What is the most common wildlife problem in Hammond homes?

Squirrels and raccoons in attics are among the most frequent calls for wildlife removal professionals, followed by rodent infestations in walls and basements .

Can I relocate a trapped animal to a park or forest preserve?

No. Indiana law prohibits the relocation of live-trapped nuisance wildlife without the written permission of the landowner where you intend to release it. Unauthorized relocation is illegal and often simply moves the problem to someone else .

Who is responsible for a dead animal on the sidewalk or street?

The City of Hammond's Animal Control department handles the removal of dead animals from public areas and rights-of-way. Residents should contact them for assistance .

Are bats protected in Indiana?

Yes, bats are protected under Indiana law. It is illegal to kill them. Exclusion work, which allows bats to leave but not re-enter, must be done at specific times of the year (outside of maternity season) and often requires professional expertise .

What should I do if I find a baby animal alone?

In most cases, the mother is nearby. Do not disturb it. If the animal is visibly injured or in immediate danger, you can contact the DNR for guidance on licensed wildlife rehabilitators .

Does homeowners insurance cover wildlife damage?

It depends on your specific policy. Sudden, accidental damage (like a squirrel chewing through a wire that causes a fire) may be covered. However, damage considered gradual or due to lack of maintenance (like long-term infestation or nesting) typically is not. Always check with your insurance provider.

Pest Control in Hammond, IN,

Discovering an uninvited animal in your attic, walls, or yard can be unsettling and potentially damaging. Wildlife removal is the process of safely and legally addressing conflicts with nuisance animals that have encroached on your property. In Hammond, this often means dealing with raccoons, squirrels, bats, and rodents seeking shelter or food. Understanding your options, from DIY prevention to knowing when to call a professional, is crucial for protecting your home and complying with Indiana's wildlife regulations. This guide provides the local information you need to identify common issues, navigate state laws, and find qualified help to resolve wildlife problems effectively.

Landmark Pest Management

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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.

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Effective Pest Solutions

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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.

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Guardian Pest Control

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Guardian Pest Control provides residential and commercial pest and wildlife removal services in Chicago, IL, and the surrounding areas including Northwest Indiana. The company handles a wide range of pests such as bed bugs, cockroaches, ants, rodents, termites, mosquitoes, bees, wasps, and birds. Guardian Pest Control is licensed, bonded, and insured, with over 35 years of experience since 1987. They offer 24-hour emergency service without requiring contracts, allowing customers flexible treatment options.

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Terminix

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Terminix is a pest control company serving Chicago, IL, specializing in managing a wide range of pests including bed bugs, termites, ants, cockroaches, rodents, bees, wasps, and wildlife. Their local technicians are familiar with Chicago's unique pest challenges and provide customized inspection and treatment plans for both residential and commercial properties. Terminix offers termite protection systems and guarantees for termite damage repair, along with comprehensive pest control plans that cover interior and exterior treatments. The company is part of a nationwide network and focuses on seasonal and year-round pest management to address Chicago's climate and pest activity patterns.

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ABC Humane Wildlife Control and Prevention Inc.

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ABC Humane Wildlife Control and Prevention Inc. provides wildlife and pest control services in Chicago, IL. They specialize in humane removal and prevention of various animals such as raccoons, squirrels, bats, and birds, as well as insect pest control including ants, bees, wasps, and mosquitoes. Their team is skilled in animal-proofing homes and repairing damage caused by infestations. With over 40 years of experience, the company combines scientific methods and local expertise to serve the Chicagoland area, including Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kane, and McHenry counties.

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Common Nuisance Wildlife in Hammond

Hammond's mix of urban and green spaces makes it attractive to a variety of wildlife. Knowing which animals are most likely to cause problems is the first step in addressing an issue.

Raccoons: These intelligent, dexterous animals are frequent culprits for attic invasions, torn soffits, and rummaged-through trash. They can carry diseases like rabies and roundworm, making their removal a priority ¹.
Squirrels: Both gray and fox squirrels are common. They often chew entry points into attics and eaves to build nests, and their constant gnawing can damage electrical wiring, posing a fire hazard ¹ ².
Bats: Small brown bats may roost in attics or wall voids. While beneficial for insect control, their guano (droppings) can create odor issues and health risks, and they are protected by specific regulations ¹ ³.
Rodents: This category includes house mice, rats, voles, and chipmunks. They are prolific breeders and can cause significant property damage by chewing and contaminating food sources ¹ ⁴.
Other Frequent Visitors: Opossums, skunks, and groundhogs (woodchucks) are also common in the area. Skunks and groundhogs can damage lawns and foundations, while opossums may take up residence under decks or sheds ¹ ⁵.

Indiana Wildlife Laws and Regulations

Before taking any action, it's essential to understand the legal framework. Wildlife in Indiana is managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which sets clear rules on what homeowners can and cannot do.

What You Can Do (Without a Permit): Indiana law allows landowners or tenants to trap certain animals causing property damage without a permit. This includes raccoons, skunks, opossums, squirrels, and groundhogs ¹ ⁶ ⁵. However, there are strict conditions: you cannot hold the animal for more than 24 hours, and you cannot relocate it to another property without the landowner's written permission. For species like crows, moles, shrews, mice, rats, voles, and chipmunks, no permit is required for control on your own property ⁴ ³.

When You Need a Permit or Professional: A DNR nuisance wild animal control permit is required for dealing with coyotes (though landowners may take them on their own land), bobcats, river otters, and badgers ⁶ ⁵ ⁷. Endangered species are strictly protected. If you encounter a bobcat, river otter, or any potentially endangered animal, you must contact a DNR Conservation Officer immediately and should not attempt to handle the situation yourself ³ ⁷.

Local Hammond Ordinances: The City of Hammond defines a public nuisance animal as one that is aggressive, trespassing, unrestrained, or causing damage. Violations of animal ordinances can result in fines ⁸ ⁹. For issues with domestic animals (dogs and cats) or dead wildlife in public rights-of-way, you should contact Hammond Animal Control¹⁰.

DIY Prevention and Immediate Actions

Many wildlife conflicts can be prevented or mitigated with proactive measures. The goal is to make your property less attractive and accessible.

Exclusion is Key: The most effective long-term strategy is sealing potential entry points. This involves inspecting your home's exterior for gaps, cracks, loose vents, and holes. Use materials like hardware cloth, steel wool, and caulk to seal openings, especially around rooflines, chimneys, and foundations. Proper exclusion prevents animals like bats, squirrels, and rodents from entering attics and crawl spaces in the first place ¹ ⁴ ².

Safe Trapping Practices: For animals you are legally allowed to trap, use live traps placed near activity signs. Always check traps frequently. Remember the 24-hour rule and have a plan for lawful disposal, which may require obtaining landowner permission for release ⁴ ¹¹. Crucially, never use poison for rodent control. Poisoned rodents can die in inaccessible walls, causing odor and insect problems, and can also poison predators like owls or pets that may eat them ¹ ¹².

Handling Dead Animals: For small carcasses on your property, wear heavy gloves, place the animal in two sealed plastic bags, and dispose of it in your trash or bury it deeply. For dead animals on public roads, you can contact the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) ¹¹ ¹².

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When to Call a Professional Wildlife Control Operator

While some situations are manageable, others demand expert intervention. Licensed Wildlife Control Operators (WCOs) have the knowledge, tools, and legal standing to handle complex or hazardous infestations.

Call a Professional For:

Bat Colonies: Due to their protected status and the specialized techniques needed for exclusion, bat removal should be handled by professionals ¹ ³.
Coyote or Bobcat Presence: These animals require careful management and often a permit. A professional will ensure legal and safe removal ⁶ ⁷.
Large or Persistent Infestations: If you have a mother raccoon with young in the attic or a significant rodent problem, DIY methods often fall short.
When Exclusion is Complex: If you are unsure how animals are entering or lack the ability to safely seal high areas, a professional can provide a permanent solution.
If You Simply Don't Want to Handle It: Dealing with wildlife can be stressful. Professionals take on the risk and hassle.

What to Expect from Professional Services: A reputable operator will start with a thorough inspection to identify the species, entry points, and extent of the problem. They will then present a plan that typically includes humane trapping and/or exclusion, removal of the animals, cleaning of affected areas (if needed), and sealing of entry points to prevent recurrence. They handle all aspects of compliance with DNR regulations ¹ ¹² ¹³.

Understanding Costs for Wildlife Control

The cost for professional animal removal in Hammond varies based on several factors, including the species involved, the number of animals, the location of the infestation, and the extent of repairs needed.

Inspection Fees: Many companies charge a diagnostic fee for the initial assessment.
Trapping/Removal: This can be a flat fee for the service or a per-animal charge. Removing a single raccoon from a trap is less involved than extracting a family from an attic.
Exclusion and Repair: This is often the most critical and valuable part of the service. Costs for sealing a home against rodents or bats can range significantly based on the size of the home and the number of entry points, often falling between a few hundred to over a thousand dollars ¹ ¹² ¹⁴.
Clean-up and Decontamination: For severe cases, especially with bats or rodents, biohazard cleaning and insulation replacement add to the cost.

Always request a detailed, written estimate that breaks down inspection, removal, exclusion, and any additional services before work begins.

Who to Contact for Help

Knowing which agency or service to call saves time and ensures the problem is addressed correctly.

For Emergencies (Aggressive or Injured Animals): Call 911. Hammond Police can respond to immediate threats to public safety ¹⁰.
For Domestic Animals or Public Area Issues: Contact Hammond Animal Control. They handle stray dogs/cats and dead animals on public property ¹⁰.
For Regulatory Questions or Protected Species: Contact an Indiana DNR Conservation Officer. They provide guidance on laws and permits ⁶ ³.
For Private Property Wildlife Infestations: Research and contact licensed Wildlife Control Operators (WCOs) serving Lake County. These are private professionals specializing in humane removal and exclusion for homeowners and businesses ¹³.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Hammond, Indiana Wildlife Removal - https://www.pestwildliferemoval.com/indiana/hammond-wildlife-removal/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹
Hammond Wildlife Animal Control - Wildlife Animal Control - http://www.wildlifeanimalcontrol.com/Hammond.html ↩ ↩²
Living with Wildlife - IN.gov - https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/living-with-wildlife/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵
Trapping Nuisance Wildlife | Purdue Extension Forestry & Natural Resources - https://www.purdue.edu/fnr/extension/trapping-nuisance-wildlife/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴
Wildlife Removal Permits - https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/living-with-wildlife/wildlife-removal-permits/ ↩ ↩² ↩³
Nuisance Wild Animal Control Permit Information - IN.gov - https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/files/fw-NuisancePermitInfo.pdf ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴
DNR: Fish & Wildlife: Living with Wildlife: Interactions - IN.gov - https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/living-with-wildlife/interactions/ ↩ ↩² ↩³
§ 91.072 PUBLIC NUISANCES; ANIMALS. - https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/hammond/latest/hammond_in/0-0-0-4643 ↩
Animal Ordinances | City of Hammond, Indiana - https://www.gohammond.com/departments/animal-control/animal-ordinances/ ↩
Animal Control | City of Hammond, Indiana - https://www.gohammond.com/departments/animal-control/ ↩ ↩² ↩³
DNR: Fish & Wildlife: Orphaned & Injured Animals - IN.gov - https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/orphaned-and-injured-animals/ ↩ ↩²
Wildlife Removal in Hammond - Pest Control - https://actionpestandwildlife.com/wildlife-removal-in-hammond-in/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴
Top 10 Best Wildlife Removal Near Hammond, Indiana - Yelp - https://m.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Wildlife+Removal&find_loc=Hammond%2C+IN ↩ ↩²
Wildlife Control Pricing Guide - https://www.michiganwildlifesolutions.com/about/wildlife-control-pricing/ ↩

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