At A-1 Exterminators, we’re proud to offer pest control services that span a wide range of potential pest sizes. From insects like ants and bedbugs to larger animals like birds (we offer quality Bird Barrier solutions) and various rodents, we’ll ensure no pest type, whatever the size or habits, makes its way into your home or building.
On the larger end of this spectrum, the most common pests we help dissuade are rodents like mice, rats and others. Occasionally, however, home or business owners will deal with even larger animals like raccoons, squirrels, birds or even bats – if you happen to discover such an animal inside your home, what should you do? Here are some general tips on handling this situation safely and properly.
Stay Calm
For starters, while it may be an old cliché, it’s used so often because it’s true: Such wild animals will virtually always be more afraid of you than you are of it. This means, however, that they will respond defensively to any kind of threat they perceive – if you start chasing them around the house with a broom or do anything else that’s threatening, they may go into survival mode and become aggressive. Instead, remain calm and do not panic.
Keep a Safe Distance
In addition to remaining calm, keep a reasonable and safe distance from the animal, especially if it seems defensive. Move slowly if you must move around near it. If possible without risking anyone’s safety, try to keep the animal contained within a room with a closed door until you’re able to find further solutions.
Move it Outside
In other situations, depending on where you found the animal and how your home or building is set up, it might be possible for you to safely attempt to direct the animal back outside before anything else happens. Once again, do not get too close and do not outwardly threaten them, especially animals like raccoons who could carry disease.
Instead, consider tricks that might get them to go outside. If you have a small piece of food, for instance, toss this outside and hope they’ll chase it.
Call Our Team
Finally, even if you’re able to get the animal to leave, it’s vital to call our pest control professionals (and potentially wildlife services for certain animals). We’ll help you assess how the animal was able to enter the space to begin with, assisting you with preventing such entry moving forward. We’ll also check for signs of other pests that may have entered through the same area but have not been quite as visible.
For more on how to respond to a larger pest that’s inside your home, or to learn about any of our pest control services, speak to the staff at A-1 Exterminators today.
