Top Wildlife Removal in Lakewood, Colorado Ranked

Finding an unexpected animal in your attic, under your deck, or rummaging through your trash can be a stressful experience for any Lakewood homeowner. Wildlife removal is the specialized service of safely and legally resolving conflicts with wild animals that have become a nuisance or a danger to your property and family. This process is crucial not only for your peace of mind but also for protecting your home's structural integrity and ensuring compliance with California's strict animal welfare laws. The following guide will help you understand the common wildlife issues in Lakewood, effective prevention strategies, when to call a professional, and how to navigate the local regulations and costs associated with animal control.

Advantage Pest Management

7270 Gilpin Way Ste 190, Denver, CO 80229

Advantage Pest Management is a pest control company based in Denver, CO, offering services for a wide range of pests including cockroaches, ants, rodents, mosquitoes, bees, wasps, and wildlife removal. They serve the Denver Metro Area with flexible scheduling and guaranteed treatments. The company is known for its ability to handle various pest problems efficiently and provides same-day service options. Advantage Pest Management emphasizes customer satisfaction with a guarantee to re-treat if results are unsatisfactory.

5.0

613 Reviews

Whitmore Pest & Wildlife Control of Castle Rock

935 S Lindsey St, Castle Rock, CO 80104

Whitmore Pest & Wildlife Control of Castle Rock provides pest and wildlife management services in Denver, CO. They offer residential and commercial pest control solutions including bed bug treatment, rodent control, wasp and stinging insect removal, spider extermination, and more. Their approach uses integrated pest management techniques that focus on long-term prevention with targeted treatments and environmental modifications. Whitmore Pest & Wildlife Control emphasizes family-friendly treatments and contract-free services. They also work to protect honeybees by relocating hives safely when possible.

5.0

319 Reviews

Environmental Pest Control Inc.

304 W Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80204

Environmental Pest Control Inc. is a pest control company based in Denver, CO, offering services for both residential and commercial properties. They specialize in treatments for a wide range of pests including bed bugs, ants, cockroaches, rodents, termites, mosquitoes, bees, wasps, birds, and wildlife. Their approach includes targeted pest management based on thorough inspections and eco-friendly methods to ensure safety for clients and the environment. The company also provides humane bird control and wildlife removal services through trusted partners. Environmental Pest Control Inc. has been serving the Denver area for several years and offers 24/7 availability for urgent pest issues.

5.0

142 Reviews

Whitmore Pest & Wildlife Control of Littleton

3911 Norwood Dr UNIT L, Littleton, CO 80125

Whitmore Pest & Wildlife Control of Littleton provides pest and wildlife control services in Denver, CO. They handle a variety of pests including ants, roaches, spiders, rodents, bed bugs, and stinging insects like wasps and hornets. The company also offers cleaning and disinfecting services to sanitize properties after pest removal. Whitmore has been serving the area since 2011 and focuses on family and pet-friendly treatments. Their services include thorough inspections, pest removal, and preventive measures to reduce future infestations.

4.9

621 Reviews

Whitmore Pest & Wildlife Control of Denver

350 S Garfield St Unit 1, Denver, CO 80209

Whitmore Pest & Wildlife Control of Denver provides pest and wildlife removal services in Denver, CO. They handle a variety of pests including bed bugs, cockroaches, ants, rodents, and birds. Their services include interior and exterior treatments, entry point repair, and prevention measures. Whitmore offers comprehensive pest control solutions combined with wildlife removal and property repair, all managed under one service. The company is locally owned and operated, focusing on convenient and affordable service with flat monthly billing.

4.9

566 Reviews

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Common Nuisance Wildlife in Lakewood

Lakewood's proximity to natural areas and its suburban landscape create a perfect environment for various wild animals to thrive. Understanding which creatures are most likely to cause problems is the first step in effective wildlife management.

• Coyotes: These adaptable predators are increasingly common in urban and suburban areas. They are primarily drawn into neighborhoods by easily accessible food sources like unsecured trash, pet food left outdoors, and fallen fruit from trees. While they generally avoid humans, they can pose a significant threat to small pets ^{1 2}.
• Rodents: This category includes rats, mice, and squirrels. They are frequent invaders of attics, walls, and crawl spaces, seeking shelter and nesting materials. Their constant gnawing can damage electrical wiring, insulation, and structural wood, creating fire hazards and costly repairs ^{1 3}.
• Raccoons and Opossums: These nocturnal mammals are clever and dexterous, often using their paws to open trash cans or pet doors. Raccoons, in particular, are known for tearing up roofing materials to gain access to warm, sheltered attics. Both can create messes and may carry diseases transmissible to pets or humans ^{3 4}.
• Birds and Bats: Birds like pigeons, starlings, and sparrows can nest in vents, chimneys, and eaves, leading to clogged gutters and property damage from droppings. Bats, while beneficial for insect control, can roost in attics. Both can create significant health concerns due to accumulated droppings (guano) and the potential for parasites ^{3 4}.

Prevention: Your First Line of Defense

The most effective and humane approach to wildlife control is to make your property less attractive to animals in the first place. Proactive habitat modification and exclusion techniques can prevent most conflicts.

• Secure All Food Sources: Use wildlife-proof trash cans with locking lids. Never leave pet food or water bowls outside overnight. Regularly pick up fallen fruit and nuts from your yard ^{2 3}.
• Eliminate Shelter and Access: Trim tree branches back at least 10 feet from your roofline to prevent easy access for squirrels and raccoons. Seal any potential entry points into your home, such as gaps in siding, loose roof vents, or openings around utility lines, using sturdy materials like steel wool, hardware cloth, or metal flashing ^{2 3 4}.
• Use Deterrents: For birds, visual deterrents like reflective tape or artificial predator decoys (e.g., owls) can be temporarily effective, though animals may become habituated to them. Addressing underlying attractants, like controlling grubs in your lawn to reduce digging by skunks or raccoons, is more sustainable ^{3 4}.

Understanding California Trapping and Relocation Laws

Before considering any trapping on your own, it is critical to understand the legal framework. California has specific regulations designed to protect both wildlife and public safety.

• The Critical Rule: The relocation of healthy wildlife is generally illegal in California. An animal trapped on your property must be either released on-site or humanely euthanized. It cannot be transported and released elsewhere. This law helps prevent the spread of disease and avoids simply transferring a problem to another community ^{5 6 7}.
• Trapping Requirements: If you choose to use a live trap, you must check it frequently (at least once every 24 hours). You are responsible for the humane care of any captured animal. Traps set near residences require the landowner's consent and involvement ^{5 8}.
• Feeding Restrictions: Intentionally feeding wildlife (with the exception of birds and tree squirrels in some contexts) is discouraged and often restricted by local ordinances, as it leads to dependency, unnatural population growth, and increased human-wildlife conflicts ^{7 8}.

When to Call a Professional Wildlife Removal Service

While prevention and minor deterrents are homeowner tasks, certain situations necessitate the expertise of a licensed wildlife control operator.

• Infestations in Structures: If you hear noises in your walls or attic, see signs of nesting, or detect odors, you likely have an active infestation that requires professional exclusion and removal ⁹.
• Large Numbers of Animals: Dealing with a colony of bats, a family of raccoons, or a large rodent population is complex and dangerous for an untrained individual.
• Complex Cleanup and Repairs: After animals are removed, areas like attics often require professional decontamination (feces/urine removal), sanitization, and insulation replacement. Repairing chewed wires, damaged ductwork, or entry points also requires skilled work ^{1 10}.
• Navigating Legal Complexities: Professionals understand the state and local laws governing trapping, handling, and disposal, ensuring your situation is resolved legally and ethically ¹¹.
• Safety Concerns: If you are uncomfortable handling traps, dealing with potentially aggressive animals, or working in confined spaces like attics, hiring a professional is the safest choice.

What to Expect: Services and Costs in Lakewood

The cost of professional animal control in Lakewood varies widely based on the species, the extent of the infestation, and the required remediation work.

• General Inspection and Removal: For a single animal causing a nuisance (e.g., a raccoon in a chimney, an opossum under a deck), basic trapping and removal services can start in the range of $300 to $600^{1 10}.
• Attic Infestations and Complex Jobs: Removing animals from an attic and addressing the aftermath is more involved. For a small to moderate rodent or raccoon infestation, including removal, basic cleanup, and exclusion sealing, costs typically range from $500 to $1,500. For large-scale jobs involving extensive attic cleanup, full decontamination, sanitization, insulation replacement, and structural repairs, prices can reach $1,500 to $3,500 or more^{1 10}.
• Service Scope: A reputable provider will typically offer a multi-step process: a thorough inspection to identify the species and entry points, humane removal, cleaning and sanitizing the affected area, and finally, exclusion work to seal the home and prevent future entry. Always request a detailed, written estimate before work begins.

Who to Contact for Different Situations

Knowing which agency or service to call saves time and ensures the right help arrives.

• LA County Animal Care & Control (LACAC): Contact this public agency for situations involving sick, injured, or dead wildlife on your property. They also handle issues with stray domestic pets like dogs and cats ^{1 10 9}.
• Licensed Wildlife Removal Professional: For all active infestations inside homes or structures, for the humane trapping of nuisance animals on your property, and for the necessary cleanup and exclusion repairs, a private wildlife control specialist is the appropriate resource ^{1 9}.

Frequently asked questions

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