When considering raccoon removal and other pest control measures, is it better to hire an exterminator or wildlife control experts? As it turns out, the best option is to call your local wildlife control company, which offers several benefits. In addition to being more effective, this approach is more humane and ensures you don’t run afoul of environmental laws.

Wildlife Don’t Know Any Better

One of the top reasons to choose wildlife control in Madison over extermination is a simple truth: Animals enter homes because they’re trying to stay alive. Human abodes offer ample shelter and food, two things every living creature needs to survive, especially during the cold season. Expectant mothers may also enter houses to nest, driven by their instinct to provide for their young.

There’s also the issue of human infringement on natural habitats. Wildlife populated the land thousands of years before humans started erecting cities; as we took up more and more space, the native animals began adapting. To them, a house is just another resource, like a tree or burrow. While an infestation can cause human health and structural problems, wildlife doesn’t intend any harm — they’re just doing what makes sense to them. That shouldn’t earn them a death sentence, especially when there are more humane options.

Laws Protect Certain Species

Most municipalities have laws protecting endangered species, so extermination may not even be an option depending on the problem. The following are commonly included on protected species lists:

• Indiana bats
• Most birds
• Muskrats
• Bears
• Minks
• Beavers
• Deer
• Most reptiles

Human activity threatens these animals’ populations, driving down numbers and putting them at risk of extinction. When a species disappears, the ecosystem loses an essential element; since all species in an ecosystem are connected, losing one can throw off the habitat’s balance in many possible ways:

• Affecting the soil composition
• Eliminating the natural predators of certain species, leading to an explosion in the population
• Eliminating a food source of certain species leads to a decline in the population

Damage to ecosystems is concerning on its own, but it’s important to acknowledge that humans can also be affected. For example, an overabundance of another species can lead to even more pest problems. Alternatively, a decline in wildlife populations, such as bees and other pollinators, can drastically affect the food supply.

What happens if you kill or remove a protected species? Violation of the Endangered Species Act or local ordinances can result in fines or jail time. You’ll also have to deal with the headache of getting a lawyer and attending court dates.

Wildlife Control Is a Long-Term Solution

Finally, extermination only solves the problem in the short term, as it doesn’t keep new animals from infiltrating your home. In contrast, wildlife control aims to keep you and critters safe by discouraging them from entering your property in the first place.

For example, wildlife control professionals inspect your home to find where animals can get inside. They then seal these areas to prevent further infestations.

They’ll also inspect your property for things that attract wildlife. For example, easily accessible compost bins can attract raccoons. Keeping containers inside a shed discourages animals from getting in, ensuring they move on.

Additionally, since the aim of wildlife control is humane removal, you don’t have to worry about collateral damage. Poisons targeting rodents and other pests may accidentally harm birds, helpful insects, and even pets. They may also have lingering effects on the environment, such as entering groundwater, that we don’t know about yet.

Before you search for “bat removal near me,” consider calling Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control. We’re dedicated to safely removing critters so you can rest easy. For more information, contact us online or give us a call.