Top Wildlife Removal Companies in Somerville, Massachusetts Ranked

Living in Somerville means sharing our vibrant urban environment with a variety of wildlife. While seeing a raccoon or hearing squirrels in the attic is common, these encounters can quickly turn into costly and stressful problems when animals decide to move in. Understanding the proper channels for wildlife control and animal removal is crucial for protecting your property and ensuring humane, legal resolution. This guide explains the local laws, common nuisance species, and the steps you can take to address wildlife issues effectively, connecting you with the licensed professionals who can help.

Understanding Somerville's Wildlife Control Laws

In Massachusetts, and specifically in Somerville, dealing with nuisance wildlife is not a simple DIY task. The state has strict regulations designed to protect both animals and residents. A key law prohibits the capture and relocation of most wild animals ¹. This means you cannot trap a raccoon in your backyard and release it in a nearby park or forest. Relocation often leads to the animal's death due to territorial disputes, lack of food sources, or the spread of disease, and it is illegal for most species.

This legal framework creates a clear division of responsibility. The City of Somerville's Animal Control officers are authorized to handle specific situations involving sick, injured, or dangerously aggressive animals. However, for the vast majority of nuisance scenarios-like a family of squirrels in your attic, skunks under your deck, or raccoons in your chimney-the responsibility falls on the property owner to hire a private, state-licensed professional.

When to Call Somerville Animal Control

Knowing when to contact city services can save you time and ensure help arrives for true emergencies. You should call Somerville Animal Control at 311 (or 617-666-3311 from outside the city) for the following situations ^{2 3}:

• A visibly sick or injured wild animal (e.g., a fox stumbling in circles, a bird with a broken wing).
• A wild or domestic animal that is posing an immediate, dangerous threat to human life.
• Cases of suspected animal cruelty or abandoned domestic animals.
• For clarification on city ordinances related to animals, such as leash laws or reporting a loose dog.

It's important to reiterate that Animal Control is not licensed or equipped to remove healthy wildlife from private property. If you have a raccoon in your trash or bats in your belfry, you'll need to explore other options.

Common Nuisance Wildlife in Somerville

Somerville's mix of dense neighborhoods, parks, and proximity to the Mystic River creates ideal habitats for adaptable urban wildlife. Residents most frequently encounter the following species ^{4 5}:

Mammals:

• Raccoons: Intelligent and dexterous, they are notorious for tipping over garbage cans and entering attics or chimneys.
• Squirrels: Both gray squirrels and red squirrels can cause significant damage by chewing wires, insulation, and structural wood in attics.
• Skunks: Often take up residence under sheds, porches, or decks, and their defensive spray is a well-known hazard.
• Bats: Small colonies can roost in attics or wall voids. Their presence raises health concerns due to the potential for histoplasmosis from guano and the risk of rabies transmission.
• Opossums, Rats, Mice, and Foxes are also common urban dwellers.

Birds:

• Pigeons, Canada Geese, and Wild Turkeys are frequently seen. It is critical to remember that all native birds are protected under federal law (the Migratory Bird Treaty Act) ⁶. Removing nests or harming birds often requires special federal and state permits, making professional guidance essential.

Legal Steps for Homeowners: Prevention and Exclusion

Before an animal becomes a problem, and in some cases to encourage an animal to leave on its own, Massachusetts law allows for several "self-help" measures focused on exclusion and habitat modification ^{7 8 9}. These are your first and most effective lines of defense:

1. Secure All Food Sources: Use locking or animal-proof containers for garbage and compost. Avoid leaving pet food outdoors and clean up fallen birdseed from feeders.
2. Block Entry Points: Conduct a thorough inspection of your home's exterior. Seal any gaps, cracks, or holes in the foundation, siding, roof, or around utility vents, pipes, and chimneys. Use sturdy materials like hardware cloth, steel wool, or metal flashing.
3. Modify Habitat: Trim tree branches that hang within 6-8 feet of your roof to prevent easy access for squirrels and raccoons. Install fencing around garden areas and consider barriers to prevent digging under structures.
4. Use Humane Harassment: You can legally encourage an animal to vacate a space using non-lethal, non-injurious methods. This includes using bright lights, loud noises (like a radio), or commercially available repellents in the area where the animal is active, provided you do not violate any animal cruelty statutes ^{10 11}.
5. Lethal Control (Highly Limited): Massachusetts law does allow a property owner to hunt or take (by means other than poison or snare) any mammal that is actively damaging their property ^{12 13}. However, this is fraught with legal complexity, safety risks, and the potential for cruelty charges if not done precisely according to law. Professional consultation is strongly recommended before considering this path.

Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Removal Professional

For persistent problems or animals already inside a structure, hiring a licensed Problem Animal Control (PAC) agent is the required and most effective solution ^{14 15}. These professionals are trained and licensed by the state to handle, trap, and resolve wildlife conflicts humanely and legally. They don't just remove the animal; they find how it got in and seal those entry points to prevent recurrence-a process known as exclusion.

You can find a list of state-licensed PAC agents through the MassWildlife Problem Animal Control agents page ^{16 17}. When choosing a provider, look for:

• A valid Massachusetts PAC license.
• Proof of insurance.
• A focus on humane methods and permanent exclusion.
• Willingness to provide a detailed, free estimate.

Understanding Wildlife Removal Costs in Somerville

The cost for professional animal control services in Somerville varies widely and depends on several key factors ^{18 19 20 21}:

• Species: Removing a colony of bats or a family of raccoons is typically more involved and costly than removing a single squirrel or groundhog.
• Location and Accessibility: An animal in an easily reached crawl space is simpler to extract than one deep in a wall void or a high attic filled with insulation.
• Extent of Infestation: The number of animals present directly impacts the labor and time required.
• Damage Repair: The final cost often includes necessary repairs like replacing chewed wires, soiled insulation, or repairing structural damage caused by the animals.

A typical service includes inspection, humane removal, exclusion (sealing entry points), cleanup, and sanitization. In the Somerville area, you can expect a range from several hundred dollars for a straightforward removal and exclusion job to over a thousand dollars for complex cases involving significant damage restoration and multiple visits ^{22 23 24}. Most reputable companies offer free, on-site estimates to give you a clear understanding of the scope and cost.

The Risks of DIY Wildlife Removal

Attempting to handle wildlife removal yourself poses significant risks. Beyond the legal pitfalls of illegal trapping or relocation, there are serious safety and health concerns. Wild animals can carry diseases transmissible to humans and pets, including rabies, leptospirosis, and parasites. A cornered animal will defend itself fiercely, leading to potential bites or scratches. Furthermore, without proper exclusion, simply removing an animal is a temporary fix; others will likely find the same entry point. Licensed professionals have the training, equipment, and legal authority to resolve the issue safely and permanently.

Frequently asked questions

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