If you have a problem with wildlife in your Des Moines home, your best option is to hire a company that specializes in Iowa 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 Iowa and Des Moines, and I recommend the following:
NOTE: If you have a dog or cat problem, call Polk County Animal Services: (515) 262-9503
Wildlife Removal Pros of Des Moines specializes primarily in removing animals from attics of homes and buildings - this includes squirrels in attics, raccoons, and rats or mice in homes. Iowa also has a documented problem with
bats in buildings, and Wildlife Removal Pros of Des Moines 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 515-446-3748 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 2022.
When hiring a company to solve your wild animal problem, you want these features:
Wildlife Removal Pros of Des Moines is a full-service Des Moines wildlife removal company. This is very different from a regular Des Moines pest control company. The pest control companies spray poison to kill insects. This is not at all
similar to wildlife removal. Wildlife Removal Pros of Des Moines 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.
Des Moines wildlife trapping - it's not as simple as it may seem. It's illegal in Iowa 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 Iowa law. We offer Des Moines raccoon removal. Read more about how to get rid of raccoons.
Animals in attics - this is our specialty at Wildlife Removal Pros of Des Moines. 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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines rat removal. Read more about how to get rid of rats.
Bat removal is a highly specialized task. Iowa 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 Des Moines pigeon removal and bird control. But our specialty is Des Moines 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 Des Moines trapper who only removes the critters, then the problem will return. You need to hire a Des Moines 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. Wildlife Removal Pros of Des Moines does both.
The above are just some of the services offered by Wildlife Removal Pros of Des Moines. 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. Wildlife Removal Pros of Des Moines
also provides dead animal removal in Des Moines. 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 Des Moines snake removal - most of the snakes in Iowa are not venomous, but
call us if you want safe removal, or read about how to get rid of snakes in Des Moines. And remember, we are a private business, not Polk County Animal Control Services, so if you have a dog or cat problem, call the County at (515) 262-9503.
Polk 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.
Des Moines Wildlife Tip #1:
What sort of bait catches a possum, raccoon, or other nuisance critter? - What would your first thought be when you catch a wild animal, such as the possum, raccoon, or other nuisance critter, in your home? OF course, you would be forgiven for thinking to yourself "CATCH THE CRITTER!" but when you think about it logically; it only really solves half of the problem, right? Once you have successfully bought your trap, (online is a great place to start, especially if you have a specific animal to catch and no time to go shopping for one) and also chosen the right bait, (for a possum, raccoon, or other nuisance critter, you should probably go for cat or dog food, road kill that you have come across, sweet fruits, or leftovers from dinner) and you managed to successfully trap and release the creature, how do you know that this one, or others like it, is not going to come back? This is when the following precautions come into play - Firstly - seal up any holes that your animal could use to gain access to your home. That chimney might not look like an animal door to you, but the possum, raccoon, or other nuisance critter is going to love it. The same applies for the holes for the air conditioning units, as well as the windows that have not been covered by screens. Eliminate the holes, and you will have eliminated the problem within your home. Next, use some artificial intelligence, so to speak. A fake owl in the tree could easily fool a passing possum, raccoon, or other nuisance critter, as could a cleverly placed fake hawk on the roof, or a snake lying in wait on the lawn. Sometimes something as simple as this is all you need. But to be honest, these devices usually fail. Finally, think about investing in some cayenne pepper. A lot of wild animals detest this spicy smell, so by using it around your flower beds, fruit trees, and other places in your home or yard, you could potentially be avoiding a much bigger problem!
Des Moines Wildlife Tip #2:
Wild animal Smell Under Your House - One of the frustrating things that many people who have trapped an wild animal and removed it from the property will find is that people will often find an unpleasant smell from the cavity under the house. The most common reason for this will happen when people are trapping wild animals in the spring, which is when wild animals actually give birth to their young and their activities are often most noticeable to people. Many people will capture the mother without actually ensuring that there are no young wild animals, and when these creatures die then their carcasses will often begin to decompose and cause a significant smell. This is why it is always recommended to refer to a professional when you have an wild animal problem, as they will be able to check in the likely places to make sure there are no young animals to worry about. However, if you are finding the smell and the wild animal has been removed for some time, then it may be necessary to go under the house and to remove the carcasses of these young wild animals. Once these have been removed professionals will often have products which will decontaminate the area and help to get rid of the smell permanently.
Iowa Wildlife Information:
Iowa State bird: Eastern goldfinch
State amphibian: North American bullfrog
State fish: Channel catfish
Iowa is a central state in the Midwest, and its location has given it the nickname "America's heartland". Despite being a naturally flat state which used to have plentiful forests, Iowa has given up much of its natural habitats in favor of agriculture. Now, forests only cover 7 percent of the entire state, often in the river valleys only where farming isn't practical or easy. Thirty percent of the state is still grassland, but only 1 percent of that 30 is original prairie land. More than half of the state-at 60 percent-is active farmland. The weather in this region is warm and humid during the summers with cold, snowy winters. Thunderstorms are common on a daily basis in the warm weather.
Unlike other states with grasslands, Iowa no longer has many of the large grazing creatures that loved to live on the plains. Elk and bison have long since been extirpated from the state due to heavy deforestation and land conversion. Only white-tailed deer remain, and these were once wiped off Iowa soil as well. The species was re-introduced and has thrived, but it is still uncommon in some areas.
Despite the lack of large grazers, predators have fared better in Iowa that in other states. For a while, there was thought to be no evidence of mountain lions or gray wolves, but the large cats have been making a comeback. Experts feel there may now be a breeding population in the state. Smaller predators, like bobcats and coyotes, live off the plentiful small animals that live around the countryside. There are plenty of rabbits, prairie dogs, and raccoons to keep the carnivores happy.
An abundance of small animals means an abundance of pest animals, and Iowa is no exception. The state has raccoons, bats, squirrels, mice, rats, and opossums. Spotted skunks are protected by the state, but they can still become pest animals.
Unfortunately, Iowa has lost many of its native animals due to the progressive nature of humans. A number of animals are on the endangered species list including bald eagles, flying squirrels, bats, certain owls, and a number of lizards, insects, fish, and reptiles. While the original agriculture move ousted many of the state's species, Iowa is taking steps to protect the remaining wildlife.
You can always call Wildlife Removal Pros of Des Moines, any time of day, at 515-446-3748, for a price quote for Des Moines wildlife control services. I am confident that this is the best choice amongst wildlife removal companies in Des Moines, IA.