Wildlife Removal Before & After Photos

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!

The Cowleys nuisance wildlife crew was sent to this home in Atlantic Highlands, NJ to handle the exclusion work following a wildlife infestation in the attic. The wildlife access points were around the PVC roof vents caused by deterioration of the surrounding vent boots. We arrived to do the repair work to fix the problem.

Vent boots encase the PVC vent pipes that stick out of your roof. When doing repairs around vent pipe flashing after wildlife entry, homeowners sometimes ask us why their home even has these mysterious vent pipes since they seem like nothing but trouble.

These pipes are part of your plumbing system, or what plumbers call you drain-waste-vent (DWV) system, At the risk of oversimplification, this system has three major parts. The “D” stands for drainpipes, the pipes that collect water from sinks, showers, tubs, and your appliances like your dishwasher and washing machine. The “W” stands for waste pipes, the pipes that remove water and waste from your toilets. All of these pipes connect to the municipality’s sewer line or your septic system. The “V” stands for the vent pipes that stick out of your roof. Building codes require at least one of them.

Vent pipes have two important functions for your plumbing system. First, they equalize pressure in the pipes by allowing air to enter so that the liquid flows freely. (Just think what happens if you put your thumb over a straw immediately after you suck in liquid or if you try to pour liquid out of a can without a second air hole. Without air in the system, water doesn’t flow well.) Second, these vent pipes remove or exhaust sewer gases that are produced and collected from the decomposition of wastes in the sewage system. Sewer gas contains a number of nasty gases including hydrogen sulfide and ammonia that are flammable, poisonous, and just plain stink. These vents are put high up on your roof so that the sewer gas is not pulled back into the home through the windows or attic. 

So, if all that’s too much information, the short answer is that you need those vent pipes sticking out of your roof for your plumbing system to work. Unfortunately, even though these vent pipes are essential, they are also rank up there as one of the most common causes of roof leaks. In addition, the PVC vent areas are vulnerable to wildlife like raccoons that can tear through the vent flashing to gain access to the attic. 

To help prevent leaks and give some added protection against wildlife entry, vent boots seal the area where the pipes come out. Unfortunately, vent boots often don’t last the life of the roof. Because they’re usually made out of rubber, over time, the sun and the outdoor elements will cause them to rot. With this home, the vent boots had deteriorated to the point where they were gone completely, leaving entry points for water intrusions and for pests and wildlife to gain access inside the home.

These homeowners in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, were having problems with squirrels “squirreling” their way into their attic. They were tired of dealing with these periodic squirrel infestations into their home, and contacted Cowleys in the hopes of finding a long-term solution. We had the perfect answer for them! 

Our contractor division installed CritterProof, a critter protection product manufactured by Leaf Supreme, a leading designer of gutter protection systems. CritterProof is specifically designed to cover the fascia gap and exclude various wildlife that often makes their way onto the roof and into the attic. The most common “attic invaders” that we see time and time again here in New Jersey are squirrels, raccoons, and bats. Mice also find their way into the attic, but usually they first enter the home through the basement or crawl space. 

CritterProof is a protective system that stops wildlife from chewing and clawing their way through the delicate fascia boards to gain access to the soffit area and, ultimately, where the attic. For wildlife, attics are the perfect refuge to escape the harsh outdoor elements and they make for a wonderful nesting area to care for their young. After all, attics are warm, quiet, private, and free from the preying eyes of predators.  

A home’s soffit/fascia area is one of the more common routes we see for wildlife to gain entry. CritterProof’s unique adjustable design provides custom coverage of the fascia gap while still maintaining critical attic ventilation. CritterProof is available in black, white, and other colors by special order.