Wildlife Removal Before & After Photos

As any roofer will tell you, terracotta clay-based ceramic roofing tiles can be challenging to work with. Although they are heavy and durable, if accidentally dropped or stepped on, these types of tiles can easily be broken. Terracotta tiles are installed by placing overlapping and interlocking rows of them on the roof. Although clay roofs are built to last and have been around long before asphalt shingles, repairing them can be a big hassle.

In order to access any tiles that are further up the roof from the eaves, you have to get to them without breaking any.  Because the weight of a person walking on the roof is more than enough to break these clay tiles, roofers often use boom trucks. When pieces have to be replaced, if the tiles are hooked over fasteners, you have to go under the piece and cut the fasteners since the overlapping tiles cover the fasteners. If the tiles are glued down, you may need a hammer and chisel. When I think of what roofers who work with terracotta tiles have to do, it makes me glad that I’m just a wildlife technician who only risks getting bitten or scratched by a nasty raccoon or sprayed by a skunk!

I was sent to a home in Belford, NJ to perform a wildlife exclusion along with one of our home improvement specialists. A wildlife exclusion is any project where we seal wildlife entry points (often on or around the roof) to prevent a re-infestation. With this home, raccoons were gaining access through a small area of a terracotta roof that had been damaged. According to the homeowner, this area had been previously patched, but the person doing the repairs failed to secure it properly leaving the gap vulnerable to wildlife.

We were asked by the homeowner to perform an exclusion to this area to ensure that any raccoons in the neighborhood stayed out. For this project, we measured and fit a piece of “trim cool,” aluminum fascia trim, in place that fit together like a puzzle piece. This trim blended into the roof, and just as important, was able to be secured correctly in order to prevent any wildlife access.

We often use trim cool to do repairs because of its flexibility. More and more, we are seeing fascia boards are covered with this product because of its resiliency to the outdoor elements. Homeowners don’t have to worry about peeling paint, wood rot, or wildlife gaining access to your attic by clawing their way through weakened wood.

This homeowner in Belford, NJ, had an infestation of squirrels in her attic. How did they get in? They ripped a portion of the gable vent off and entered that way. Nuisance wildlife infesting a home through the gable vents is very common. Over time, the gable vents get weathered so nuisance wildlife like raccoons, squirrels, birds, and bats have no problem ripping away these vents to find shelter inside a home.

A short while ago, we successfully retrieved all the squirrels and relocated them to a new, humane location. All that's left is exclude the main access in order to prevent future intrusions! First, we disinfected the attic area, went back to our trucks to fashion a louvered gable vent, and then installed it over the gable vent. This material is made out of heavy-duty Galvannealed steel (which means it won't rust) and is customized to accommodate vents of all shapes and sizes! Now the gable vent is properly protected from squirrels as well as all nuisance wildlife!

After spotting a squirrel roaming around in his attic, this homeowner in Brick, NJ immediately called Little Rascals for help. After a thorough investigation, we determined that the squirrels were using an exposed exhaust vent in the attic to infest the home.

We temporarily enclosed the area with hardware cloth, installed a one-way device in front of the exhaust vent, and set up several baited traps nearby. The one-way will allow the squirrel to safely leave the attic, but prevent it from getting back in. A short while later, we successfully retrieved the squirrel and relocated it to a new, humane location. 

Additionally, we disinfected that attic and installed a DryerWallVent®. The DryerWallVent® is made out of heavy-duty galvanized steel and its large opening and angled damper provide maximum airflow efficiency for safe venting. Integrated magnets keep the damper closed when not in use, preventing squirrels, birds, and all nuisance wildlife from infesting the home.

As this customer in Brick, NJ was cleaning his basement, he was terrified to find several squirrels running around the area! He searched for a reputable wildlife removal company, found Little Rascals, called us, and we were sent out. As we thoroughly inspected the basement, we noticed a small entry point behind the drop ceiling. We then inspected the exterior of the home and found some old concrete steps that were no longer in use underneath the newly installed deck. Turns out that the squirrels were actually squeezing through the small openings in the concrete steps to infest the basement!

To safely retrieve the squirrels, we installed a positive set over each of the openings and temporarily enclosed them in hardware cloth. We also set up several baited devices nearby. A positive set is comprised of a nose cone that is attached to a two-gaited, heavy-duty device. The nose cone will safely guide the squirrels into the device. It's called a positive set, because we are positive that the squirrels will enter our device. A short while later, we safely retrieved the squirrels and relocated them to a new, humane location.

To prevent any future intrusions from squirrels, as well as other nuisance wildlife, we stuffed each opening in the steps with Xcluder® Fill Fabric and then used concrete to seal up the cracks. 

This homeowner in Shrewsbury, NJ had a raccoon rip apart his weathered gable vent and make a new home in his attic! Previously, we safely retrieved the raccoon and relocated it to a new, humane environment. Afterward, we disinfected the entire attic and removed all the contaminated insulation. In regards to replacing his insulation, the homeowner wanted our Contracting team to come out and reinsulate the attic with new blown-in cellulose insulation. 

In order to prevent any future raccoons from reinfesting the home, we removed the old, broken gable vent and replaced it with a louvered vent guard. This material is made of heavy-duty Galvannealed steel (which means it won't rust) and is customized to accommodate vents of all shapes and sizes. Now the home is properly protected from raccoons, as well as all nuisance wildlife!