Top Wildlife Removal in Apopka, Florida Ranked

Discovering an uninvited animal in your attic, under your deck, or rummaging through your trash can be unsettling. Wildlife removal in Apopka addresses these conflicts between humans and local fauna, focusing on the safe, legal, and humane resolution of nuisance animal issues. This service is crucial for protecting your property from damage and your family from potential health risks. Understanding your options, from do-it-yourself prevention to professional intervention, can help you effectively manage wildlife encounters and find qualified local experts for assistance.

Custom Pest Solutions Inc

2200 N Forsyth Rd K-09, Orlando, FL 32807

Custom Pest Solutions Inc is a pest control and wildlife removal company based in Orlando, FL. They provide customized pest and animal control services tailored to the unique environments of homes and businesses in Central Florida. Their approach emphasizes green pest control methods that are environmentally responsible and safe for families, pets, and employees. The company uses integrated pest management strategies, including preventative measures and habitat modification, to manage pests sustainably while protecting the comfort and security of their clients' properties.

5.0

262 Reviews

RH Miller Pest Services, Inc

137 Concord Dr STE 1101, Casselberry, FL 32707

RH Miller Pest Services, Inc is a pest control company based in Orlando, FL, serving both residential and commercial clients. They provide a range of services including rodent control, termite inspections, wildlife removal, and lawn application treatments. The company offers Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and rodent exclusion as part of their capabilities. Appointments are typically available Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

5.0

178 Reviews

Mr Roland Pest Control, LLC

1830 Island Walk Dr, Orlando, FL 32824

Mr Roland Pest Control, LLC is a family-owned pest control company based in Orlando, FL, serving residential and commercial properties in the area and surrounding Central Florida. With over six years of experience, they provide licensed and certified pest control services including rodent removal, bed bug treatment, mosquito reduction, termite services, and wildlife relocation. Their approach includes not only extermination but also decontamination of affected areas to ensure thorough pest management.

5.0

177 Reviews

Florida Wildlife Solutions

orlando

Florida Wildlife Solutions is a wildlife removal company based in Orlando, FL. They provide humane wildlife removal services that include safe animal relocation, cleanup of hazardous materials, and property repairs to prevent future infestations. Their approach focuses on protecting both the property and the local wildlife while addressing health risks associated with unwanted animals. The company emphasizes humane methods and thorough cleanup to restore and secure homes.

5.0

136 Reviews

McCall Pest & Wildlife - Orlando

5892 S Semoran Blvd Building B, Orlando, FL 32822

McCall Pest & Wildlife - Orlando provides pest control services in Orlando, FL, addressing common pests such as cockroaches, ants, rodents, termites, mosquitoes, and wildlife. With over 80 years of experience, the company offers both residential and commercial pest management solutions, including termite inspections and mosquito control. Their QualityPro-certified technicians use Integrated Pest Management plans tailored to each client's needs to manage and prevent pest issues effectively.

4.9

1.5k Reviews

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Common Nuisance Wildlife in Apopka

Florida's diverse ecosystem means Apopka residents share their environment with a wide variety of animals. While many are beneficial, some can become problematic when they seek food, water, or shelter in our homes and yards. Knowing which species are most likely to cause issues is the first step in effective wildlife control.

• Raccoons: Perhaps the most notorious urban wildlife species, raccoons are intelligent and dexterous. They are known for tipping over garbage cans, tearing through soffits to access attics, and invading screened lanais. As a primary carrier of rabies in Florida, they pose a significant health concern ¹.
• Opossums: These nocturnal marsupials are often misunderstood. While they eat ticks and other pests, they are scavengers that will get into pet food left outdoors, open garbage, and compost piles. They commonly take up residence under sheds, decks, and houses ².
• Armadillos: Recognizable by their bony plates, armadillos are prolific diggers. Their search for insects and grubs can leave a yard pockmarked with holes, damaging gardens, lawns, and even undermining building foundations ³.
• Rodents (Rats and Mice): These small mammals are a constant concern. They can squeeze through incredibly small gaps to enter structures, where they chew on wires (a fire hazard), insulation, and stored items, while also contaminating surfaces with droppings ⁴.
• Squirrels: Often seen as cute in the yard, squirrels can be destructive when they enter structures. They chew on wood, electrical wiring, and PVC pipes to gain access to attics, where they nest and store food ⁵.

Other species like bats, snakes, birds, coyotes, and wild hogs are also present and may require specialized animal removal strategies due to specific state regulations protecting some of them ^{6 7}.

Florida Laws and Regulations for Nuisance Wildlife

Before taking any action, it's essential to understand the legal framework. Wildlife in Florida is managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The state encourages a "live and let live" philosophy but provides guidelines for when animals become a genuine nuisance ⁸.

A key distinction for Apopka residents is knowing who to call. Orange County Animal Services handles domestic animals like dogs and cats, as well as injured or orphaned wildlife. However, they do not respond to calls for healthy, nuisance wildlife ⁹. For general wildlife conflicts, you are typically responsible for managing the issue on your private property, within FWC guidelines ¹⁰.

What You Can (and Cannot) Do Yourself

Florida law allows property owners certain rights to address nuisance animals, but with important restrictions designed to protect animal welfare and prevent the spread of disease.

• Prevention and Exclusion: The FWC strongly encourages non-lethal methods first. This is the most effective long-term strategy and includes securing trash in wildlife-proof containers, bringing pet food indoors at night, capping chimneys, and sealing potential entry points into your home ¹¹.
• Live Trapping: For most common nuisance animals (excluding protected species), you may use live traps. Critical rules apply: Traps must be checked at least once every 24 hours. Any native wildlife captured must be either humanely euthanized or released on the same contiguous property where it was caught. Relocating an animal off your property is highly restricted and generally illegal without specific permits, as it can spread disease and simply transfer the problem to someone else ¹².
• Specific Species Rules:
  • Wild Hogs: Considered an invasive species, they can be trapped or shot year-round on private property with the landowner's permission, without a hunting license ¹³.
  • Muscovy Ducks: As a non-native species, landowners can control them without a federal or state permit. However, captured birds must be humanely euthanized and cannot be relocated ¹⁴.
• Prohibited Actions: It is illegal to poison or drown nuisance wildlife. Additionally, certain species, including all bats and some birds, are protected by state or federal law, making it illegal to harm or trap them without a special permit ⁶.

When to Call a Professional Wildlife Removal Service

While some minor issues can be handled with diligent prevention, there are many situations where hiring a professional Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) is the wisest and most practical choice.

• Complex Infestations: Removing a single animal from a live trap in your yard is one thing. Extracting a family of raccoons from a deep attic space, ensuring all young are found, is a different challenge entirely.
• Protected Species: If you have bats roosting in your belfry or a protected bird species nesting in your vent, you need a professional with the proper permits to handle the situation legally ⁷.
• Safety Concerns: Dealing with animals that can carry rabies (like raccoons), or that are large and potentially aggressive (like wild hogs or coyotes), poses a real risk of injury or disease transmission.
• Ensuring Legal Compliance: A licensed NWCO understands the intricacies of FWC regulations. They ensure that trapping, exclusion, and disposal are done in full compliance with state law, protecting you from potential fines ¹⁵.
• Exclusion and Repair: True wildlife control doesn't end with removal. Professionals will identify and seal the entry points the animals used (a process called exclusion) and can often provide repair services for damaged insulation, wiring, or ductwork.
• Sanitation: Animal droppings and urine can pose serious health hazards and create persistent odors. Many NWCOs offer cleanup and sanitization services to make your space safe again.

Understanding Costs for Professional Services

Professional wildlife control is a private, fee-based service. Costs in Apopka vary widely based on the animal, the extent of the infestation, the location of the animal within the structure, and the necessary repairs ^{16 17}.

• Small Job: For a simple removal, such as a single opossum from under a deck or a snake from a garage, you might expect costs starting around $100 and up ¹⁶.
• Medium Job: Removing animals from an attic or crawlspace, including initial exclusion work, often falls in the range of $300 and up ¹⁶.
• Large Job: Complex jobs involving full attic restoration, extensive damage repair, multi-visit trapping for elusive animals, or complete home exclusion can cost $500 and significantly higher ¹⁶.

It's always recommended to get multiple quotes and ask detailed questions about what services are included (inspection, removal, exclusion, repairs, cleanup, warranty) ¹⁸.

Specialized Resources and Who to Call

Knowing the right agency for your specific situation saves time and gets you the appropriate help faster.

• General Nuisance Wildlife on Private Property: Start with prevention. If needed, you can attempt legal live-trapping or contact a private Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO). The FWC provides a searchable Nuisance Wildlife Trapper Directory to find local professionals ¹⁵.
• Nuisance Alligators: For concerns about alligators, especially those over four feet long that are deemed a threat to people, pets, or property, contact the FWC's Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286) ¹⁹.
• Injured, Sick, or Orphaned Wildlife: Do not attempt to handle these animals. Contact a licensed FWC wildlife rehabilitator or Orange County Animal Services for guidance ²⁰.
• Orange County Animal Services: Call for issues related to stray domestic animals (dogs/cats) or injured wildlife. You can reach them at (407) 836-3111 or by dialing 3-1-1 within Orange County ²¹.
• Emergency Situations: If an animal poses an immediate threat to human safety, contact local law enforcement.

Proactive Prevention: Your First Line of Defense

The most effective and humane form of animal control is making your property less attractive to wildlife in the first place. This involves denying them the three things they seek: food, water, and shelter.

1. Eliminate Food Sources: Use locking lids on trash cans and store them in a garage or shed if possible. Never leave pet food outdoors overnight. Pick up fallen fruit from trees and secure compost piles.
2. Remove Shelter Opportunities: Keep yards tidy by clearing brush piles, sealing off crawlspace openings with sturdy wire mesh, and storing firewood at least 18 inches off the ground and away from your home's exterior.
3. Fortify Your Home: Conduct a seasonal inspection of your home's exterior. Look for loose vents, holes in siding or rooflines, gaps around utility lines, and damaged soffits. Seal any openings larger than a quarter-inch. Install chimney caps and vent covers ²².

By integrating these practices, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of a wildlife conflict, protecting your home and Apopka's native animals.

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