Wildlife Exclusion – The Secret Weapon in Pest Control

Raccoons can be avoided in your Baton Rouge LA home with wildlife exclusion services from Dugas Pest Control.Whether you live in rural Louisiana or near an urban area, one thing that we all have to deal with is wildlife. Even in cities and suburban neighborhoods, the south is full of animals like possums, raccoons, squirrels, and other rodents that don’t mind being around people. The bad news is that because these pests are so used to people, they are also frequently found trying to make a home inside your home. In order to get them out, and prevent them from doing it again, wildlife exclusion is the key. This pest control method provided by the experts at Dugas Pest Control ensures your property is not suitable for nuisance wildlife invasions. Read on to learn more!

What Exactly Is Wildlife Exclusion?

Wildlife exclusion is an essential part of keeping nuisance wildlife away. It involved sealing your home to the animals using preventative measures such as sealing holes in your roof, installing screens over windows and doors, and more. A professional wildlife control expert will thoroughly inspect your property to look for vulnerabilities that could lead to animals making their way in through your crawl space or attic. The most common wildlife problems we face here in Baton Rouge include:

Why Do You Need Wildlife Exclusion Services?

While it’s completely normal to see wildlife out in nature, you likely don’t want to share your home with them. Here’s why wildlife exclusion is so important:

  • First, they can cause major damage to your home. When these animals make nests in the crawlspace or attic, they can ruin electrical wiring, plumbing, or foundational material with chewing and other behaviors. By nesting to protect litters, rodents like these can cause damage to your home.
  • These pests can also present a danger to your family, especially small children who might not know better than to approach these animals, and anyone who tries to capture or “shoo” them out on their own. That is because many of these animals carry diseases. They can also attack if they feel threatened, which can cause serious injury.
  • Finally, these animals also present a danger to your pets for the same reason. If one of these animals feels threatened by a dog that has rooted them out, or if they feel like your cat, prowling through the attic for mice, presents a threat to their food source, they may attack and either injure your pet or pass on a disease.

How Dugas Can Help

If you want to avoid a wildlife problem on your property, Dugas can help. We’ll do a thorough inspection of your home, the foundation, the roof, and other access points, and find the areas where these animals got inside. After blocking off these entrances, we’ll show you how to make sure your home stays wildlife-free. Working with a local pest control company like Dugas means you can rest assured knowing your safety is our top priority. Get in touch with our wildlife control team today to learn how we can help!

A Closer Look at Armadillos in Baton Rouge

Armadillo out in it's habit in Baton Rouge, LA; Dugas Pest ControlPeople often think of armadillos living primarily in places like South and Central America, but they are not completely exempt from residing in the states, particularly in Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina, and Florida. The species that are found in our local Baton Rouge area is the nine-banded armadillo, and this particular species has traveled northward in recent years because of the lack of natural predators. In fact, the nine-banded armadillos are the only species found in the U.S. Therefore, it’s not uncommon for pest control companies to receive phone calls from local residents regarding Baton Rouge armadillos in or around their homes.

What do Armadillos Look Like?

Armadillos are known for their hard, protective shells. There are approximately 30 species of armadillos, and they are characterized by the number of bands on their shells. On average, they are 30 inches in length; although the giant armadillo grows up to be 59 inches and 130 pounds. The smallest species, called the pink fairy armadillo, is only 5 inches in length. Armadillos may have short legs, but they do travel quickly. They have poor eyesight, which is why they use their other senses to hunt for food. Their sharp claws are perhaps their greatest asset.

What Types of Habitats do Armadillos Live In?

In the wild, armadillos prefer shady, forestry areas that are located next to rivers and lakes. Armadillos get their food from digging in the soil, so they also prefer areas that have loose, wet soil. They dig burrows to reside in and hide from predators, but sometimes, these animals make their homes in residential areas. They’ll burrow under homes, sheds, porches, decks, driveways, woodpiles, and crawlspaces. They look for cracks in the foundation and use these as entry points to burrow underneath the structure. Since armadillos are great diggers with their claws, they make use out of small openings that may go unnoticed by humans.

Are Armadillos Dangerous to Humans and Pets?  

If you do have an armadillo that makes its way into your home, it’s important that you treat the problem. These nuisance pests do have sharp claws and will use them against dogs and cats if they feel threatened. They are also known carriers of the bacteria which cause leprosy. In Louisiana, 53 percent of armadillos tested positive for leprosy, which causes skin lesions, muscle weakness, and nerve damage in the animals. Armadillos also carry rabies and are hosts for tapeworms and salmonella.

How Can Dugas Pest Control Help with Armadillo Problems?

While you may be tempted to capture the armadillo on your own, this is not advised. These animals do carry disease and have sharp claws that they will use if they feel threatened. Therefore, it’s best to leave this job up to the professionals.

Dugas Pest Control is trained in the proper methods for safely and humanely trapping and releasing armadillos. Using wildlife exclusion as the humane way of getting rid of these types of pests, we also go to extreme lengths to make sure that no other pests will be getting into your home in the future. We seal up all entry points and also have products that can be used to deter pests from coming onto your property.

Dugas Pest Control uses a variety of techniques to care for an armadillo problem in Baton Rouge, including live traps. We will relocate the animal as far away from your home as possible, while ensuring that they do not come back. And, if you’re unsure that it’s really an armadillo in the first place, let us come out and identify the animal for you. Sometimes, our clients think that it’s one type of pest invading their home, when really, it may be something else.

Remember, armadillos have unique personalities and carry disease, so you should always work with a professional to rid your home of these creatures to protect yourself and your family.