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Despite sometimes being a nuisance on your property, opossums are generally harmless critters. However, a sick opossum poses a risk to humans if they come in close contact. Here’s how to tell if the opossums on your property are ill.

Can Opossums Have Rabies?

There’s a common misconception that all opossums carry rabies; however, opossums have a low body temperature that makes it difficult for the virus to survive. Many confuse “rabid opossum” behaviors such as drooling and hissing as a sign of rabies, when, in fact, they are defense tactics used to scare predators away.

Common Opossum Diseases

While opossums typically don’t carry rabies, there are several other diseases the critters can carry that they can then transmit to humans. Some common opossum illnesses include:

• Leptospirosis

  This bacterial disease is passed through contact with opossum urine. It can cause severe respiratory distress and lead to other health conditions such as kidney damage and liver failure.

• Tularemia

  This disease is contracted through a bite or scratch and can lead to a high fever, skin ulcers, and chest pain.

• Murine Typhus

  This version of typhus is transmitted through fleas carried by the opossum. Common symptoms include body aches, chills, and rashes.

Signs of a Rabid Opossum

It’s important to know the symptoms of a sick opossum so you can call a pest control expert immediately. Common signs of illness include:

• Skin lesions, such as spots or sores
• Loss of fur or patches
• Foaming at the mouth
• Labored breathing
• Lethargic or agitated behavior

As soon as you notice an opossum exhibiting these symptoms, contact an opossum removal professional to humanely remove the animal.

Expert Opossum Removal Services Near You

For experienced rabid opossum removal, rely on the removal technicians at Critter Control® of Orlando for quick and safe results. Our thorough process involves inspection, removal, restoration and prevention. To schedule an appointment and receive a free opossum removal estimate, call Critter Control® of Orlando today at 407-295-7194.

Invasive moles quickly become an expensive nuisance when they tunnel under your Central Florida home. In addition to littering your yard with hazardous and unsightly mole holes, burrowing pests can threaten your home’s structural integrity by weakening the ground beneath your property.

Here are a few mole control methods you can utilize to deter pesky rodents and the pros and cons of each.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Common Mole Control Methods

• Insecticides

An easy way to get rid of moles is removing their food source of grubs and other insects by using a milky spore bacteria or insecticide. Removing insects is an advantage because it can also help improve your lawn; however, certain insecticides can be harmful to the environment.

Using insecticides also takes a lot of timing to be an effective mole control treatment. For maximum effect, apply insecticide to mole infested areas in the early spring.

• Mole Repellents

Mole repellents provide a humane and easy option to get rid of moles. Most repellents release scents, vibrations, or sounds that drive moles away. You can also make your own mole repellent by mixing three parts castor oil in a spray bottle with one part dish soap. Simply spray the solution on any visible mole holes in your yard. The repellent releases on its own, so you don’t need to time it to a specific season for it to work.

The downside of using mole repellent is certain scents can harm the mole’s or other animals’ digestive system. Therefore, be careful not to let your pets accidentally ingest the substance, or they could become ill.

• Protective Landscaping

To naturally get rid of moles, consider planting flowers such as marigolds or daffodils. These allium plants give off a strong odor that repels moles. You can also consider digging a trench around the area you want to protect from moles. Using fencing or other forms of protective landscaping can help beautify your lawn, and it won’t put any critters at risk of harm.

The main disadvantage is that yard equipment and fencing can be expensive and their installation can eat up your time.

• Hiring a Mole Removal Professional

Ultimately, the most effective way to get rid of moles is by hiring a mole removal specialist. A pest control professional will have the necessary equipment and expertise to remove moles safely and humanely from your property.

Effective Mole Control Methods and Services in Orlando, FL

If you have a mole problem on your Central Florida property, contact the professionals at Critter Control® of Orlando. Using our four-step process of inspection, removal, prevention, and restoration, our mole control experts will quickly remove moles from your property and keep them from returning. Call us at 407-295-7194 today to schedule your inspection and receive a free mole removal estimate.

Moles can destroy your lawn or backyard in a short amount of time as they burrow underground, busting irrigation pipes, cracking foundations, and uprooting plants in the process. To permanently get rid of the burrowing rodents, you’ll want professionals with expertise and experience. Here’s how to choose a mole removal expert.

Select Knowledgeable and Experienced Mole Removal Professionals

A reputable mole removal company will have proven experience dealing with moles and a deep understanding of the signs and damages the pests can cause as they dig up your property, such as:

• Destroyed landscaping

  Moles will leave a trail of uprooted sod and dirt across your lawn as they dig their winding tunnels, causing your grass to wither and die.

• Personal injury

  When creating burrows, moles will loosen the soil around your property, making unsupported weak spots and mole holes for you to step in and trip over. This can lead to a twisted or sprained ankle.

• Structural threats

  Moles are mostly blind and don’t pay attention to where they’re digging. They can run into cables, plumbing, and even your home’s foundation, threatening its structural

A mole removal expert will be able to identify the above signs of mole damage and quickly devise a treatment plan to put an end to your infestation and avoid any long-term damages.

Choose Effectiveness Over Gimmicks

To remove moles from your home or business, you’ll want a wildlife removal expert that employs safe, but effective, mole removal techniques. Instead of relying on naturally scented sprays, ineffective ultrasonic repellents, or harmful and inhumane chemicals to treat a mole infestation, the professionals at Critter Control® of Orlando utilize a four-step removal process to get rid of the nuisance animals.

Our process includes:

1. Inspection: We conduct a thorough walkthrough of your property to identify the location of the pest.
2. Removal: All moles are safely removed using eco-friendly and humane techniques that keep the health of the critter in mind.
3. Restoration: Any property damage caused by the moles is repaired and restored.
4. Prevention: Entry points are sealed up to prevent mole re-entry.

Safe and Efficient Mole Removal Services in Orlando

If you need mole removal services in the Central Florida area, rely on the professionals at Critter Control® of Orlando for an effective and humane process. Our licensed and trained mole removal technicians will quickly and safely remove nuisance moles from your property and keep them from returning.

Call us today at 407-295-7194 to schedule your inspection and receive a free mole removal estimate.

Opossums will den anywhere they can find a spot that’s dry, sheltered, and safe which is why they are commonly found living inside attics, within crawl spaces, or underneath the sheds and decks of homes and businesses. Because their bodies have little fat, opossums don’t store food during the winter and instead forage for food year round. Therefore, the nocturnal marsupials can frequently be seen at night wandering Orlando neighborhoods in search of food.

Opossum diets typically consist of fruits, nuts, insects, mice, frogs, snakes, poultry, and carrion; however, opossums will also eat the garbage, pet food, and birdseed found around many residential and commercial areas. If you notice disturbances in and around your home or workplace, then look for the following signs to confirm if you have a growing opossum infestation.

5 Signs of Opossums

1. Loud scratching noises

   Opossums make ripping, scratching, and scuttling noises as they build their nest. The sounds are also not confined to one particular area, so you will most likely hear them whenever they are moving around.

2. Constant animal vocalizations

   If you hear noises such as hissing, shrieking, clicking, or lip smacking, you could have multiple opossums living inside. Often, it’s a mother opossum communicating with her

3. Building exterior damage

   Look for torn shingles or ripped soffits as well as damaged siding, eaves, and gutters.

4. Disappearing pet food

   Opossums love an easy meal and will steal the pet food you leave outdoors. Whenever possible, feed your pets inside or bring the dishes in overnight when opossums are most active.

5. Unpleasant smells

   Because of their size, opossums leave large droppings all over the area where they live. Their urine and feces stain wooden materials and soak into attic insulation, causing an unpleasant odor. It’s also possible for the opossum to get trapped and die in which you will want to hire a professional to remove the decomposing body and perform a thorough cleaning.

Dangers of an Opossum Infestation

Although opossums are docile creatures, they can create significant damage inside your homes or business. Using their teeth and claws, they’ll tear shingles, siding, and insulation. The feces and urine they leave behind causes large stains and toxic smells if not quickly cleaned. Opossums can also carry parasites, fleas and ticks, as well as items from the outside such as dried leaves and  grass to form a comfortable nesting place for mother opossums to birth their young.

 

Contact Central Florida’s Opossum Removal Experts

When it comes to opossum removal, don’t wait to address the situation. Instead, rely on the professional services of Critter Control® of Orlando. We will safely and humanely remove the nuisance pests and take the proper steps to ensure they don’t gain access back into your home or business.

For more information or to schedule your inspection and get a free opossum removal estimate, call us today at 407-295-7194.

With insects constantly flying around your property, it makes gardening tasks and other outdoor activities more difficult. However, there are numerous insect-repelling plants you can place around your home or in your garden to help keep those pesky bugs at bay.

4 Insect Repelling Plants for Your Yard

The essential oils in certain plants act as a natural bug repellent, resulting in fewer insects in your yard. Another way to keep bugs away, especially mosquitos, is by removing any standing water which they use to breed. To help better your chances of winning the battle against the bugs invading your property, try incorporating the following herbs:

1. Lavender

   Though people love the smell of lavender and have been using the essential oil for centuries, moths, fleas, flies, and mosquitos hate the sweet scent. Keep tied bouquets of lavender inside the home, and plant it near entryways or in parts of your garden that get plenty of sunlight. You can also make a natural mosquito repellent to spray on your skin by extracting oil from the flowers.

2. Lemongrass

   Used to make citronella, lemongrass helps repel mosquitos, assisting with the prevention of contracting insect-borne illnesses such as malaria, dengue, and Lyme disease. The grass can also be used whole, sliced, or pounded into a pace and then added into a variety of culinary dishes like soups, chicken, pork, and even as a flavoring for crème brulee. Keep the grass inside of a pot or plant it in the ground in a well-drained area that receives a lot of sunlight.

3. Peppermint

   The strong fragrance helps repel mosquitos, ants, and even mice. Because mint grows aggressively when planted in the ground, it’s best to keep it in pots around your patio or garden. Place clippings of mint in areas where broccoli, cabbage, and turnips are growing as well as use the leaves to flavor ice tea.

4. Rosemary

   You can keep rosemary in containers on the patio or put it into the garden to repel flies, mosquitos, and other insects from damaging your vegetable plants. Rosemary can also be used for a variety of medical and culinary purposes.

Planting these and other similar plants into your garden will keep your vegetables growing and ornamental flower beds looking pretty. However, plants alone can’t keep your landscape and garden entirely insect free.

Reliable Pest Control Services in Orlando

While plants and herbs will assist with deterring small pests, the regularly scheduled pest control services provided by the team of specialists at Critter Control® of Orlando will resolve larger infestations and keep you and your family safe from invasive pests. Our experts are well-equipped to handle even the most complex pest infestations.

For more information regarding our pest control services we provide or to schedule your consultation and get a free estimate, call us today at 407-295-7194.

The presence of an unwelcome pest in your home can range from annoying to terrifying, and the sounds and smells that rats make are often disturbing. But exterminating the critters that caused them isn’t the only way to make them go away. In fact, there are several safe rat removal solutions that provide even better results than the inhumane tactics most commonly used to treat infestations.

Here are some tactics, both harmful and humane, that can help get rid of rats in your home.

 

Harmful Rat Removal Tactics

In severe cases, a rat infestation can cause homeowners to attempt DIY removal or extermination. Not only are these rat control methods inhumane, but they can also be dangerous for anyone nearby. These types of removal methods may include:

1. Rat traps

   Baited traps have become an outdated method of animal control. Easily triggered and completely inhumane, rat traps can snap on anything from pet tails to human fingers. In addition, many rats will quickly learn to avoid traps once they sense danger.

2. Hands-on removal

   Attempting to personally remove a live rat is not only risky, but also dangerous to the safety of both the handler and the animal, as the spread of disease is a high possibility. Therefore, rats should only be handled by experienced personnel who are equipped with the proper tools and training.

3. Rat poisons

   A majority of rodent poisons contain a mixture of chemicals that cause terrible side effects, which result in a very slow and painful demise for these tiny rodents. However, the toxins in these poisons can also be harmful to pets and children.

Humane Rat Removal Solutions

There are a variety of humane wildlife methods on the market that claim to repel rats. However, these alternatives often fail to solve the root issue that attracted the rodents in the first place, and they do little to actually prevent wild animals from being able to enter your home. Such at-home alternatives for rat removal include:

1. Ultrasonic devices

   These humane rat repellants transmit high frequencies designed to deter rats. However, they can only project noise a short distance, meaning you’ll have to install them all throughout your home to see any results.

2. Natural deterrents

   Containing a mixture of natural scents and essential oils, these products only offer temporary relief. And the only way to protect your entire home with naturally scented sprays is to continuously douse your entire property, which can cost you a lot of time and money.

The most effective way to remove unwanted animals without using toxic chemicals and treatments is to partner with a humane wildlife removal service. Experienced local professionals can safely tackle any rat problem with environmentally friendly alternatives, humane handling tactics, and careful relocation.

 

Safe Ways to Get Rid of Rats in Orlando

While rats can indeed be a nuisance, you don’t have to take drastic measures to take back control of your property. By calling upon local experts for professional assistance, you can access humane rat removal services that provide serious results.

At Critter Control® of Orlando, we are determined to limit all harm to you, your family, and your property — but we’re also dedicated to preserving and protecting your local environment. As a result, we provide the most humane, safe, and eco-friendly methods possible through our four-step CritterSafe® system, which includes:

• Inspection – One or more of our trained professionals will visit your home to perform a full inspection and better understand your situation.
• Removal – Using one-way traps built to safely contain rats, we’ll humanely handle and remove all the unwanted critters from your home.
• Exclusion – To prevent them from returning, our technicians will block rat entry points with a variety of high-strength materials.
• Restoration – We’ll clean up the mess, sanitize areas contaminated by waste, and repair damage caused by the critters.

Furthermore, our CritterSafe® program helps our crew minimize danger to wildlife because it includes the use of:

• Non-lethal techniques
• Live catch traps
• Off-site release methods
• Eco-friendly treatments

Rely on Central Florida’s Efficient Rat Removal Experts

Extermination is a last resort at Critter Control® of Orlando. Keeping safety and security top of mind, our licensed and expert technicians use humane measures to permanently solve your rat problem. If you are dealing with rats in or around your property, call us today at 407-295-7194 to get a free estimate and learn more about our humane rat removal solutions.

When homeowners discover a growing rat problem in their home, their heads likely swirl with questions as to when the infestation started, how the pests got inside, and what they could have done to prevent it. Instead of dwelling on what led to a rat infestation on your property, focus on the following rat removal tips and strategies to help you get rid of rats fast and stop welcoming the nuisance rodents into your home.

How to Find Rat Entry Points

Inside your house, rats can cause serious damage and spread contamination. These critters will tear up household materials to create nests, breed rapidly, and chew on just about anything to help dull their front teeth — which are constantly growing. If you notice signs of a rat infestation in your home, you need to know exactly where it started so you can tackle it from the source. Typically, these critters gain access from the following places:

• Cracks in the walls and foundation — It may not seem possible, but rats can squeeze through spaces much smaller than the size of their body, like foundation cracks and holes in the walls and floors, in their search for food and shelter.
• Garage doors — If left open or not properly sealed against the ground, garage doors can leave your property vulnerable to these tiny rodents.
• Ventilation ducts — Rats may not only use your ventilation ducts to gain entry but also to travel throughout your home and spread contamination.
• The roof — Gutters and overhanging limbs from nearby trees provide easy access to your roof. If damaged or deteriorated, your roof corners, shingles, and plywood provide a path for rats to chew, scratch, and squeeze through.
• Underground pipes — Traveling through underground plumbing, these critters can enter your house from some of the most unexpected places.
• Uncapped chimneys — Once on your roof, rats will use any means available to access your home, including uncapped or poorly protected chimneys.

How to Get Rid of Rats in Your Home

Rats are always on the hunt for a bite to eat and a place to rest. To keep these rodents out of your household, you need to make it clear that your property doesn’t offer either one. Here are some tips to help you get rid of rats and prevent them from coming back.

• Around your yard. To protect your home and yard from these chaotic critters, consider adding the following steps to your daily or weekly lawn maintenance:
  • Regularly turn on the compost bin or compost food scraps in a closed container.
  • Frequently clean chicken coops and other livestock areas.
  • Diligently pick up fallen scraps and seeds from bird feeders.
  • Routinely collect any fallen fruits or vegetables in your garden.

• On the outside of your home. While rats can pretty much chew through anything, you don’t want to make it any easier for them to get inside by forgetting to:
  • Cover your chimney and dryer vents using steel screens
  • Make sure your roof soffits and the foundation of your home are in good shape
  • Close any gaps under exterior doors and replace screens that have holes in them
  • Seal all entryways located near vents, eaves, roof joints, plumbing stacks, soffit vents, loose siding, pipe outlets, etc.
  • Bring pet food dishes indoors and clean them regularly
  • Use garbage cans that have tight lids

• Throughout your home’s interior. Rats love to make messes in hidden places so they can easily hide from humans and predators. To give them less space to take cover, eliminate clutter by:
• Making sure your kitchen is clean, which you can do by regularly wiping the counters and stove top, as well as sweeping and mopping the floor
• Emptying all wastebaskets, including your main trashcan and additional garbage bins, on a regular basis
• Sealing any entry points that the rodents could use to access your home with industrial materials like wire mesh and metal sheeting

How to Get Effective Rat Removal Results

By doing a full investigation in and around your home, you will be able to eliminate possible food sources and habitat spaces, as well as uncover entry points and signs of damage. However, to ensure that your property gets the most thorough inspection possible, it’s best to contact a wildlife removal company. Otherwise, you could easily miss an entry point, come in contact with a contaminated surface, or have a close encounter with live rats.

Protect Your Property With Permanent Rat Removal Services

Regardless of how rats entered your home, the expert technicians at Critter Control® of Orlando will isolate your infestation, remove the unwanted animals, and permanently seal points of entry to ensure they do not return.

If you are struggling with a rat situation, trust our team of dedicated and experienced professionals to handle your problem with eco-friendly alternatives and humane removal methods. To get a free estimate or more information regarding our mice removal services, please call us today at 407-295-7194.

Florida has a milder climate than most other areas of the country, with hot summers and relatively warm winters. This makes encountering a hibernating animal a rarity in the Central Florida area. While there are many species of critters that hibernate all over the world, the raccoon is not one of them. However, their adaptable nature allows them to thrive during colder months by changing their diets and seeking shelter.

Instinctive Behaviors of Raccoons

Here are a few behaviors that raccoons adopt during the winter to increase their ability to survive.

• Wintertime dieting

Raccoons are natural omnivores, which comes in handy to them when food sources become scarcer in the winter. For most of the year their diet consists primarily of plants, eggs, insects, and garbage thrown out by humans; but during the winter they will eat acorns, fruits, and even small or crippled animals if available.

• Increasing fat reserves

Much like how hibernating animals increase their food intake to build their fat reserves before going to sleep for the winter, raccoons plump themselves up in the months leading up to winter. Instead of being their sole source of nourishment, these fat stores supplement the raccoon’s diet and make it easier to survive if no food is available for an extended period.

• Taking shelter

Shelter is important for all living creatures when winter arrives, and raccoons are no exception. They will build dens or seek shelter in hollowed out trees or buildings if the opportunity is presented to them.

• Torpor

Similar to hibernation in some ways, torpor is an energy-conserving state that raccoons enter during the winter. They can sleep in a curled up position in their den for weeks at a time which reduces the amount of food and energy needed to survive. When torpor occurs, the raccoon’s body temperature and blood sugar drop significantly to further reduce their body’s nutritional needs. During torpor, raccoons can sometimes wake up on warmer days to forage for food before returning to their den. This periodic awakening allows them to stay more alert for predators.

The Danger of Invasive Raccoons

If you come across a raccoon on your Orlando property at any time of the year, keep a safe distance and do not try and capture or remove the wild animal on your own. Raccoons are unpredictable critters that can attack, bite, and scratch if provoked or threatened. They are also known to carry contagious diseases like rabies that can easily spread to humans and pets.

Rely on Professional Raccoon Removal Services in Orlando

When you notice raccoons in your home or on your Central Florida property, be sure to contact the team of professional raccoon removal specialists at Critter Control® of Orlando. Call us today at 407-295-7194 to schedule an inspection and receive a free raccoon removal estimate.

When a home or business owner notices signs of a pest infestation, they often attempt to take matters into their own hands. Fortunately, there are multiple do-it-yourself pest removal sprays, traps, and devices on the market that claim to eliminate pests for good. Unfortunately, these methods rarely offer effective pest control solutions. One such method uses high-frequencies to repel pests.

Here is some useful information to review before investing in electronic ultrasonic pest repellent devices.

What Ultrasonic Pest Repellent Claims

Store bought ultrasonic repellent devices claim to emit intense, high-frequency sound waves that repel, injure, or kill pests and insects such as rodents, cockroaches, fleas, and spiders.

Is Ultrasonic Pest Repellent an Effective Pest Control Method?

There is no true way to test the effectiveness of ultrasonic repellent devices. The device plugs directly into a wall outlet and only offers an indicator light to let you know it is turned on. It is also silent as its short-range, high-frequency sounds cannot be heard by humans. Basically, you plug them in, cross your fingers, and wait for the pest to be driven away.

The General Consensus on Ultrasonic Pest Repellent

Pest removal experts and the FTC agree that commercial ultrasonic pest repellents are ineffective. While the high-frequencies can temporarily keep pests at bay, ultimately, they will become immune to the sound and return. Think of it this way: If your pest infestation is a disease, then ultrasonic pest repellent is a band-aid. To truly cure and eliminate your infestation, you’ll need expert pest removal services.

Leave Pest Control to the Experts

Our wildlife removal professionals at Critter Control® of Orlando will not only rid your home or business of unwanted pests, but they will also repair any damage the pests may have caused. If you have an infestation anywhere on your property, call us today at 407-295-7194 to schedule an inspection and receive a free pest control estimate.