if left in colder areas. This is why you rarely, if ever see them in areas like Minnesota, Montana, or Wisconsin. They simply aren't built to survive in regions like this.
While enjoying the warmer areas, they prefer to have places to be able to enjoy residing in a cool spot during the hottest part of the day. This is why you will find them around canyons, hillsides, under rocks, or in grasslands or desert shrubs.
The diamondback rattlesnake will live by itself, preferring a solitary life. However, this changes during the mating season, which occurs just after hibernation has ended in March. During the winter, they will hibernate in caves or burros that they have been created, and will return to this location during the span of their lifetime, which can last as long as 20 years.
Because the diamondback rattlesnake is not able to climb well, they are the natural prey to such animals as eagles, hawks, raptors, and roadrunners, as well as to Hogg's and other forms of snakes. When threatened, they will coil and shake their rattle in a warning to predators to back off! Most will stand their ground, and will not back away if confronted by a predator, even if they are concerned for their safety. Instead, they will strike with their sharp fangs and potent venom.
During the mating process, the much larger male will grapple with the female in an attempt to subdue her. If successful, then copulation will appear. The gestation period or the rattlesnake last between 6 to 7 months, with a dozen young being born at one time. The young will only stay with the mother for just a few hours before heading off to care for themselves. This means that they can hunt almost right away after being born.
Ashland Wildlife Tip #2:
Virginia Wildlife Information:
Virginia State bird: Northern cardinal
State mammal: Virginia big-eared bat
State fish: Brook trout, striped bass
State insect: Tiger swallowtail butterfly
Virginia is attached to the Chesapeake Bay, and because of this, it has a large coastal plain that extends inland, passing the bay's tributaries and eventually ending at the swelling of rocky foothills. Those foothills spread into the Blue Ridge Mountains, an extension of the Appalachian range. The state has an abundance of carbonated rock which has led to the creation of thousands of cave systems. Ten of those systems are currently open to the public, leaving about 3,990 on private land or currently uncharted. Along with the caves comes a variety of bat species, including the big brown bat, Brazilian free-tailed bat, eastern red bat, evening bat, gray bat, and the hoary bat, to name a few. Caves are the perfect habitat for these animals, which can either migrate or hibernate in the colder months. While Virginia is not prone to particularly harsh winters, the cave systems make a good, temperature-controlled place for hibernation.
Bats, though numerous, are only a small portion of the animal population in Virginia. The state has a number of predators including black bears, bobcats, cougars, and coyotes. This state doesn't have huge issues with the larger predators mainly because of how mountainous and wild the habitat has remained. The coastal plain is much more covered in people's homes, and this is where critters like squirrels and raccoons love to play. Because of the amount of trees in this state, it doesn't take long for a vertical-loving animal to find a way into a house. While raccoons and squirrels are definitely on the list of nuisance animals, they are among a score of others including woodchucks, skunks, porcupines, and opossums.
The state is also perfect for birds, and Virginia has a population of golden eagles, a large avian that tends to live in isolated settings across the globe. Not much research has been done on the golden eagle, and Virginia wildlife authorities hope they can study the growing population and shed some light on the species.
The fresh water feeding into the Chesapeake Bay provides a good ecosystem for amphibians and reptiles, and Virginia has a number of water-loving snakes including the cottonmouth and the common water snake. The state also has glass lizards, a snake-like creature, and the only limbless lizard in the United States.
You can always call ACS Wildlife Removal, any time of day, at 757-777-9824, for a price quote for Ashland wildlife control services. I am confident that this is the best choice amongst wildlife removal companies in Ashland, VA.