Top Wildlife Removal in Highland, California Ranked

Discovering an uninvited animal in your attic, chimney, or yard can be unsettling. In Highland, managing conflicts with local wildlife requires a specific approach due to California's strict regulations. This guide explains the common nuisance species in the area, effective prevention strategies, and the crucial steps for safe, legal animal control. You'll learn how to identify when a problem requires a professional and how to navigate the process of humane wildlife exclusion.

Go-Pher The Kill Pest Control Riverside

9880 Indiana Ave STE 23, Riverside, CA 92503

Go-Pher The Kill Pest Control Riverside offers pest and wildlife removal services in Riverside, CA. The company specializes in gopher control but also handles ants, roaches, spiders, rodents, and other pests for residential, commercial, and agricultural properties. They provide thorough pest inspections and ongoing protection to keep properties pest-free. Known for their expertise in gopher trapping and removal, Go-Pher The Kill has been serving the Riverside area for over seven years. Their licensed and insured team is committed to customer satisfaction with a guarantee to re-treat or refund if problems persist.

5.0

678 Reviews

Gopher Stop

1660 Country Club Dr, Riverside, CA 92506

Gopher Stop is a wildlife removal and pest control company based in Riverside, CA, specializing in gopher removal. They focus on identifying and managing gopher infestations that damage lawns, plants, irrigation systems, and concrete structures. Their primary method involves trapping gophers within their tunnels, offering a poison-free approach that is both effective and environmentally conscious. Gopher Stop serves Riverside and nearby areas, providing professional gopher control with a reputation supported by customer reviews.

5.0

137 Reviews

Compass Pest Management

5925 Rickenbacker Ave, Riverside, CA 92504

Compass Pest Management is a family-owned pest control company serving Los Angeles, CA, and surrounding areas since 1997. They provide a wide range of pest management services including bed bug treatment, termite inspections and fumigation, rodent exclusion, mosquito reduction, and bee and wasp removal. Their team also handles wildlife removal and commercial pest control, using proven methods and premium pesticides. With over 25 years of experience, Compass Pest Management offers ongoing pest prevention and exclusion services, focusing on practical solutions for homes and businesses. They operate Monday through Saturday and hold multiple licenses and certifications in pest control.

4.9

824 Reviews

Terminix Commercial

1387 Center St, Riverside, CA 92507

Terminix Commercial offers comprehensive pest control services in Los Angeles, CA, specializing in commercial pest management. Their services include treatment and prevention for bed bugs, cockroaches, ants, rodents, termites, bees, wasps, and wildlife removal. The company provides tailored pest control plans such as the PESTFREE365 and termite protection systems to address common and costly pest issues. With a local team familiar with the area's pest challenges and backed by a nationwide network, Terminix Commercial ensures effective pest management solutions for businesses. They also offer termite inspections and continuous protection systems to prevent structural damage. The company serves a wide range of communities around Los Angeles and Riverside, including Ontario and San Bernardino.

4.9

764 Reviews

Corky's Pest Control

21803 Cactus Ave Suite E - F, Riverside, CA 92518

Corky's Pest Control is a pest control company serving Los Angeles, CA, offering a wide range of services including bed bug treatment, ant and cockroach control, rodent management, termite inspection and fumigation, mosquito treatment, bee and wasp removal, and wildlife relocation. Established in 1967, the company applies detailed inspections and modern methods to address pest issues effectively. They provide specialized capabilities such as termite fumigation and hive relocation for bees, ensuring safety and environmental care. Corky's Pest Control focuses on long-lasting pest management solutions tailored to residential properties.

4.9

548 Reviews

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Common Nuisance Wildlife in Highland

The Highland and greater San Bernardino County area is home to several wildlife species that frequently come into conflict with residents. Understanding which animal you're dealing with is the first step toward a solution.

• Squirrels: Often identified by scratching or scurrying noises in attics, especially during the day. They can chew on wires, insulation, and wood to create entry points ¹.
• Raccoons: Nocturnal and intelligent, raccoons are powerful enough to tear through roof vents or soffits to access attics. They seek shelter for denning and are attracted to accessible food sources like pet food or unsecured trash ².
• Bats: Small colonies may roost in attics or chimneys. Their entry points can be very small (as little as 3/8 of an inch). Bat removal is highly specialized due to public health considerations and their protected status ^{1 3}.
• Skunks: Typically a yard nuisance, skunks dig for grubs and can take up residence under decks, sheds, or porches. The primary concern, of course, is their potent defensive spray ².
• Rats and Mice: While often categorized under general pest control, rodent infestations can be persistent. They contaminate food, chew constantly, and can enter through incredibly small gaps ⁴.

Why Professional Wildlife Control is Often Necessary

Many homeowners consider handling wildlife problems themselves, but California law creates a complex landscape that often necessitates calling a licensed expert.

Strict Laws on Trapping and Relocation: A critical state regulation makes it illegal to trap and relocate healthy wildlife to a new area ^{5 6}. This law is designed to prevent the spread of disease, reduce stress on relocated animals (which often don't survive), and protect ecosystems from invasive species. When an animal is trapped, the legal options are typically limited to releasing it on the immediate property (which doesn't solve the problem) or humane euthanization ^{7 8}. This is a key reason professional intervention is advised.

Regulated Trapping Near Homes: Even if you are prepared to handle an animal on your property, there are restrictions. Traps generally cannot be set within 150 yards of a residence without the written permission of the property owner ⁵. This protects neighbors and their pets.

Safety and Complexity: Removing a mother raccoon with young or a colony of bats requires specific techniques and safety equipment. Professionals, known as Wildlife Control Operators (WCOs), are trained in these methods. Furthermore, effective wildlife control isn't just about removal-it's about exclusion. Sealing every potential entry point after the animals have left is a skilled job to prevent re-entry ^{1 3}.

Effective Prevention: Habitat Modification

The most cost-effective form of wildlife control is making your property less attractive to animals in the first place. This proactive approach, often called habitat modification, addresses the food, water, and shelter that draw wildlife to your home ^{2 4}.

• Seal Entry Points: Conduct a thorough inspection of your home's exterior. Look for gaps in rooflines, loose vent covers, holes in siding, and spaces around utility lines. Use high-quality materials like hardware cloth, steel wool (for rodents), and heavy-duty sealants to close these openings ^{9 1}.
• Remove Food Sources: Secure trash cans with locking lids or bungee cords. Avoid leaving pet food outdoors overnight. Pick up fallen fruit from trees and keep barbecue grills clean. Bird feeders can also attract squirrels, rats, and even raccoons ^{2 4}.
• Eliminate Shelter: Trim tree branches back at least 6-8 feet from your roofline to prevent easy access for squirrels and raccoons. Keep shrubs and dense vegetation trimmed away from the foundation of your house. Store firewood and building materials off the ground and away from structures ³.
• Use Deterrents: Motion-activated lights or sprinklers can startle and deter nocturnal animals like skunks and raccoons. Ultrasonic devices have mixed results and are often ineffective against determined wildlife ⁴.

The Wildlife Removal Process: What to Expect

When you hire a professional for animal control in Highland, they will typically follow a structured process to ensure the problem is resolved completely and humanely.

1. Inspection and Assessment: The technician will perform a detailed inspection of your property, inside and out, to identify the species, locate all entry points, and assess the extent of the infestation or damage. This service typically costs between $100 and $300 ^{9 10}.
2. Removal and Exclusion Plan: Based on the inspection, the professional will recommend a course of action. For animals inside a structure, this often involves installing one-way exclusion doors or devices that allow animals to leave but not return. Trapping may be used as a last resort or for specific scenarios, always in compliance with California law ^{1 6}.
3. Sealing and Repair: Once the animals are confirmed to have vacated, the technician will seal all identified entry points with permanent materials. This step is crucial to prevent future invasions. They may also recommend cleaning and sanitizing affected areas, like attics, to remove hazardous droppings and parasites.
4. Follow-up: Reputable companies often include a warranty period for their exclusion work, with follow-up visits to ensure the seals are holding and no new activity is present.

Understanding Costs for Wildlife Control

The cost for professional wildlife management in Highland varies significantly based on the species, the location of the animal, the extent of the infestation, and the necessary repairs. Here is a general overview of potential costs ^{9 10}:

• Squirrel or Rat Removal: Removing squirrels or rats from an attic generally ranges from $200 to over $600.
• Raccoon or Skunk Removal: Dealing with a raccoon or skunk, especially if young are involved, typically costs between $300 and $600.
• Bat Removal: Bat exclusion is a specialized job. Costs can range from $230 to over $700, and can be higher if significant attic cleaning or sealing is required.
• Complex Attic or Chimney Removal: For large-scale infestations or difficult-to-access areas like chimneys, total costs, including removal, sealing, and cleanup, can range from $500 to $1,500 or more.

When to Contact Animal Control vs. a Wildlife Professional

It's important to know which agency or service to call for your specific situation.

• Contact San Bernardino County Animal Control: Reach out to them for issues involving domestic animals (stray dogs or cats), injured wildlife, or if there is an immediate threat to public safety, such as a visibly sick or aggressive animal that could pose a rabies risk ^{1 11}.
• Hire a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator (WCO): For wildlife that is inside your home (attic, walls, chimney) or causing persistent property damage, you need a licensed, bonded, and insured Wildlife Control Operator. These professionals are trained and permitted to handle nuisance wildlife in compliance with state and local regulations ^{9 12}. They are your resource for exclusion, trapping (where legal), and preventive repairs.

Frequently asked questions

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