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Major Pest Control Information Library. Helpful information on Small Wildlife & Effective Nuisance Wildlife Control

We usually spot small wildlife in our homes only after it has entered unnoticed. Bats cling to attic rafters and groundhogs dig beneath decks, and raccoons plunder trash containers at night. Such unwanted animals produce dangerous consequences that destroy building structures while spreading germs to homeowners who must pay high costs for repairs.

Major Pest Control provides Alberta-wide wildlife control services that comply fully with the animal’s safety. Our humane exclusion methods protect your home and keep animals safe throughout the removal process.

Below, you’ll find descriptions of six common Canadian wildlife invaders—bats, groundhogs, opossums, raccoons, skunks and squirrels—along with the risks they pose and the expert strategies we use to keep your property free of unwanted guests.

Effective Wildlife Control in Edmonton

Bats, Groundhogs, Opossums, Raccoons, Skunks, Squirrels

There are so many species of small wildlife in Canada that we can not list them all here. In some cases, many can become a nuisance or a danger and need to be controlled effectively. Here are some common small wildlife our pest control company often encounters in Canada.

Alphabetically Listed – Small Wildlife Control

As members of Chiroptera, Bats, the small mammals, reach lengths from 6 to 10 cm and expand their wings to 27 cm across. They use their furry bodies, along with long membrane wings and big ears, for echolocation sensing, despite having limited eyesight.

Wild creatures typically occupy attic eaves, roof gaps, and wall voids to make their homes. Guano accumulated by bats becomes visible as staining that affects both ceilings and walls after it accumulates repeatedly. Excessive accumulation of bat droppings can lead to ceiling drooping and a risk of total collapse in severe instances.

The dried remains of bat droppings serve as a host for fungus spores, which cause the lung disease histoplasmosis. The main risk of dealing with bats is their ability to bite or scratch when cornered, as they can transmit rabies.

Bats serve as both natural carriers for the rabies virus and act as reservoirs for various serious viral infections, including lyssavirus and Nipah. Any attempt to handle bat colonies without proper training can cause injuries to humans and illnesses.

Major Pest Control provides recommended services as a licensed wildlife professional because you should seek their help during bat removal. We use non-harmful methods to evacuate bats while sealing homes to prevent future entry safely.

The groundhog (Marmota monax) grows up to 70 cm long. It has a stout body, a thick tail and dense brown or grey fur. Groundhogs choose open fields as well as forests as their ideal habitats. However, they will also explore suburban yards when food and shelter become accessible to them.

These broad-eating animals feed on both plant and animal matter. They like to eat grasses, clover, garden food items, snails, grasshoppers, and grubs. The gap-making behaviour of groundhogs can cause severe damage to lawns. They can also damage decks and other outbuildings through their destructive burrowing activities.

Groundhogs spread more issues to outdoors spaces since they harbor parasites including ticks, fleas, lice and chiggers. Opossums carry serious diseases. They can transmit tularemia and rabies to humans. When trapped, they become defensive. Thus, they attack unwanted intruders with their bite or scratch.

The best option for safety is to contact Major Pest Control, as wildlife relocation in Canada requires strict regulations and poses various risks. The skilled personnel at Major Pest Control carry out safe trapping. With humane exclusion procedures for property protection, and take safety measures for all individuals.

The single marsupial living in Canada is the Virginian Opossum (Didelphis virginiana). They reach a body length of 55 cm and display grey fur patterns of brown or red colouration. The nighttime explorers boast a snout-shaped face, a pink nose, whiskers, and no tail fur, making them adaptable to both wilderness and urban areas.

The opossum’s diet consists of a variety of food items, including fruits, seeds, insects, dead animals, outdoor pet food, and leftover scraps. Their habit of scavenging food leads them to build their dens under decks, crawl spaces, or in attics, where they tear insulation materials and leave droppings.

Since they lack access to their typical food sources, opossums overturn trash bins to feed on garden plants, together with attacking small family pets. Opossums are famous for “playing dead” when threatened. Despite this act, they have over 50 sharp teeth and will scratch or bite if cornered.

Opossums may look harmless, but they can spread serious diseases like leptospirosis, tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and rabies. They also carry parasites, such as fleas, ticks, and mites, that pose health risks to humans and pets. Handling opossums on your own is risky, and in most provinces, it’s also illegal to trap or relocate them without proper permits.

Major Pest Control offers trusted services for human and proper opossum removal throughout Alberta and Canada. Our licensed technicians seal entry points to ensure full compliance with wildlife regulations. We follow strict, non-harmful protocols to keep opossums out while protecting the animals.

The scientific name for raccoons is Procyon lotor. The Procyon lotor raccoon grows up to 95 cm long and sports a distinctive black “mask” around its eyes against grey or reddish-brown fur. Its bushy tail, marked with alternating light and dark rings, completes the look. These mammals use their front feet similarly to human hands to open containers, unlatch doors, and thoroughly inspect all areas of your home.

The population of raccoons uses Calgary alleys alongside Alberta backyard areas to find food while seeking protection from the environment. They often den under decks, in crawl spaces, or inside unused sheds. Raccoons are nocturnal and make scratching, rustlin,g and squeaking sounds as they forage at night. They’ll rummage through pet food, garden produce and other tasty scraps.

Raccoons often establish latrine sites near their den entrances. These areas emit a strong, offensive odour as the animals continue to use them. Besides being unpleasant, this situation allows harmful roundworms, fleas, ticks, and mites to enter your living space.

Raccoons pose a serious health threat since they carry rabies, leptospirosis, and Giardia. They will resort to biting or scratching when cornered. The attempt to handle a raccoon attic removal yourself at home in Calgary or other parts of Canada puts you and your family members, as well as the raccoon, in danger.

Major Pest Control follows Canada Wildlife Act standards when providing humane raccoon removal services to all areas throughout Alberta. The raccoons can exit through the one-way exclusion doors, but the doors prevent them from returning to the area. A thorough cleaning and disinfection of latrine locations follows the process of closing every raccoon entry pathway.

Contact Major Pest Control by dialling +1 780-906-0911 to get trusted raccoon control services with attic cleanouts in your local area, or request a free quote. Your home should remain protected from wild animals that belong outdoors and in other locations.

Mephitis mephitis, known as striped skunks, has a compact body structure reaching 50–80 cm long. They feature dark black fur with prominent white stripes that start at the head and continue down to the tail.

Skunks, with their unmistakable black-and-white coats and full, fluffy tails, roam residential streets and yards across Alberta. They are very familiar, but sometimes unwelcome visitors in our neighbourhoods.

When threatened, a skunk unleashes a powerful, sticky discharge that clings to clothing, siding and hair for days. This foul-smelling defence wards off predators but leaves a lingering stench that homeowners dread.

Skunks rummage through compost bins, tip over containers, and feast on garden plants, insects, and small rodents. While their foraging helps control some pests, it often leaves scattered trash, lawn damage, and unwelcome close encounters with people and pets.

Skunks spread fleas to humans while transmitting ticks and mites, and their most dangerous pathogen: rabies. Skunk handling or trapping often lacks proper training, making both procedures dangerous and prohibited in many regions.

Squirrels—those quick, bushy-tailed critters from the Sciuridae family—are everywhere in Canadian backyards. Western Canada has two predominant species: Eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus).

The tree squirrels, including Eastern grey and American red, are responsible for delivering the most significant animal-related problems to humans. These rodents enter attics and chimneys through openings measuring 10 to 70 centimetres because they are so small in size.

Squirrels occupy available cavities after entering structures and build their twig-and-leaf dreys within those spaces. Squirrels continuously gnaw on beams, rafters and electrical wires, causing significant damage to wood structures. Their nesting debris—twigs, leaves and shredded insulation—often litters the space, adding to the mess.

You’ll often hear squirrels before you see them—during the day, they dart around, scratching and thumping in your attic or walls. Sleep degradation stems from the sound created by the animals and the rapid accrual of expenses to fix the structural damage.

Squirrels bring not only a mess but also transfer hazardous parasites that carry diseases, including tularemia, typhus, and Lyme disease. The defensive behaviour of cornered squirrels includes scratching and biting actions. These present dangerous challenges for any person trying DIY removal methods.

Professional squirrel removal services for Alberta regions and Canadian territories come exclusively from Major Pest Control. Licensed technicians at our company use sanitation methods to seal off entry points. Afterwards, they eliminate nests alongside the cleaning and sanitising processes to stop squirrel entry points.

Exclusion hardware, which prevents squirrels from entering squirrel-proof areas, helps the animals remain outside their proper habitat. Reach us by phone at +1 780-906-0911 or complete our service request to get a free price quote.

Are you looking for help with controlling nuisance wildlife? We’re here to help.

Ready for Safe, Humane Wildlife Removal?

Small wildlife species should not turn into substantial damage-causing problems. Major Pest Control will provide its services to customers throughout Edmonton and its surrounding areas, including Reddeer, Calgary, within the region of Alberta.

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Our office number is +1 780-906-0911. You can also request a free quote.

FAQs

Q: How much does wildlife removal cost in Alberta?

The removal prices depend on the species and the degree of accessibility challenges. Our company always begins by providing written pricing information at the start of every service project.

Q: Is it legal to trap and relocate wildlife in Canada?

The law of Canada permits wildlife trapping, followed by the movement of trapped animals.

The rules for wildlife relocation depend on both provincial regulations and species type. Our organisation operates in compliance with all rules defined by both federal and provincial laws.

Q: How can I prevent wildlife from returning?

We implement two steps after removal, which include sealing access points while installing wildlife-resistant equipment and scheduling regular inspection periods.

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Effective Wildlife Control in Edmonton: Stop Bats, Raccoons & More Safely