Category: Blog

When winter hits, temperatures will begin to drop. As things get chillier outdoors, homeowners will, understandably, start spending more time indoors to escape the cold. However, they are seldom alone as rodent and pest infestations increase during the winter season.

Instead of letting rodents create an issue for you and your family this winter, understand what draws them to your home and take the necessary steps to keep the unwelcome guests far away from your property.

Why Do Rodents Infest Homes in Winter?

Rodents are mammals which means they need to maintain an appropriate body temperature in order to survive. Therefore, rats, mice, squirrels, and other rodents will look for warmer shelter during the winter months, and your property’s dark crawlspaces, narrow interior passageways, and soft insulation will appear very appetizing to the invasive pests.

Combine that with your home’s convenient accessibility to food and water sources, and it’s easy to see why wintertime rodent infestations are so common.

4 Pest and Rodent Prevention Tips

To prevent rodent-related property damage and the spread of disease in your home, try the following tips to keep nuisance rodents and other pests out of your property during the winter months.

1. Minimize outside water sources by putting pet bowls indoors and fixing any leaky downspouts or garden hoses.
2. Look for any ways that rodents can enter your home. Cracks or holes larger than ¼” should be sealed with wire mesh or steel wool to keep pests out.
3. Unlike mice, rats are able to climb. Keep overhanging tree branches trimmed back and away from roof tops to prevent easy access.
4. If you have a fireplace, stack your supply of firewood away from the side of your home as it provides a perfect hideout for rodents.

Even though the weather in Central Florida is rarely freezing, rodents and other pests will still attempt to access your property by exploiting any openings they can to nest in your cozy attic and get to your food supply. Instead of risking your safety and wasting money attempting inefficient DIY rodent removal techniques, prevent a pest problem before it even happens by contacting the rodent removal experts at Critter Control® of Orlando.

Year-Round Reliable Rodent Removal Services in Orlando

At Critter Control® of Orlando, our licensed and trained staff members are equipped to safely and quickly  remove nuisance rodents using non-toxic and eco-friendly methods. If our experienced technicians discover any rodents living inside your attic, crawlspaces, or walls, they will humanely remove all pests, clean and restore any damages caused by the infestation, and prevent future infestations by sealing any exposures the critters used to get inside.

To schedule a home inspection and receive a free rodent removal estimate, call Critter Control® of Orlando today at 407-295-7194.

Of the 1,300 species of bats living around the world, there are 13 that are native to Florida. They are all insectivorous, feeding on thousands of insects each night. Some of the bat species form colonies, while others roost alone. Keep reading to learn more about these fascinating and beneficial creatures.

13 Native Florida Bat Species

1. Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat

   Their short fur ranges from dark brown to grayish-brown and has a tail that extends past its short tail membrane. They are most often recognized by the strong, musky odor they emit due to a scent gland they have. They roost in large colonies ranging from a few hundred up to several thousand and prefer man-made structures such as buildings and bridges and especially under barrel tile roofs. The Brazilian free-tailed bat is the most common bat in Florida and is found throughout the state excluding the Keys.

2. Southeastern Myotis Bat

   These medium-sized bats are found in the northwest panhandle and weigh 5 to 12 grams with gray to brown dorsal fur and yellowish to white fur on the stomach. Typically, they form colonies in caves, hollow trees, bat houses, buildings, bridges, and culverts.

3. Evening Bat

   Common throughout all of Florida except in the Keys, evening bats form colonies of about eighty bats in buildings and other man-made structures such as bridges, utility poles, and bat houses. They have brown fur on the back and whitish fur on the stomach with a “dog-like” muzzle.

4. Eastern Red Bat

   The Eastern red bat is found in the eastern US and throughout the northern half of Florida. They are solitary creatures, roosting in tree foliage, bushes, and Spanish moss. What makes these bats unique is that the colors between the males and females are different, which is uncommon for bats. Males have brick-red, reddish-orange, or yellowish fur, while females’ fur is duller and lighter.

5. Northern Yellow Bat

   The Northern yellow bat is large with thick yellowish to grayish brown fur, perfect for allowing it to be hidden while roosting in the dead palms of sabal palms. They are commonly found throughout Florida except in the Florida Keys.

6. Seminole Bat

   Similar in appearance to the Eastern red bat, the Seminole bat has rich mahogany fur with white tips and white on the shoulders and wrists. Solitary, they roost in pine trees and Spanish moss. They are another bat species found in all of Florida except in the Keys.

7. Tricolored Bat

   Weighing between 4 and 8 grams, the tricolored bat is Florida’s smallest bat. Its fur ranges from silvery-gray to grayish-yellow to light brown. You can identify a tricolored bat from its pink forearms that contrasts with its black wings. This species roosts singly or in small groups in caves, tree foliage, tree cavities, and sometimes buildings and other man-made structures like sheds or barns.

8. Gray Bat

   These bats have gray fur that covers their whole body and weigh between 8 to 10 grams. Gray bats only roost in cave systems and are a federally endangered species found in only one county in the northwest panhandle.

9. Big Brown Bat

   Big brown bats have long and silky, wavy, chocolate-brown to reddish or golden-brown fur with a “dog-like” muzzle and weigh between 11 and 25 grams. Their appearance is like the evening bat’s; only they are larger. They typically roost in dead tree cavities throughout the state of Florida except for the Keys, but will also roost in buildings, bridges, and bat houses.

10. Rafinesque’s Big-Eared Bat

    Their large, one-inch ears are what sets them apart from other bats. Weighing between 7 and 13 grams, they have grey to brown fur on their back and white fur on their stomach. They roost in small groups in natural roost sites such as hollow trees, tree cavities, and under loose tree bark and are the only species of bat in Florida to collect insects like moths and other soft-bodied insects to eat from tree foliage. Found in different locations, especially in the Florida panhandle and the central and northern portions of the Florida peninsula.

11. Hoary Bat

    The largest tree bat and second-largest bat in Florida weighing 20 to 36 grams. They have thick black to gray fur with orange or yellow around their face. The white tips on the end of their hair give them a frosted appearance. They live in northern states and will migrate south to Florida during the winter months. Hoary bats are solitary, roosting in tree cavities, tree foliage, behind loose bark, and in Spanish moss. From October through April, they are found in north and north-central Florida.

12. Velvety Free-Tailed Bat

    They are dark brown to dark gray with a long tail that extends past a short tail membrane. In Florida, this species has only been discovered roosting in buildings. Thought to have come from Cuba, the velvety free-tailed bat is only found in the Florida Keys from Key West to Key Largo.

13. Florida Bonneted Bat

    Florida’s largest bat weighing between 34 and 47 grams. It has dark gray to brownish-gray fur with a long tail that extends past its uropatagium and large broad ears that join at the base and slant forward over the eyes. They roost colonially in tree cavities, cliff crevices, buildings, and other man-made structures. Found in south Florida excluding the Keys, this species is rare and is on the endangered species list.

Safe and Reliable Bat Removal Services in Orlando

Bats who roost in buildings will seek homes that allow them to enter small openings in areas such as gable or ridge vents, chimneys, or any other unprotected areas.

If you have bats roosting in your attic or on your property, contact Critter Control® of Orlando. Our technicians understand the laws regarding exclusion and are equipped with the appropriate tools and knowledge to remove them safely. Once the removal is complete, we will inform you of any necessary repairs or maintenance that should be done to prevent bats or other wildlife from entering your home in the future.

To schedule a home inspection and receive a free estimate for our effective bat removal services, call us today at 407-295-7194.

When hurricane season is in full swing, many Central Floridians prepare for the next round of storms by stocking up on bottled water and batteries and safeguarding their home. However, there are some extra home maintenance preparations that will not only keep you protected inside but also keep unwanted pests outside. Because when the next weather event hits the area, you won’t be the only creature looking to hunker down in your home.

Roof Damage Leaves Openings for Pest Infestations

After a storm has passed, your home may be even more vulnerable to pest infestation. A damaged roof with punctures, cracks, or missing shingles could offer squirrels, rodents, or other pests an opportunity to seek refuge in your attic. Have any structural damage scheduled for repair quickly before any critters begin to nest. 

3 Ways to Keep Pests and Wildlife Out During a Storm

When a storm is approaching, safeguard your home from pests and other invasive wildlife with the following steps.

1. Seal Off Access Points

   Wildlife seeking shelter from a storm will take advantage of any openings in your home. Check the perimeter of your home for any possible entry points that a critter could use to gain access and seal them off.
   

2. Trim Back Trees

   Typical home damage during a hurricane is caused by broken branches and fallen trees — trees that could be home to wildlife. This problem can be remedied before the storm hits by cutting off large branches and low hanging limbs.
   

3. Clear Potential Debris

   Not only can debris around your home become destructive projectiles during a hurricane, but it can also become temporary shelter to all types of critters trying to weather the storm. The last thing you want is for these temporary neighbors to become permanent residents. Be sure to remove yard waste and store away any structures that attract wildlife like birdbaths and bird feeders.
   

Your Central Florida Source for Effective Pest Control Services

If you hear or see the warning signs of a pest infestation in your home before or after a major storm, contact the professional wildlife removal specialists at Critter Control® of Orlando. We’ll use proper techniques and equipment to remove your nuisance pests and make sure they don’t come back.
Call us today at 407-295-7194 to schedule an inspection and receive a free animal removal and pest control estimate.

Bats are the world’s longest-living mammals, with a lifespan of up to 40 years. Therefore, if conditions permit, bats will inhabit your commercial building for a very long time. As their colony grows, the amount of damage and toxic guano bats produce can pile up, which is why you will want to get bats removed as quickly as possible before they ruin your commercial building.

Damage Caused by Bat Guano

 

Bat guano can lead to a host of threatening and costly issues that can ruin your commercial building, such as:

• Foul smells

  As bats roost inside of your commercial building’s attic, their collective droppings and urine will soak into the insulation and drywall below, developing a strong odor similar to ammonia or a cat litter box.

• Corrosive damage

  Bat guano can remove paint, corrode metals, rot wood, and block ventilation systems.

• Structural damage

  If too much guano accumulates, it can put pressure and weight on the drywall and ceilings, creating sagging and ultimately threatening the structural integrity of your commercial building.

• Risk of disease

  When guano reaches the ground in dark and damp environments, it becomes a sufficient host for histoplasmosis fungus. Humans can become infected by inhaling the spores from the fungus. For infants and those with a weakened immune system, contracting the respiratory disorder could be fatal if not treated in time.

The Danger of DIY Bat Guano Removal

Bat guano is a harmful substance you don’t want festering in your commercial building. However, before guano can be removed, you must be sure no bats are still living inside your property. Unfortunately, removing bats and their guano from the attic of your business is a complex and challenging task. Because bats are a protected species, it’s critical that you do not attempt to remove them on your own. Fortunately, the licensed and trained bat removal professionals at Critter Control® of Orlando have the knowledge and experience to resolve your bat issues legally and humanely.

Effective Guano and Bat Removal Services

During our initial inspection, we will determine what species of bats are infesting your property and if there are any babies present. We will also assess how the bats are getting in and out of the building to safely remove the entire colony. Once we are positive all the bats are gone, we will seal all openings, clean up the guano and urine, and repair any damages.

Our top priority is keeping our customers, the animals, and our employees safe during every job, so you can rest assured that your business will be taken care of. When cleaning, our technicians wear specialized suits, masks, and gloves and take every precaution to keep any guano from infecting other areas of the commercial building or air supply. We use industrial vacuum cleaners to get rid of large amounts of guano efficiently and eco-friendly antiseptics to decontaminate the space.

For more information or to schedule an inspection and receive a free bat removal estimate, call Critter Control® of Orlando today at 407-295-7194.

Many times homeowners will discover small holes in their siding or find areas where the soffit is ripped and assume that bad weather is to blame. However, more often than not, invasive wild animals are responsible for the damage.

While such holes in your home’s exterior may not seem like a big cause for concern, not having them repaired or your home professionally inspected for wildlife leaves you vulnerable to more significant and time-consuming wild animal issues in the future, which can be more costly to fix over time.

The Dangers of Exposed Openings in Your Home

A few reasons why you should have the holes in your home’s exterior repaired as quickly as possible include:

• Animal Infestations

  Even if wildlife didn’t create your home’s exterior holes, critters like mice, rats, and squirrels could squeeze through the smallest of openings to access the warmth, food, and shelter inside your home. Once inside, these pests will nest and begin to breed, spreading their infestation throughout your property.

• Further Property Damage

  A widespread animal infestation will lead to structural and property damage such as chewed wires, furniture, drywall, and shredded insulation.

• Disease Risks

  Invasive wildlife can carry infectious diseases, and parasites like ticks and fleas that can spread illness to both human and pet loved ones inside your home.

Why You Should Have Your Exposed Home Professionally Inspected

It is critical that you do not try and repair the holes on the outside of your home without first completing a thorough inspection of the inside of your home to ensure no animals are living inside. If spooked or cornered, distressed wildlife will create new holes and cause more damage as they try and get themselves out. It’s also possible for them to die inside of your home, resulting in unbearable smells that require professional cleaning to remove.

Effective Wildlife Removal and Restoration Services

Hire the experienced wildlife removal professionals at Critter Control® of Orlando to inspect your home and property for any existing wildlife issues.

If our licensed and trained technicians discover animals living inside your attic, crawlspaces, or walls, they will safely and humanely remove all pests, clean and restore any damages caused by the infestation, and seal any exposures or openings the pests used to get inside to prevent future infestations—including covering holes, filling foundation cracks, and replacing siding.

We also offer a variety of residential services such as attic insulation and restoration, home and exterior cleaning, and dead animal odor removal. To schedule a home inspection and receive a free estimate, call Critter Control® of Orlando today at 407-295-7194.

As rural land is continuously developed, opossums are pushed out of their natural habitat and forced to search for food and shelter in residential areas.

While opossums are fascinating creatures, the oft-misunderstood critters aren’t the cleanest animals and can create quite a mess if they manage to wander onto your Orlando property. Here are 10 interesting facts about opossums that will illustrate why you don’t want them living on your property or inside your home.

10 Interesting Opossum Facts

1. Opossums have been around a long time.

Opossums roamed the same land with dinosaurs over 70 million years ago. While dinosaurs are now extinct, there are more than 60 species of opossums. They are clearly natural survivors that can last anywhere they decide to nest, including your home.

2. Opossums have naturally high levels of immunity.

Opossums are more resistant to contracting diseases likes rabies than any other mammal. They are also partially or entirely immune to snake venom, thanks to the serum protein in their blood that neutralizes it.

3. Opossums are nicknamed “nature’s little sanitation engineers.”

Opossums are opportunistic omnivores with a diet consisting of insects, snails, slugs, birds, frogs, rodents, eggs, fruits, plants, grains, and carrion. They also feed on human and pet food, and whatever scraps they can find in garbage cans or compost piles. They have an extremely high need for calcium which provokes them to eat the skeletons of the dead animals they consume. Their eating habits can result in scattered trash and destroyed gardens if you don’t quickly address their presence.

4. Opossums are marsupials, not rodents.

Though many people refer to opossums as large rats, they are actually marsupials (pouched mammals), like kangaroos and koalas.

5. Opossums are America’s only native marsupial.

In fact, the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is the only marsupial in all of North America.

6. Opossums provide pest control.

While you don’t want an opossum eating fruit and vegetables growing in your garden, they are great for cleaning up rotten fruit from the ground as well as feasting on pesky snails, slugs, cockroaches, and beetles.

7. Opossums have opposable digits.

The opposable “thumbs” on the opossum’s rear feet assist them in climbing and opening trash lids. In addition to opossums, primates are the only other mammals with opposable first toes.

8. Opossums can hang by their tails.

Opossums use their long, hairless prehensile tails to grasp materials and wrap around objects such as tree limbs. And, while they can hang from their tails for a brief time, they don’t actually sleep upside down like a lot of people may think.

9. There is a reason why they call it “playing ‘possum.”

When threatened, opossums pretend they are dead by rolling over, closing their eyes, becoming stiff, and forming a foul-smelling fluid from their glands.

10. Opossums have over four dozen teeth.

The mouth of an opossum has 50 teeth, more than any other North American land mammal. While opossums are mostly docile creatures, all wild animals are unpredictable. Therefore, you should never try to approach or capture an opossum if you encounter one on your property. Instead, rely on the opossum removal professionals at Critter Control® of Orlando.

Effective Opossum Removal in Orlando

If you come across opossums living on your property, Critter Control® of Orlando can help. During our initial inspection, we will determine the size, scale, and location of your opossum infestation and strategize an effective and humane plan to safely remove the critters. Once all opossums are gone, we will seal any openings, clean up the mess they made, and repair any damages.

For more information or to schedule an inspection and receive a free opossum removal estimate, call Critter Control® of Orlando today at 407-295-7194.

Though they are one of the world’s most misunderstood creatures, there is no denying that bats play a critical role in our natural ecosystem. Yet, while they benefit us by eating outdoor pests, pollinating flowers, and dispersing seeds, they can wreak havoc on the inside of a residential home. If you come across a single bat somewhere in your home, chances are it may have gotten in through an open window or door. But if you see bats more frequently, then they could be unwanted house guests roosting in your attic.

To discover how bats get inside your home, you will need to complete a thorough home inspection by a wildlife removal expert who has the proper tools and experience to safely remove bats.

How Bats Get Inside Homes

Bats never make holes to get inside of buildings; they only use entry points that are left open such as:

• Cracks and gaps as small as half an inch around windows, conduits, and utility vents
• Loose or missing shingles or tiles
• Gaps in the bricks of walls
• Openings in the attic
• Barns or warehouses with large doors
• Loose-fitting doors
• An unprotected chimney
• Broken or poorly-fitted screens

How to Get Rid of Bats in Your Home

While your first instinct may be to close all of the entry points you find around your home during your inspection, you cannot begin bat proofing until you are absolutely sure there are no bats still living inside. If you block all of their entry and exit points, the bats will get trapped and end up flapping around the home looking for a way to escape. As the bats begin to panic, they will become agitated, spread contamination, and cause even more damage to your home. Before any bat entry points can be closed, a live bat exclusion must be performed by professionals. This will ensure all the bats are safely removed by allowing them to exit but keeping them from returning.

Rely on Your Orlando Bat Removal Professionals

At Critter Control® of Orlando, we have over three decades of experience in excluding and removing nuisance bats from the inside of homes. For more information on how we can help you get your home restored to its previous condition, call us today at 407-295-7194 and schedule an inspection to receive a free bat removal estimate.

 

Having rats in the attic is something no homeowner wants to even think about. Unfortunately, many Orlando residents who find themselves in this situation don’t actually discover their wildlife issue until their home has become a massive breeding ground for diseased rodents. On top of the health risks rats introduce to homes and businesses, these critters often create expensive damage if not handled quickly and carefully. Here’s how you can tell if you have rats in the attic.

What Draws Rats in the Attic?

Rats gravitate to attics for a number of reasons:

• Ample nesting space – Rats are in search of warm, dark, and cozy conditions to build nests and breed. Attics tend to be uninhabited, giving rats a perfect space to hide and establish a home.
• Access to nesting materials – Because rats have incisors that are constantly growing, they need to gnaw on tough materials to trim and maintain their teeth. From cardboard and electrical wiring to wooden beams and PVC piping, there are countless options for the critters to chew on.

The Damage of a Rat Infestation

Many homeowners tend to take an out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach to home maintenance, but it doesn’t take long for rats to create unignorable damage. For starters, when these rodents soil your attic insulation with urine or tear it apart to be used as nesting material, your HVAC unit loses efficiency — costing you more in energy expenses each month. Additionally, when rats chew on plumbing pipes or electrical wiring, they heighten the potential for a massive water leak or serious fire hazard.

How Do Rats in the Attic Go Undetected?

Wild animals naturally try to avoid direct contact with humans. For this reason, rats often attempt to enter a home through access points on the roof or near the attic, such as:

• Damaged exhaust vents
• Gaps between the soffit and roof lining
• Openings in roof junctions
• Rubber roof mats

These nuisance critters can also make their way in from the ground level, using cracks or holes as small as one inch in diameter to squeeze inside. From there, rats journey up to the dark and secure attic space to start nesting, breeding, and feeding.

The Dangers of DIY Rat Removal

The costs of DIY rat removal along with the health and safety risks of post-removal cleanup are enough to steer most Orlando homeowners toward professional wildlife management. Therefore, instead of risking your personal safety and health by trying to remove rats on your own, partner with the trained team at Critter Control® of Orlando.

Get Rid of Rats in the Attic with Professional Orlando Rat Removal Services

At Critter Control® of Orlando, our licensed experts will first inspect your home and attic to determine how and where the rats got inside. From there, we will strategize a plan to successfully and permanently rid your home of all rats, clean up any contamination they left behind, and block all holes, gaps, and cracks to ensure they don’t return.

If you are dealing with rats on your Central Florida property, then contact the expertly trained rat removal team at Critter Control® of Orlando. To learn more about our services or to schedule an inspection and receive your free rat removal estimate, call Critter Control® of Orlando today at 407-295-7194.

When a wild animal decides to make its nest in your attic, your insulation is often ripped up, destroyed, and otherwise compromised by feces and urine. Fortunately, the wildlife removal professionals at Critter Control® of Orlando can remove any animal-soiled or damaged insulation from your attic and replace it in order to get your home back in top shape.

How Wild Animals Can Affect Your Attic Insulation

Soiled attic insulation that is contaminated by animal waste makes for a messy and smelly home. Insulation that has been nested in or trampled down by critter activity is also less effective, causing significant energy loss. Once the efficiency of your attic insulation is ruined, you can expect your utility bills to rise. Therefore, any attic or insulation issues, wildlife-related or otherwise, should be handled as quickly as possible to avoid any unnecessary costs or spread of contamination.

Further Threats of Wild Animal Infestations

Physical damage is just one of the dangers posed to your attic and insulation by wild animals. Their waste represents a huge health hazard that should be handled by a professional. The trained experts at Critter Control® take the utmost care in removing all contaminated insulation and waste from your home to ensure that your family is not in harm’s way.

Avoid DIY Wildlife and Attic Insulation Removal

Removing invasive wildlife or soiled attic insulation is not something a homeowner should attempt on their own. The dangers associated with removing a wild animal or soiled insulation from a cramped and contaminated attic are significant. From various diseases to risking inhaling potentially toxic insulation fibers, it’s best to leave it to the pros.

Rely on Your Local Wild Animal Removal Specialists

If you are dealing with unwanted and unsanitary wild animals on your Central Florida property, then contact the expertly trained wildlife removal team at Critter Control® of Orlando. Our licensed and trained technicians will remove and replace your attic insulation and repair any damaged attic structures safely and efficiently. To learn more about our services or to schedule an inspection and receive your free wildlife removal estimate, call Critter Control® of Orlando today at 407-295-7194.