Top Wildlife Removal in DeSoto, Texas Ranked

Finding an unexpected raccoon in your attic, a family of squirrels in your walls, or a coyote patrolling your backyard can be unsettling. Wildlife removal is the professional service dedicated to safely and humanely resolving conflicts with wild animals that have become a nuisance or a danger on your property. In DeSoto, where urban expansion meets natural habitats, understanding your options for animal control and exclusion is crucial for protecting your home, family, and pets. This guide will help you identify common local wildlife issues, learn effective prevention strategies, and navigate the process of finding qualified help when you need it.

Romex Pest & Termite Control

1606 109th St Suite A, Grand Prairie, TX 75050

Romex Pest & Termite Control provides eco-friendly pest control services in Dallas, TX, serving both homes and businesses. Their offerings include treatment for bed bugs, rodents, termites, mosquitoes, and other common pests, using non-toxic methods that prioritize the safety of families and pets. The company employs advanced detection and treatment tools combined with integrated pest management strategies tailored to local needs. Romex Pest & Termite Control is licensed and insured across Texas and neighboring states, emphasizing environmentally responsible solutions.

5.0

3.9k Reviews

Myles Pest Services

6517 Smithfield Rd c, North Richland Hills, TX 76182

Myles Pest Services is a pest control company serving Dallas, TX, and the Greater Fort Worth area. With over 35 years of experience, they provide tailored pest control solutions including rodent exclusion, termite protection, mosquito treatments, and general pest management. Their services focus on long-term results and customer convenience, offering online scheduling and upfront pricing. The company emphasizes a customer-first approach backed by a satisfaction guarantee.

5.0

931 Reviews

Critter Stop

1610 Hart St Ste 102, Southlake, TX 76092

Critter Stop is a family-owned pest control and wildlife removal company serving Dallas, TX. They provide customized pest and wildlife management plans that include humane removal and exclusion techniques to keep homes critter-free. Their services cover a range of pests including rodents, cockroaches, ants, bees, wasps, and larger wildlife. A key capability is their comprehensive rodent control involving inspection, trapping, sealing entry points, and attic restoration. Critter Stop emphasizes safe, environmentally conscious methods and offers ongoing monitoring to ensure lasting results.

4.9

587 Reviews

Alamo Termite & Pest Control

5510 Abrams Rd #117-A, Dallas, TX 75214

Alamo Termite & Pest Control is a locally owned pest control company serving Dallas, TX. They provide a wide range of services including bed bug treatment, cockroach and ant control, rodent management, termite inspections, mosquito control, bee and wasp removal, bird and pigeon control, and wildlife removal. With 30 years of experience in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, they offer 24/7 phone support and same-day or next-day service availability.

4.9

508 Reviews

SafeHaven Pest Control

2609 National Cir, Garland, TX 75041

SafeHaven Pest Control is a pest management company based in Dallas, TX, offering services for residential, commercial, and construction properties. They provide comprehensive pest control solutions including rodent control, termite inspections, bed bug treatment, mosquito control, and wildlife removal. The company also specializes in preventive programs tailored for homes, schools, and building sites, with capabilities such as termite pretreatment for new constructions. SafeHaven Pest Control serves the Dallas area with a range of customizable packages designed to address common and complex pest issues.

4.9

507 Reviews

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Common Nuisance Wildlife in DeSoto

DeSoto's blend of residential areas, green spaces, and proximity to natural corridors makes it a habitat for a variety of wildlife. Knowing which animals are most likely to cause issues is the first step in addressing a problem.

Mammals: This is the most frequent category for removal calls. Residents commonly encounter raccoons, which are intelligent and seek shelter in attics and chimneys ¹. Squirrels, particularly eastern fox squirrels, can chew through siding and wires to nest in walls and eaves ². Other frequent visitors include opossums, skunks, armadillos, rabbits, and rodents like rats and mice ^{1 3}. Notably, coyotes are present in the area and can pose a threat to small pets ^{1 4}.

Birds: Birds like European starlings, house sparrows, and pigeons (rock doves) often nest in vents, on ledges, and in other structural cavities. Their nests can block ventilation and their droppings can damage property and pose health risks ^{1 2}. It's important to note that many birds, their nests, and eggs are protected by federal law, and their removal often requires specific permits or professional handling ³.

Reptiles: Several species of snakes are native to Texas, and while most are non-venomous and beneficial for controlling rodents, their presence in a yard or, worse, inside a home, typically prompts a call for professional snake removal ^{1 2}.

Prevention: Your First Line of Defense

The most effective and cost-efficient form of wildlife control is preventing animals from being attracted to your property in the first place. Proactive measures can save you from the hassle and expense of a removal job later.

• Remove Food Sources: Secure your trash cans with tight-fitting lids or bungee cords. Avoid feeding pets outdoors, and if you must, bring food bowls inside immediately after feeding. Pick up fallen fruit from trees and avoid using ground bird feeders, which attract rodents and other mammals ^{1 4 5}.
• Secure Your Property: Conduct seasonal inspections of your home's exterior. Seal potential entry points like gaps in siding, loose roof vents, uncapped chimneys, and openings where utility lines enter. Repair damaged soffits and fascia. Minimize dense shrubbery and tree branches that touch or overhang your house, as these provide highways for squirrels and raccoons ^{1 5}.
• Practice Pet Safety: For the safety of both your pets and local wildlife, keep cats indoors and supervise dogs in the yard, especially at dawn and dusk. Always walk dogs on a leash in areas where coyotes have been sighted ⁴. Keeping pets vaccinated is also critical.
• Use Deterrents Wisely: For coyotes passing through, making loud noises (air horns, yelling, banging pots) can effectively scare them away and reinforce their natural fear of humans ⁴. For other animals, motion-activated lights or sprinklers can sometimes be a deterrent.

When to Call for Help: Animal Control vs. Wildlife Professionals

Not every wildlife sighting requires immediate intervention, but knowing who to call is essential. In DeSoto, you generally have two main points of contact, each for different situations.

DeSoto Animal Control: This municipal service, part of the DeSoto Police Department, should be your first call for specific, immediate public safety concerns ⁶. Contact Animal Control for:

• Animal bites or any encounter with an animal suspected of having rabies.
• Reports of animal cruelty or neglect.
• Issues with continuously barking dogs.
• General questions or concerns about wild animal behavior in your neighborhood (e.g., a coyote sighting, a snake in a public park) ^{1 6 3}. It is important to understand that DeSoto Animal Control does not provide free removal services for nuisance wildlife from private property ^{2 7}. Their primary role is public safety and domestic animal management.

Licensed Wildlife Removal Professionals: You should contact a private wildlife control operator (WCO) for situations involving animals on or inside your private structures. This includes:

• An animal actively living inside your home (attic, walls, chimney, crawl space).
• The need for humane trapping and removal of a nuisance animal from your yard.
• Comprehensive exclusion work to seal an animal out after removal.
• Cleanup of nesting materials, droppings, or other biohazards.
• Repair of damage caused by wildlife (chewed wires, torn insulation, etc.) ^{1 2 3}.

These professionals have the specialized equipment, knowledge of animal behavior, and licensing required to handle these situations safely and in compliance with Texas state laws.

Understanding Regulations and Costs

Navigating the legal and financial aspects of wildlife removal in Texas is an important part of the process.

Key Regulations:

• No Free Municipal Removal: The City of DeSoto does not offer taxpayer-funded removal of nuisance wildlife from private residences. This responsibility falls to the property owner ^{2 7}.
• Permits for Relocation: In Texas, it is illegal to trap and relocate most fur-bearing animals (like raccoons, skunks, opossums) without a permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) ^{8 7}. Licensed professionals obtain these permits as part of their service to ensure legal and ethical relocation.
• Possession Laws: A city permit is required to exhibit or harbor wild animals within DeSoto city limits ⁹.

What to Expect for Costs: Pricing for wildlife removal in DeSoto is not standardized and varies significantly based on the job's complexity. Factors include the type of animal, its location (a snake in the yard vs. raccoons in the attic), the number of animals, and the extent of exclusion work needed.

• Simpler services, like the removal of a single dead animal or a snake from a yard, may start in the low hundreds of dollars ^{1 10}.
• More involved jobs, such as live-trapping a family of raccoons, performing a full attic exclusion (sealing all entry points), and conducting cleanup, can cost $500 or more ^{2 10}.
• Reputable professionals often advise against the use of rodenticides (poison) for rats and mice inside structures, as poisoned animals can die in inaccessible areas, causing severe odor and insect problems. Integrated pest management with trapping and exclusion is generally the recommended and more effective long-term solution ^{1 2}.

The Professional Removal Process

When you hire a qualified wildlife removal service in DeSoto, they typically follow a multi-step process to ensure a complete and lasting solution.

1. Inspection: The technician will perform a thorough inspection of your property, both inside and out, to identify the target animal, locate all entry points, and assess any damage.
2. Removal: Using species-appropriate, humane methods, the animal(s) will be removed. This may involve live trapping, one-way exclusion doors, or hands-on extraction, depending on the situation.
3. Exclusion: This is the most critical step for preventing recurrence. The technician will permanently seal all identified entry points with durable materials like steel mesh, hardware cloth, or specialized vent covers.
4. Cleanup and Restoration: Many companies offer sanitization services to clean up droppings, urine, and nesting materials, which can carry diseases and parasites. They may also provide repair services for damaged insulation, ductwork, or wiring.
5. Follow-up: A reputable company will often offer a warranty on their exclusion work and may schedule a follow-up visit to ensure the problem is fully resolved.

Frequently asked questions

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