Home Services

Animal Droppings & Feces Removal in Ann Arbor

Finding animal droppings around your Ann Arbor home is almost a certain indication that you have a wildlife infestation. If the problem animal is already gone, we can offer animal feces removal and clean your Ann Arbor home to get it back to normal. We can also help with removing the animal, whether you have dead animals in the house or you have an active wildlife problem. Many animal visitors will have used a specific area in or around your home in which to leave feces, which can lead to health hazards, stains, and unpleasant odors. Call Critter Control of Ann Arbor today to learn how we can remove animal droppings from your home. 734.449.5858

Where Are Animal Droppings Found?

Some common places Ann Arbor residents discover wildlife animal droppings in the home include:

• Wildlife Feces in the Kitchen—Feces found in the kitchen are typically from rodents. Because they are so food-oriented, rodents will often make their way into your kitchen and leave droppings in their wake, which is often in your cabinets, pantry, or underneath sinks. If you're unsure that rodent feces has come into contact with any food products, you MUST dispose of them as soon as possible and contact the professionals at Critter Control to remove droppings safely and quickly.
• Wildlife Animal Droppings in the Attic—Common attic-dwellers that leave feces in your attic often include bats, birds, squirrels, raccoons, and more. If you suspect you have animals in your Ann Arbor attic, you will certainly have animal droppings, also. Droppings in attics can be found hidden behind items in your attic or spread across open areas. Wildlife is notorious for using insulation for nest building, so it may be necessary to replace your insulation if it is soiled with feces.
• Wildlife Animal Droppings in Garage—Wildlife critters like mice, raccoons, and rats also love to get into garages to find food (and shelter). Common areas you may find animal droppings in garages include shelving, behind garbage cans, along the wall, and inside insulation. If you have rodent droppings, you'll likely notice they multiply quickly. Discovering raccoon or rodent droppings in your garage should make your decision a no-brainer—call Critter Control of Ann Arbor today for animal feces removal.

What Type of Animal Feces Do I Have in my House?

When you first find wildlife droppings, you may assume you have rodent feces in your home. However, the droppings you found could be from another culprit. Use the handy guide below to narrow down the type of wildlife feces you're dealing with. It will help us form a plan to effectively remove the critter from your home, and if they're already gone (which we hope they are!), we'll clean them up and restore your home so you'll never know you had a critter visitor.

• Mouse Feces—Mouse poop is about half the size of a grain of rice (3–6 mm), and dark brown/black in color. The droppings are often hard due to their typical diet of grains, fruits, and seeds. The presence of mouse droppings in a certain area (usually around floorboards and behind appliances where the mice can get around inconspicuously) means they are commonly moving throughout this area. Mouse feces is commonly mistaken for bat droppings, but mouse droppings are slightly longer and slenderer. Mouse dropping clean up can be a dangerous task to your health, so it's important to get expert help if you are facing a large amount of it. 
• Rat Feces—Rat feces is among one of the most dangerous types of wildlife feces. Though the quintessential rat disease is plague, which is transmitted through fleas that have feasted on infected rats, diseases like Hantavirus are transmitted directly through coming into contact with rat feces. So what does rat poop look like? Fresh rat poop is dark and has a shine, but rat poop that has been sitting for a while is lighter gray and dustier. Consistent with their physical size difference, mouse poop is smaller than rat poop. Roof rat droppings are more tapered on the ends, while Norway rats (also known as brown rats) have more blunted edges. If you think you have rodent feces in your home, but you're not sure which animal it's coming from, Critter Control can help you identify the culprit. 
• Bat Guano—Attic insulation is a common area in which to find bat poop, known commonly as guano. If you have noticed small, grain-of-rice-length dark brown/black feces that is slightly wider than a grain of rice (smaller than mouse poop), you’ve likely found bat guano. Though guano is considered a prized fertilizer in some areas of the world, its chemical makeup can cause Histoplasmosis in humans if inhaled. It is especially dangerous for immunocompromised individuals. If you find droppings in the attic, it's likely from a bat. 
• Raccoon Poop—Raccoon poop is tube-shaped and quite large when compared with other critters’ droppings. They are nearly an inch long, bulbous, and have texture along the sides. They are often mistaken for the feces of a small dog. Because raccoons use a single area—known as a latrine—separate from where they live, raccoon poop is usually accumulated in large amounts. These latrines are incredibly dangerous because of their ability to transmit spores of raccoon roundworm, the most common illness associated with raccoons.

Are Animal Droppings Actually Dangerous?

In short, yes. The most serious issue with feces of any kind is its impact on your health and wellness, and that of your family/pets. Wildlife droppings in particular can carry a host of parasites and illnesses. Rodent droppings can expose you to Hantavirus, a hazardous respiratory disease. Bat guano and bird feces are also carriers of another respiratory illness called Histoplasmosis. Raccoon feces are common hosts of raccoon roundworms, which can even lead to coma in extreme cases. Curious cats and dogs are at risk of coming into contact with, if not consuming, these wildlife droppings and becoming very ill.

If you spot any type of animal droppings in your home, please call Critter Control of Ann Arbor today for animal feces removal. 734.449.5858

What Parts of my Attic Need to be Cleaned or Replaced?

Has your attic been overtaken by unwelcome bats, mice, raccoons or squirrels? Getting rid of the animal itself is just part of the solution. Lots of other issues still remain that need to be addressed, such as the droppings and urine left in your attic’s insulation, nesting materials like twigs and foodstuff that has been brought in by the critter, the odor caused by the critter, potential mold growth, and secondary parasites brought in by the critter’s presence.

Did you know that critters can smell when others have been in a certain place? That’s right—you could be unwittingly inviting more critters in if you don’t properly clean your attic after you’ve had wildlife visitors. Luckily, we can help.

What Will Critter Control of Ann Arbor Do To Clean my Attic?

Critter Control of Ann Arbor has all of the necessary equipment to remove any and all damage that has occurred to your insulation. We will also replace it with new insulation that is up to code. 

• The first step, after ensuring that all wildlife (including babies) has been removed, is to get rid of the droppings. We do not recommend using a household vacuum to do this—some DIY processes like this are better left to professionals. Our special vacuums will make sure we are minimizing the amount of spores released into the area. If the animal droppings are large enough (like those of a raccoon), we will remove them by hand.
• Next is to clean anything leftover, which includes neutralizing the pheromones of the animals so no new animals will be drawn to the space.
• After everything has been cleaned and sanitized, it is finally time to replace the attic insulation. As a full-service attic restoration company, we can help you remove, clean, and replace your attic’s insulation all in one step—many of our competitors only offer one of these two steps.

The technicians of Critter Control of Ann Arbor also have the ability to quote projects for most major insurance companies in order to get your home back in order. By saving energy, a correctly insulated attic could pay for itself in no time. Also, be sure to ask about any available energy tax credits. 

Between asbestos, animal damage, and diseases from droppings, it's best to leave the repairs to the trained professionals. 

Call Critter Control of Ann Arbor today for more information on attic restoration. 734.449.5858

Ann Arbor Attic, Soffit, & Louver Vent Screen Guards

The inside of your home is only as secure as the outside when it comes to wildlife critters finding their way in. Clever critters like raccoons, squirrels, bats, and mice all make use of compromised roofs to gain entry into your Ann Arbor home.

Whether it's attic fan vent guards, roof vent guards, gable vent closures, or soffit vent repairs, our skilled technicians have the expertise needed to solve your critter problems quickly and professionally. Let us do the work for you; do not hesitate to contact Critter Control of Ann Arbor today! 734.449.5858

Why are vent screen guards important?

Attic vents, soffit vents, and louver vents are all important for keeping the air circulating in your home. They play an important role in keeping your home cool in the summer and safe in the winter. While these vents are important for the proper function of your home, if they aren't properly sealed and screened, they are a gateway for wildlife. 

Especially as the Michigan winter rolls in, wildlife is going to start looking for a warm place to spend the snowy months. Your vents offer the perfect way for them to enter your home. Even if you think your vents are sealed, you'll want to check again.  Animals like mice can fit through a hole the size of a dime. It doesn't take more than a damaged vent flap for them to wiggle their way inside! 

Wildlife in your Ann Arbor home can damage your attic, leave droppings around your favorite belongings, and spread diseases. Vent screen guards can prevent problems before they start. 

Dangers of Attic Damage

When your vents are left uncovered, you're at risk for attic damage. When birds fly into your attic through the vents, they make their nests and leave droppings. These droppings attract bugs and diseases, which are dangerous to your health. Rodents are another animal that will get into your home through an uncovered vent. Rodents multiply quickly. They will make a nest in your insulation, soil the area with their droppings, and chew exposed wires creating a fire hazard.

Bats also like to live in the attic and will get there through vent guards. Bats in the attic group together on your walls and leave behind guano. They also reproduce quickly and create a health hazard in your attic. When squirrels get into your attic through the vents, they will hoard their food for winter and use your insulation for bedding. They will also chew wires and cause a fire hazard. If you have a loose screen guard over your vent, raccoons will use the dexterity in their paws to rip the cover off and make their nest inside your attic. They will leave behind a latrine, have their babies, and soil your insulation. 

Soiled insulation, chewed wires, and animal droppings can all be avoided with proper covers on your attic, soffit, and louver vents. 

Call Critter Control of Ann Arbor today to ensure your home is sealed tight from wildlife in your neighborhood! 734.449.5858

Ann Arbor Carcass & Dead Animal Cleanup

Dead animals leave a horrendous smell in your home, but decayed animal carcasses can lead to many other problems such as insect infestations, health hazards, and diseases. Dead animals can be found anywhere in your home--they might be in the attic, ceiling, walls, or crawlspace. To find a dead animal in your home, the best method is to follow your nose.

If you think the animal has died in the wall, calling the professionals is the best bet as you do not want to be cutting multiple holes in the drywall looking for the animal. If you're struggling with dead wildlife removal, give our office a call! Critter Control has special deodorizers, neutralizers, and air purifiers to help with the smell, and we will get the dead in the house out quickly. 

What health hazards do dead animals cause in your home?

Deceased and decayed animals can be a health hazard to your family. Hantavirus, E. Coli, and salmonella are just a few of the common diseases that can be spread. In addition to the health hazards that dead animals leave behind, they also leave a horrid odor. 

The odor may contaminate the drywall or insulation, which can be costly to repair if it is not tackled right away. 

If your family pets have found the dead animal in the house, the diseases could be transmitted to them, or they could come into contact with the bugs that are on the dead animal. Kids may also find the dead animal, which is dangerous to their health. The safest option is to call our team of professionals to remove the dead animal as soon as you suspect you have the problem. 

What animals commonly die in Ann Arbor homes?

Because Ann Arbor faces cold winters, it's common for many animals to live out the snowy days in your attic, basement, walls, or crawlspace. Common animals that may die in your home include mice, rats, bats, raccoons, and birds. The larger the animal that dies in your home, the more odor it will cause! However, even small animals can attract bugs and diseases into your house, which is why it's important to remove any dead animal in the house as quickly as possible. 

How do you know if there's a dead animal in your home?

The first sign there's likely a dead animal in your home is the odor. You will probably smell the deceased animal in your walls, vent, or attic. You may also come across a dead animal somewhere in your home. It's important to remember that dead animals spread diseases, so be very cautious when handling them. Your best bet is to leave the removal up to the professionals at Critter Control of Ann Arbor, as we will remove the dead animal in the house, and also take care of the dead animal smell removal.

If you do not have the dead animal removed, it will decompose where it sits. The animal will continue to smell until it is completely decomposed. The time it takes for the decomposition will depend on the size of the animal. To avoid living with the smell for weeks, call Critter Control for dead wildlife removal. 

Dead Animal Smell Removal

One of the struggles that come with having a dead animal in the house is the odor. If you’re wondering how to deodorize your house from a dead animal, Critter Control can help. When we deodorize your home, we start by removing the dead animal. Then, we remove any lingering fluids from the deceased body.

We will then disinfect the area to remove any bacteria and bugs and repair any soiled area around the dead animal. This is especially important if you have a dead animal odor in the wall because the drywall and insulation will need to be replaced if they are soiled.

Our goal is to get your home looking and smelling back to normal as quickly as possible! Keep your family safe by tackling the dead wildlife removal as soon as you suspect the problem is there. 

If you have dead animals in your Ann Arbor home, our experts can help. Call Critter Control of Ann Arbor today for more information on dead wildlife removal. 734.449.5858

Ann Arbor Caulk & Sealing Solutions

Our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) service will seal all cracks and crevices in your home with the proper materials to prevent pests from coming inside. This will also result in energy savings in your home. Our trained professionals will perform inspections and monitor for pests in order to identify potential problems in your home. We will prevent small pests infestations from becoming a larger problem. Don't wait until it becomes a problem; be proactive and prevent it from occurring in the first place.  Common infestations that can be prevented with caulking and sealing include the following animals:

• Rodents
• Squirrels
• Moles
• Chipmunks
• Birds

Common Places that Wildlife Enter your Ann Arbor Home

Rodents are sneaky--they will find their way into your home if there's an opportunity! Common places for wildlife to wiggle into your home include around doors, windows, vents, soffits, holes in siding, and through your chimney. It can be hard to identify every hole in your home. Luckily, the trained eyes from Critter Control of Ann Arbor will find any possible entry points to caulk and seal them.

Give Critter Control of Ann Arbor a call at 734.449.5858 today for more information or Contact Us online! 

Chimney Cap & Screen Installation in Ann Arbor

With years of experience, Critter Control offers a wide selection of products and services to help you with your animal and pest control. After the removal of unwanted pests and wildlife from your home is complete, our service professionals are ready to repair any damages done to your home with modern prevention techniques. 

Which Animals Get In Chimneys?

Common chimney visitors include raccoons, squirrels, bats, and birds. Oftentimes, their presence in chimneys is not intentional, but they are nonetheless an issue in your Ann Arbor home. Sometimes these animals have young that are unable to get out on their own and may be protected by law, so it's important not to attempt removal on your own.

What Kind of Damage Do Animals in the Chimney Cause?

If they stay inside your chimney, animals can obstruct the flow of smoke once your chimney is in use, presenting a hazard to your home. Animals that are nesting can also bring in leaves and other natural materials and cause an obstruction.

Critter Control of Ann Arbor can help reduce possible wildlife entry by:

• Screening vents
• Installing chimney caps
• Closing entry holes & more

Call Critter Control of Ann Arbor today for more information on solving all your animal problems. 734.449.5858

Crawlspace Clean-Up in Ann Arbor

The nuisance wildlife animal is gone — now what? There may be damage to your pipes or insulation that can lead to odors, water leaks, or loss of energy. Critter Control of Ann Arbor can provide crawlspace clean-up services to identify, remove and repair any wildlife messes or damage left behind.

Insulation Damage

Critters can get into the insulation in your crawlspace, damaging it so much that it’s no longer effective. Animals like mice and squirrels will wiggle into the insulation, leaving droppings that make the insulation a health hazard. They also like to make their beds out of the insulation by ripping it apart.

An expert from Critter Control of Ann Arbor can come and evaluate the insulation in your crawlspace to ensure it is properly insulating your Ann Arbor home.

A Cozy Critter Home

Animals like raccoons love to use your Ann Arbor crawlspace to have their babies. It is safe and out of the elements, making it the perfect home.

We can remove any wildlife living in your crawlspace and install barriers to prevent future invasions. We can install foundation vent screens to keep animals from moving to your crawlspace in the future.

Mice in the Crawlspace

Mice can make their way into your home through a hole the size of a dime. Tiny holes in the siding, space between your brick, or damaged crawlspace vents make for easy entry points for mice in the crawlspace.

Mice are attracted to your crawlspace because it’s a cozy and safe space for them to live, especially in the colder months. As the mating season comes around, mice will also use your crawlspace as the perfect spot for their nest.

When rodents are in the crawlspace, they leave behind droppings that can accumulate if not cleaned. These piles of droppings can spread diseases. You may also have dead mice in the crawlspace which spread diseases as well.

Another problem that mice in the crawlspace cause is that they love to chew! They will chew your insulation to make their beds which makes it ineffective. They will also chew the wires in your home which causes them to fray and become a fire hazard.

If you suspect mice in the crawlspace, the problem can escalate faster than you think. Give our team a call today to make a plan for mouse removal.

Squirrels in the Crawlspace

While it’s not common for squirrels to nest in the crawlspace, they will certainly use it to store their seeds and nuts for the winter.

Any cracks around your crawlspace vents and or foundation may allow for squirrels to get in your home. Squirrels can carry fleas and ticks, as well as diseases like tularemia.

Like mice, squirrels have a habit of chewing. They may chew the wood or wires in your crawlspace, causing structural damage to your home and making for a fire hazard. It’s also common for squirrels to shred your insulation to use for their bedding.

Coming face to face with squirrels in the crawlspace is dangerous and shouldn’t be attempted without professional help. Our team at Critter Control of Ann Arbor know what traps are best for each unique situation and how to remove the squirrels safely and humanely. Give us a call for a free phone estimate. 734.449.5858

Raccoons in the Crawlspace

Raccoons are dangerous to your crawlspace because they will make their den and leave behind disease-spreading droppings. Raccoons need more room to get inside your crawlspace, so as long as any open areas are screened off, you shouldn’t have an issue with raccoons in the crawlspace.

If raccoons have inhabited your crawlspace, you need to be mindful that their dropping are likely carrying diseases like roundworm. To properly remove raccoons in the house, professional-grade disinfecting methods are required.

If you have raccoons in your crawlspace or anywhere else in the house, professional removal is important. Give our office a call today for a phone estimate.

Pipe Damage

Some animals like rats and mice will use their sharp teeth to damage your pipes. This can be detrimental to your home as water leaks can create a lot of damage quickly. Wildlife can chew through more than you think. If you suspect you have critters in your Ann Arbor crawlspace, contact us today.

Energy Efficiency

Damage to your crawlspace in your Ann Arbor home can have a big impact on the energy efficiency of your home. Michigan winters are long and cold, and your heating bill may be negatively impacted if critters have damaged the insulation in your crawlspace.

Call Critter Control of Ann Arbor today for more information on solving your animal-related problems and damage. 734.449.5858

Inspections & Consultations in Ann Arbor

Critter Control is a full-service company. When we come to your home, we’ll inspect your property inside and out and top to bottom using our copyrighted Animal Entry Worksheet (AEW). This will help us identify all potential problem areas and offer you safe and cost-effective solutions.

What type of animals get into Ann Arbor homes?

The weather in Michigan is constantly fluctuating which means many critters are often looking for a safe and warm place to call home. Your Ann Arbor home can be an easy answer for them. Common animals that damage your yard or home include:

• Rodents
• Bats
• Raccoons
• Skunks
• Squirrels
• Mice
• Moles
• Woodchucks
• Chipmunks
• Opossums
• Birds

How much does animal removal cost in Ann Arbor?

The level of damage an animal can cause in your home varies drastically. Critter Control of Ann Arbor can take care of almost any problem an animal creates, and we can also install prevention methods to keep animals from damaging your home in the future.

From caulking and sealing to attic restoration, we offer many different services at many different price points. The best thing to do is call for a phone consultation or book a complete property inspection. We will determine any potential wildlife problems in your home and offer a cost-effective solution.

What services does Critter Control of Ann Arbor offer?

Critter Control of Ann Arbor offers a variety of services to ensure your home is protected from wildlife. The services we offer for your Ann Arbor home include:

• Animal droppings/feces removal
• Attic/insulation restoration
• Vent screen guard installation/maintenance
• Carcass/dead animal removal
• Caulk & sealing
• Chimney cap and screen installation
• Crawlspace cleanup
• Odor control/remediation

If there’s something in your home that needs attention that you don’t see on our website, please give us a call and we will do our best to accommodate your request!

Call Critter Control of Ann Arbor today for more information on solving your animal-related problems and damage.

Odor Control & Remediation in Ann Arbor

Animals can leave lingering odors in your home. After removing the animal(s), Critter Control has special odor control solutions, including deodorizers, neutralizers, and air purifiers that help make the smell dissipate.

Where is the animal odor coming from?

The worst culprit of bad odors in your home is dead animals. If a mouse, squirrel, or other critter dies in your home, the odor can be hard to handle. To find where the odor is coming from, you can typically follow your nose.

It’s common for mice or other rodents to die in your walls. Critter Control can take care of this. We will cut a hole in the drywall, remove the animal, remove the lingering odor with our commercial deodorizer, and repair the drywall.

If the animal has died in your vents, we can remove them for you. This removal method will vary from home to home, but we will remove the animal and deodorize your space.

You may also have animals die in your attic, crawlspace, or basement. We will remove those deceased animals and deodorize those spaces. We also offer attic restoration if the animals have made their way into your insulation.

How to remove the dead animal smell from your home

Removing the odor from a deceased animal in your home can be tricky. The experts at Critter Control of Ann Arbor have the tools to effectively remove a dead animal and any lingering odors. We use commercial-grade deodorizers and neutralizers to rid your space of the horrid smell.

Call Critter Control of Ann Arbor for more information! 734.449.5858