Top Wildlife Removal in Naperville, Illinois Ranked

When wildlife like raccoons, squirrels, or skunks decide to share your Naperville home, it's more than a nuisance-it can pose health risks and cause significant property damage. Professional wildlife removal and animal control services are essential for safely and legally resolving these conflicts. This guide explains the common wildlife issues in Naperville, outlines your legal options, and provides a clear path to finding qualified, local experts who can humanely evict unwanted guests and secure your property against future invasions.

D&K Pest Control and Wildlife Removal, LLC

chicago

D&K Pest Control and Wildlife Removal, LLC is a pest control and wildlife removal company serving Chicago, IL, and the western Chicago suburbs. They provide services for both residential and commercial properties, including pest inspections, one-time treatments, quarterly pest control plans, and custom wildlife exclusion solutions. Their work covers rodents, raccoons, squirrels, bats, birds, and common household pests. The company also offers structural repairs and long-term exclusion to prevent future infestations, combining pest removal with prevention efforts.

5.0

349 Reviews

Landmark Pest Management

chicago

Landmark Pest Management provides science-based, environmentally-friendly pest control services in Chicago, IL, and surrounding counties. They handle a wide range of pests including ants, wasps, mice, mosquitoes, bed bugs, and wildlife, using humane and green methods. Founded in 1976 by a wildlife biologist, the company combines expertise from biologists and epidemiologists to deliver effective pest exclusion and control. Landmark offers a Complete Home Care program with year-round protection and 24/7 monitoring to maintain pest-free homes.

5.0

332 Reviews

Effective Pest Solutions

chicago

Effective Pest Solutions provides comprehensive pest control services in Chicago, IL, serving both residential and commercial clients. Their offerings include treatment for bed bugs, ants, cockroaches, rodents, termites, and wildlife removal, with customized solutions for unique pest challenges. The company also supports institutions like schools and restaurants with pest management programs that comply with regulatory standards. They specialize in rodent control using trapping, monitoring, exclusion, and sanitation, and offer termite inspections and prevention plans to protect property integrity.

5.0

154 Reviews

Aerex Pest Control

4301 E Wilmette Ave, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Aerex Pest Control is a family-owned pest control company serving Chicago, IL, and the Greater Chicagoland Area since 1948. They provide a wide range of pest management services including bed bug treatment, rodent control, termite inspections, mosquito control, and wildlife removal. With over 70 years of experience, Aerex Pest Control uses environmentally friendly methods and safe products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency to address both common and seasonal pests unique to the Chicago area. Their knowledgeable technicians apply targeted solutions that focus on long-term prevention and sustainability.

4.9

2.3k Reviews

Rose Pest Solutions

270 Larkin Dr Suite A, Wheeling, IL 60090

Rose Pest Solutions is a pest control company serving Chicago, IL, and the Midwest. They provide comprehensive pest management services for homes and businesses, including cockroach, ant, rodent, termite, bee and wasp removal, and wildlife control. The company uses environmentally friendly methods and advanced technology to create long-term pest solutions. Established in 1860, Rose Pest Solutions has over 165 years of experience in pest control. They offer year-round protection plans with multiple visits and emphasize sustainable practices to protect both customers and the environment.

4.9

961 Reviews

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Common Nuisance Wildlife in Naperville

Naperville's blend of suburban neighborhoods, parks, and waterways creates an attractive habitat for many species. Understanding which animals are most likely to cause problems is the first step in addressing an issue.

• Squirrels: These agile climbers often enter homes through soffits, roof vents, or chimneys to nest in attics. Their constant gnawing can damage electrical wiring, insulation, and wood ^{1 2}.
• Raccoons: Intelligent and dexterous, raccoons seek out sheltered dens in attics, crawl spaces, and under decks. They can tear open roof shingles, siding, and vents to gain entry and create significant messes ^{1 2}.
• Skunks: Known for their potent defense mechanism, skunks often burrow under foundations, sheds, or decks. Their digging can undermine structures, and their scent can permeate a home if they spray nearby ^{1 2}.
• Bats: While beneficial for insect control, bats can roost in attics. A colony creates noise, odor, and significant guano accumulation, which poses health risks. Special care must be taken due to their protected status and potential for rabies ^{3 4}.
• Deer: In Naperville's more wooded or edge areas, deer can cause extensive damage to landscaping, gardens, and shrubs. While not typically entering homes, they are a common nuisance for property owners ^{1 2}.
• Nuisance Birds: Species like pigeons, starlings, and house sparrows can nest in vents, gutters, and on ledges. Their droppings are corrosive and unsanitary, and their nests can block ventilation systems ^{3 4}.

Legal Framework: Permits and Protected Species

Illinois law protects most native wildlife. You cannot legally trap and relocate or harm many animals without proper authorization. This framework is designed to ensure humane treatment and prevent the spread of disease.

• Licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators (NWCOs): For most removal situations involving mammals, you must hire a professional licensed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). These operators have the training and legal permits to handle, trap, and euthanize or relocate animals according to state regulations ^{1 2 5}.
• Nuisance Animal Removal Permit (NARP): In some cases, such as when wildlife is causing property damage or posing a health risk, a homeowner can apply for a NARP through the Wildlife Illinois website. This permit may allow for the removal of specific animals under certain conditions, but it often still recommends or requires the use of a licensed NWCO ^{5 6 7}.
• Bird Regulations: Nearly all native bird species are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Removing active nests, eggs, or birds typically requires a federal permit. Professional wildlife control companies understand these complex regulations ^{3 4}.

When to Call for Professional Animal Control

Knowing when a situation requires expert intervention is crucial for your safety and compliance with the law.

• Animals Inside the Living Space: If a raccoon, squirrel, or bat is inside your home (not just the attic), it's time to call a professional immediately for safe capture and removal.
• Signs of Infestation: Persistent noises (scratching, scurrying) in walls or ceilings, foul odors, or visible damage to exterior entry points indicate an established animal presence that needs expert assessment and exclusion.
• Complex Exclusions: Safely removing animals and permanently sealing entry points requires specialized knowledge and materials to prevent animals from simply re-entering.
• Cleanup and Restoration: After animals are removed, areas like attics often require professional decontamination, droppings removal, and insulation replacement to eliminate health hazards and odors.

DIY Prevention and Deterrence

For minor nuisance issues or as a proactive measure, homeowners can take several effective steps to make their property less inviting to wildlife. The goal is exclusion and habitat modification ^{1 8 9}.

• Seal Entry Points: Conduct a thorough inspection of your home's exterior. Seal any gaps, cracks, or holes in the foundation, siding, roof, and around utility lines with sturdy materials like steel wool, hardware cloth, or caulk. Ensure chimney caps and vent covers are securely installed.
• Modify Habitat: Keep your yard tidy. Store firewood and lumber at least 20 feet from your home and elevated off the ground. Clear away brush piles and tall grass. Trim tree limbs back at least 6-8 feet from the roofline to limit access for squirrels and raccoons ⁹.
• Eliminate Food Sources: Use locking, wildlife-resistant trash cans. Do not leave pet food outdoors overnight. Clean up fallen fruit from trees and bird seed from under feeders, which can attract rodents and larger animals.
• Humane Deterrents: For simple issues like an animal in a window well, provide a rough board as an escape ramp. Motion-activated sprinklers or lights can deter deer and other animals from gardens.

Understanding Wildlife Removal Costs in Naperville

The cost for professional animal removal services varies widely based on the species, the extent of the problem, and the required solutions. Most companies provide free inspections and estimates ^{10 11}.

• Basic Removal or Trapping: Simple services, like removing a single dead animal from a crawlspace or setting a trap for a groundhog, may start around $100 to $300 ^{10 11}.
• Standard Animal Removal & Exclusion: For common scenarios like evicting a raccoon family from an attic and sealing the main entry point, costs typically range from $300 to $600 ¹¹.
• Complex Infestations and Cleanup: Severe infestations (e.g., large squirrel colonies, extensive bat guano in an attic) that require full exclusion, decontamination, and insulation replacement can cost $1,000 to $3,000 or more ^{10 11}.
• Ongoing Monitoring: Some situations, like persistent woodchuck or muskrat problems, may require ongoing trapping services over a period of weeks.

Emergency Situations and Naperville Animal Control

The City of Naperville's Animal Control division handles specific situations but does not provide general wildlife removal services ^{8 12 13}.

• Call Naperville Animal Control (NAC) For:
  • Sick, injured, or visibly distressed wildlife (e.g., a raccoon wandering in circles, which may indicate distemper) ^{8 12}.
  • Lost domestic pets and stray cats (they offer a trap-loan program for cats) ^{12 13}.
  • Wildlife that is inside a living area of a home and posing an immediate, direct threat.
• Call 9-1-1 For: A wild animal that is actively attacking a person or pet, or is inside a home and presenting an imminent danger ⁸.
• For General Nuisance Wildlife: NAC directs residents to use the resources at Wildlife Illinois to find a licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator or to explore permit options ^{5 8}. They do not trap and relocate healthy nuisance animals from private property.

Choosing a Qualified Wildlife Removal Service

Selecting the right professional is key. Look for a company that:

1. Holds a valid Illinois Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) license.
2. Provides detailed inspections and written estimates.
3. Emphasizes humane methods and permanent exclusion over simple trapping.
4. Is insured and offers guarantees on their exclusion work.
5. Can clearly explain the process, relevant laws, and cleanup options.

Frequently asked questions

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