Tag Archives: wildlife rescue and control

Dealing with Woodpecker Problems?

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Woodpeckers are an interesting breed of bird that have earned themselves a bad reputation in urban neighborhoods. Although highly beneficial parts of our surrounding ecosystem, woodpeckers are a real nuisance for home and business owners. Not only are they noisy, they also leave behind unsightly structural damage to homes, sheds, buildings, and even trees. If you are experiencing a woodpecker problem, it is time to learn how to manage it safely and effectively. Continue reading to learn more about woodpeckers, and how to get rid of them on your property.

Woodpeckers

There are three main reasons why woodpeckers peck: foraging for food, marking their territory, and chiseling for shelter. All three of these initiatives are carried out with a different type of pecking manner, the most damaging of which is excavating for shelter. Woodpeckers can cause an extreme amount of damage to siding and wood structures on residential and commercial properties with these pecking behaviors. They leave behind large, hollow pecking holes that are distinctive to woodpecker damage.

Fortunately, there are safe and simple ways to get rid of woodpeckers without harming or killing them. In fact, it is important to know that woodpeckers are protected by state and federal laws. It is illegal and highly immoral to trap, harm, shoot, or kill woodpeckers without the proper licenses. The only authorized personnel permitted to deal with woodpecker control is wildlife rescue contractors.

Getting Rid of Woodpeckers

You have a few options, in terms of deterrents, when it comes to getting rid of woodpeckers. You can choose to use tactile deterrents, visual deterrents, or sound deterrents to thwart woodpecker activity on your property. All three of these methods are non-lethal to birds and other animals, and relatively inexpensive to purchase.

Tactile Deterrents – There are products available on the market that are designed to adhere to woodpeckers’ down feather or fluff, preventing them from being able to fly or stay warm. These sticky repellents are not a good option since they put woodpeckers in danger and cause them to suffer. It is only recommended to use these products for extreme cases of woodpecker infestation. Examples of brands available include Bird Stop, Roost-No-More, and Tanglefoot Pest Control.

Visual Deterrents – Also a much safer approach, visual deterrents tend to work very well. Things like aluminum foil or reflective tape strips are frightening to woodpeckers. Hanging strips of aluminum foil, or using products like Irri-Tape, can thwart woodpecker presence overnight. Hang them long enough to blow in the breeze for best results. Also consider hanging windsocks, handheld windmills, and even plastic owls.

Sound Deterrents – Using sound machines that mimic common woodpecker predators, like hawks, can work well. The BirdXPeller Pro sound machine uses a woodpecker distress call followed by a Sharp-shinned Hawk call to scare woodpeckers away. Using sound deterrents works very well, especially when coupled with visual deterrents as well.

Woodpecker Removal and Control

Call Wildlife Removal Indianapolis at 317-247-2290 for safe and humane woodpecker removal and control. We are DNR licensed wildlife rescue contractors that provide a wide range of animal control services for both residential and commercial properties. We offer wildlife removal, animal damage repair, animal cleanup services, and much more. Call 317-257-2290 for prompt and professional woodpecker removal services in Indianapolis, IN today.

How to Remove Skunk Smell from Absolutely Anything

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Removing skunk smell is known to be a difficult and tedious task, but there are so many myths associated with skunk smell removal, it’s important to learn what really works. If you live in an area that is frequently populated by skunks, then it is in your best interest to read this article on how to remove skunk smell from you, your clothes, and even your dog!

Skunk Smell Removal

Although skunks are fascinating creatures, they have a bad reputation for their natural methods of self-defense. When a skunk feels threatened, it releases a spray of natural oils at their predator. This skunk oil is potent, and has a very distinct odor that is widely recognized throughout America. The oil is thick and latches onto fur, and seeps into skin and clothing immediately. It has a smell that can only be described as putrid and sour.

Removing this oil is the key to getting rid of skunk odor. The problem is, removing skunk oil is very hard to do. It has long time been suggested to soak in a bath of tomato juice. This remedy came about by the idea that the acid in tomato juice neutralizes the chemicals that produce the odor in skunk oil. This is a home remedy that has not been very effective. It can also dye a dog’s fur, stain clothing, and even stain bathtubs. This approach is very messy and is not recommended.

If you prefer to use a home remedy to remove skunk oil and smell, there are several variations of solutions that can be mixed an applied to the contaminated areas. This solution is basically made up of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, dish soap, and sometimes apple cider vinegar. One variation of the recipe is as follows:

One Pint of Peroxide, Half a Cup of Baking Soda, Two Tablespoons of Dish Soap, & an Entire Bottle of Cider Vinegar

It is suggested to mix the solutions together and apply it to your skin or dog’s fur. Allow it to sit for ten to fifteen minutes, then rinse and repeat. There is no set amount of times to rinse and repeat. It depends on the degree of saturation and size of the soiled area. You may have to repeat this bathing process five to ten times before alleviating the skunk smell. Even after many tries, you may not be able to remove it completely, but it will be drastically less noticeable than before. There’s no need to panic if it doesn’t come out completely, skunk odor is not permanent and will eventually fade away.

If a home solution is not your idea of reliable skunk removal, then you can look at retail options. There are many skunk odor removal products on the market today. Most of these products can be purchased in pet stores, home good stores, hunting shops, and online. Not all of them are proven 100% effective, so be sure to read labels and ask questions before purchasing a skunk removal product.

Indianapolis Skunk Removal Services

Call Wildlife Rescue and Control at 317-257-2290 for skunk removal services in Indianapolis, IN. We are DNR licensed and insured skunk removal and control experts that have decades of experience working with skunks. We offer a wide range of wildlife removal services for all nuisance animals, including skunks. Our DNR licensed wildlife contractors provide removal, minor structural damage repair, cleanup services, prevention, and more. Call 317-257-2290 for safe and humane skunk removal and control in Indianapolis, IN and its surrounding counties.

How to Stop a Nuisance Chipmunk Problem

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Chipmunks are furry, swift little mammals that closely resemble a small or baby squirrel. During this time of year, they can become a nuisance wildlife problem for home and property owners. Although adorable-looking and fun to watch, their behavior behind our backs can be quite naughty. They are most known for raiding vegetable gardens and flower beds, but chipmunks can be much naughtier than that! Continue reading to learn more about chipmunk nuisance behavior and how to stop it in its tracks.

Get Rid of Chipmunks

Chipmunks are omnivores. They raid garden beds to dine on insects, plant bulbs, and nuts. This is frustrating for gardeners who put so much time, money, and effort into creating their front and backyard masterpieces! Gardening is not cheap, flowers and plants are not cheap, and the work it requires to maintain them is tough. So homeowners want to protect them from nuisance wildlife like chipmunks. Here’s how they, and you, can accomplish this:

Chipmunk Traps

Although chipmunk traps can be non-lethal and effective, it is not recommended as a DIY approach for chipmunk control. Only trained and licensed wildlife control contractors should handle any wild animal. Never attempt to set a chipmunk trap, handle chipmunks, or harm or kill chipmunks and other wildlife.

Chipmunk Repellent

There are several types of chipmunk repellent available online and at local gardening stores. They can come in powder form, pellet form, aerosol form, and more. There are even homemade natural recipes for chipmunk repellent using soap, hot peppers, and garlic. Although relatively inexpensive, they are not very effective, nor permanent (requiring routine applications), and should be used as a temporary means of nuisance wildlife protection.

Structural Obstructions

You can choose to install certain structural obstructions, like rock walls and garden fencing, to thwart chipmunk presence. This can be a relatively inexpensive addition, or a large costly landscape change. It all depends on personal preference and the options you choose. A rock wall is more expensive than installing simple garden fence, and both range in quality and price.

Chipmunk Removal and Control

The most effective method to getting rid of a chipmunk problem is to hire a chipmunk removal and control company. They retain the proper licensing, training, equipment, and experience to get rid of chipmunks using safe and non-lethal methods. They use exclusion methods or trapping methods, or a combination of both, along with several other industry practices, to safely and humanely remove chipmunks and prevent their return. And all at economical prices!

Wildlife Animal Removal in Indianapolis

Call Wildlife Animal Removal at 317-257-2290 for chipmunk removal services in Indianapolis. We are DNR licensed and highly trained wildlife rescue and control technicians that use safe and humane practices to get rid of chipmunks around your residential or commercial property. We provide animal removal, control, and proofing at the most competitive prices in town! Call 317-257-2290 if you have a chipmunk problem in Indianapolis, IN.