Top Wildlife Removal Companies in Ames, Iowa Ranked

Discovering an uninvited animal in your home or causing damage on your property can be unsettling. Wildlife removal is the professional service dedicated to safely and humanely resolving conflicts with nuisance animals, from raccoons in the attic to groundhogs under the deck. This process is crucial for protecting your property, ensuring your family's safety, and adhering to local and state wildlife regulations. For Ames residents, navigating the options-from DIY techniques to knowing when to call a professional-is key to an effective and legal resolution. The following guide will help you understand the common wildlife issues in Ames, your responsibilities as a homeowner, and how to connect with licensed experts who can provide animal control and exclusion services.

Common Nuisance Wildlife in Ames

Ames's blend of urban spaces, parks, and nearby natural areas makes it a habitat for a variety of wildlife. Understanding which animals you might encounter is the first step in managing them effectively.

• Raccoons: These intelligent, dexterous animals are frequent culprits for attic invasions, often using chimneys or damaged roof vents as entry points. They can also rummage through unsecured garbage cans and have been known to inhabit storm drains.
• Bats: Small openings in eaves or roofs can allow bats to enter attics, especially in spring and fall. It's important to note that bats are protected in Iowa due to their ecological benefits, and their removal requires specific, non-harmful procedures.
• Squirrels and Rodents: Tree squirrels may chew their way into attics to nest, while mice and rats can infiltrate walls and basements through tiny gaps, posing fire hazards by gnawing on wires.
• Opossums: Often found in window wells or near garbage, these nocturnal marsupials are generally non-aggressive and can be beneficial by consuming ticks and other pests.
• Groundhogs (Woodchucks): Their extensive burrowing can undermine foundations, decks, and sheds, creating significant structural hazards and lawn damage.
• Coyotes and Foxes: While typically shy and more active at dusk and dawn, these predators are present in urban corridors. They may prey on small pets if given the opportunity.
• Birds: Most native birds are protected by federal law. Problems often arise when birds like sparrows or starlings nest in vents or create noise and mess on structures¹.

Your Options for Wildlife Management in Ames

When faced with a wildlife issue, Ames residents generally have three pathways: do-it-yourself harassment and exclusion, contacting Ames Animal Control for specific situations, or hiring a private Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO).

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Techniques

For minor issues, residents can take several legal, non-lethal actions to encourage wildlife to leave.

• Exclusion and Harassment: This involves making the animal's current location undesirable so it leaves on its own. For a groundhog, disturbing its burrow entrance between July and September can encourage it to relocate. For a squirrel or bat that has accidentally entered a living space, simply opening doors and windows and turning off lights often provides an escape route.
• Securing Attractants: The most effective long-term prevention is to remove food, water, and shelter. Use locking lids on garbage cans, keep pet food indoors, seal compost bins, and clear brush piles away from your home's foundation.
• Understanding Trapping Laws: If you wish to trap an animal on your property within Ames city limits, you must first obtain a free Trap Permit from Ames Animal Control. The city only permits residents to use humane live box traps or instant-kill snap traps. It is illegal to relocate trapped wildlife in Iowa without a permit, as it can spread disease and often leads to the animal's death².
• Legal Taking: Under recent state legislation, prior permission is generally not required to lethally remove a coyote, raccoon, opossum, skunk, or groundhog if it is causing property damage or a nuisance³. However, all city ordinances regarding methods, firearm discharge, and trap types still apply, and the action must be both legal and humane³.

When to Call Ames Animal Control

Ames Animal Control primarily handles domestic animal issues but is the correct agency for specific wildlife emergencies. You should call them at 515-239-5530 (or 515-231-1080 for an officer directly) in these scenarios^{4 5 6}:

• An animal is visibly sick, injured, or appears to be orphaned.
• A bat is found in a room with a sleeping person, a young child, or someone with diminished mental capacity, as the bat may need to be tested for rabies ⁷.
• A dangerous animal (e.g., an aggressive raccoon, a trapped fox) is posing an immediate threat to human safety.
• You need to obtain a permit to trap an animal on your property⁸.
• You are dealing with a protected species, which includes all native birds, most snakes, bobcats, and certain bats^{9 10}.

For ongoing nuisance issues on private property-like an animal actively living in your attic, chimney, or walls-the Iowa DNR recommends contacting a private, licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO).

Hiring a Professional Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO)

For persistent or complex problems, a professional wildlife removal service is often the most effective and legally compliant solution. NWCOs are private, state-licensed businesses (not city or state employees) trained in humane capture, exclusion techniques, and relevant laws ¹¹.

What to Expect from Professional Wildlife Removal Services

A professional wildlife control service does more than just trap an animal. A comprehensive approach involves inspection, removal, exclusion, and cleanup.

1. Inspection and Assessment: A technician will identify the animal species, locate all entry points, and assess the extent of the infestation and damage.
2. Humane Removal: Using methods appropriate for the species and situation, the operator will remove the animals. For protected species like bats, this involves one-way exclusion devices that allow animals to leave but not re-enter.
3. Exclusion and Repair: This critical step prevents future problems. All identified entry points are sealed with durable materials like steel mesh, hardware cloth, or chimney caps. Without proper exclusion, new animals will simply move into the now-vacated space¹².
4. Cleanup and Sanitation: Animal droppings (guano), urine, and nesting materials can pose health risks and attract insects. Professionals can safely remove contaminated insulation, disinfect the area, and restore it.

Understanding Wildlife Removal Costs in Ames

Costs for animal control services vary widely as NWCOs are private businesses that set their own fees¹³. The total price depends on the animal species, the severity and location of the infestation, and the necessary repairs ¹⁴.

• Inspection/Service Fee: Many companies charge an initial fee for assessment, which can range from a nominal amount to over $100¹⁵.
• Basic Removal: Live trapping and removal of a single animal like a raccoon or groundhog from an accessible area might start around a couple hundred dollars.
• Complex Removal: Removing animals from attics, inside walls, or chimneys is more labor-intensive. This can range from $300 to $600 or more, especially if multiple animals are present or specialized exclusion devices are needed^{16 17}.
• Exclusion and Repairs: Sealing entry points is a separate, vital cost. Depending on the number and size of openings, this can add several hundred dollars. Major repairs like replacing soiled insulation or repairing chewed wires can increase the total cost significantly, potentially adding over a thousand dollars to the project ¹⁸.
• Emergency Services: Calls for immediate assistance during evenings, weekends, or holidays typically incur a premium rate.

Always request a detailed, written estimate that breaks down inspection, removal, exclusion, and repair costs before work begins.

Preventing Future Wildlife Conflicts

After an animal has been removed and your home is sealed, ongoing vigilance is key to prevention.

• Conduct Regular Maintenance: Inspect your home's exterior at least twice a year. Look for loose siding, damaged roof vents, gaps in soffits, and cracks in the foundation. Pay special attention to areas where different building materials meet.
• Manage Your Landscape: Trim tree branches that overhang or touch your roof. Keep woodpiles and dense shrubbery away from the house. Use gravel borders instead of mulch directly against the foundation.
• Be a Responsible Neighbor: Secure your trash and compost, and encourage neighbors to do the same. A single unsecured bin can attract wildlife to an entire block.

By understanding the wildlife around you, knowing when to act yourself and when to call a professional, and investing in proper exclusion, you can protect your Ames home and coexist peacefully with your wild neighbors.

Frequently asked questions

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