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Your wildlife intruder is gone, but now what? It is vital that you take care of the fecal matter that they left behind before it infects you or your loved ones. Wildlife animals are not shy about leaving feces near where they were living, which can lead to health hazards, stains, and unfortunate odors. Learn more about the hazards of wildlife feces and why it's important not to handle them on your own.

Why Are Wildlife Droppings Dangerous?

Finding animal feces in your Cleveland home is not only a major inconvenience, but it can also lead to health problems that should not be taken lightly. Many different types of pathogens can be present in the feces of wildlife.

• Diseases like Salmonella and Histoplasmosis are transmitted through wildlife feces
  • Handling wildlife feces, especially dried feces, increases your risk of ingesting these spores
• Ectoparasites like ticks and fleas can latch onto you once their wildlife host has been eradicated

To avoid these—and more—serious health concerns, call 216.342.2316 today. 

What do mouse droppings look like?

Mouse droppings are dark brown and tubular in shape. They average 0.25” in length and can be found one at a time or in a pile.

Norway rat droppings are the same color and shape but are 0.75” in length on average. Roof rat droppings are also dark brown and tubular, but they have a pointed tip and are about 0.5” in length.

What do raccoon droppings look like?

When raccoons defecate in your home, they choose one spot to use over and over. This is called a latrine. Raccoon poop is tubular in shape. It is dark and has blunt ends. You’ll often see berries in raccoon poop. It is around 2-3” in length, and you’ll find it in a pile.

What do bat droppings look like?

Bat poop, or guano, is about 2 cm in length. It looks like a black seed. It is usually black or dark brown. They look very similar to mouse droppings. You’ll often find them in a pile because bats sleep upside down.

How do you clean wildlife droppings in your house?

When cleaning wildlife droppings in your Cleveland home, it’s important to remember that they can carry diseases. Once you remove the dropping from your home, be sure to thoroughly sanitize the area.

If you have a raccoon latrine or large pile of feces from any other animal, we recommend you call the experts at Critter Control of Cleveland to clean it for you. We have the proper tools to ensure the space is thoroughly sanitized and safe for you and your family. Contact us today to get started.

From attic fan vent guards and roof vent guards to gable vent closures and soffit vent repairs, our experts can do it all with a single call! 216.342.2316

Learn more about our services below.

Attic Fan Vent Guards

Keeping animals out of your home can be doubly efficient when it comes to attic fan vent guards. While their primary purpose is to keep your attic well-ventilated, they are also helpful for keeping critters from coming in. Some wildlife critters (most commonly squirrels) are able to chew through these vent guards—and will—so make sure you are using strong enough material that they will not be able to.

Roof Vent Guards

Common roof intruders like squirrels, mice, and birds will all try to get into your roof through vents, and sometimes they're successful. Unfortunately, they can also die in the vents which can lead to incredibly unpleasant odors. Make sure critters don't die in your vents by screening them with hardware cloth and similar metal vents.

Gable Vent Closures

Just like attic fan vents, vents on your gables let air properly circulate into your attic, but also invite unintended guests. Gable vent closures are another vital part of the wildlife-proofing process since small animals like birds and bats can easily slip through these vents. Being sure they are correctly installed in the first place can save you a headache long-term.

Soffit Vent Repairs

Beneath your roofline is your soffit—an unfortunately simple way that wildlife gets into your home, if the soffit is damaged. Common soffit damage culprit is the squirrel—responsible for damaging gutters, weakening the general structure of the home, and tearing shingles. Trust Critter Control of Cleveland to restore your soffit vents and make sure your entire roofline is protected from raccoons, birds, bats, squirrels, rodents, and more.

If you suspect your home needs screen guards, Critter Control of Cleveland would love to evaluate the area. Give us a call today! 216.342.2316

Whether you have a dead rodent in your wall, a deceased raccoon in your attic, or any other animal that has passed away in your home, we can take care of it.

How to find a dead animal in your home

The easiest way to find a deceased animal in your Cleveland home is to follow your nose. As the odor gets stronger, you’re closer to the dead animal. If you can’t seem to find the source of the dead animal, an expert at Critter Control of Cleveland can help!

Common places for animals to die in your Cleveland home:

While animals can die anywhere in your home, there are some places that are more common than others.

• Walls

It is common for animals, especially rodents like mice and rats, to die in your walls. To remove the dead animal in the wall, we will often cut a hole in your drywall. After removing the animal, we will patch and repair the wall.

• Vents

Many animals, especially rodents, crawl through your vents. If an animal dies in your vent, you can often remove the vent cover and pull out the animal with gloves on. If you can’t get to the dead animal in your vent, Critter Control of Cleveland can help.

• Attic

Any time there are animals in your attic, there’s a possibility that they could die up there. Raccoons, bats, mice, rats, squirrels, and birds are all common culprits for dying in the attic.

• Crawlspace

Just like in your attic, animals can easily die in your crawlspace. If you suspect there’s a deceased animal down there, we can help.

Removing Odors from Animal Carcasses

Once we remove the source of the odor in your home, it’s time to get to work removing the lingering odor. Critter Control of Cleveland uses a special system of odor removers to ensure the smell from the deceased animal is gone for good. We will ensure any oil residue from the animal is removed from the surface that was holding the animal, such as the drywall or vent.

Health Hazards from Deceased Animals

Deceased animals can bring a multitude of diseases into your Cleveland home, including leptospirosis, hantavirus, and tularemia. Dead animals also invite maggots into your home.

Dead animal carcasses can lead to health hazards, insect infestations, odors, and stains. It is important to call the professionals right away! After removing the animal(s), we have special deodorizers, neutralizers, and air purifiers to make the smell go away. 

How To Remove a Dead Animal From Your Home

Are you wondering how to get rid of a dead animal in your home? These are the steps the team at Critter Control of Cleveland takes to ensure dead pest removal is completed properly:

1. Locate the dead animal

Animals may die anywhere in your home, but the most common places are in the attic, the basement, the crawlspace, in vents, and in the walls. Most of these locations are easy to access, but if you have a dead animal in the wall, you'll have a few extra steps. The fastest way to locate a dead animal in the wall or anywhere else in your home is to follow your nose. 

2. Remove the dead animal

Once the dead animal has been located, remove the dead animal from the area. Be sure to remove any bugs that are on the animal. Don't forget your PPE! If you have a dead animal in the wall, it's important to cut the drywall open with care so it can be cleaned and repaired. 

3. Clean and sanitize the area

Once the animal carcass removal has been completed, it's time to clean and disinfect the area. The team at Critter Control of Cleveland uses commercial-grade cleaners and disinfectants to ensure any diseases, dirt, and bacteria are removed from the area to keep you and your family safe. We will also deodorize the space. 

Animal carcass removal can be a tricky process if the animal is not in an easy-to-reach spot. If animal carcass removal is more than what you'd like to tackle, give our team of experts a call! We will get your home looking and smelling back to normal in no time. 

Call 216.342.2316 if you need help removing an animal carcass!

Critter Control of Cleveland offers a wide range of animal prevention products and services. After removing the unwanted animals, we repair the damage they left behind and implement state-of-the-art prevention techniques. Installing vents, chimney caps, screens, and closing entry holes reduces the probability of future conflicts with other unwanted nuisance animals. 

Why are chimney caps and screens important?

Because your chimney is at the top of your house, it is exposed to all the elements. Without the proper chimney cap, precipitation can go right inside.

Not only does an open chimney leave room for precipitation, but it leaves a gateway for wildlife to enter your home. Animals like raccoons, birds, and snakes love to use your Cleveland chimney as a cozy escape from the outdoors.

Raccoons in particular will have their babies in your chimney as it is dry and cozy.

Who to call if there's an animal in the chimney?

If you suspect there's an animal in the chimney, it's important to call the team at Critter Control of Cleveland right away! Animals use your chimney as a gateway to the rest of your home. Some animals like raccoons will use your chimney as a safe place to have their babies. Other animals like sparrows and bats will nest along the walls in your chimney. If an animal has made its way into your chimney, it means you will need a chimney cap replacement to keep the problem from happening again. Our team will come out to your home, remove any wildlife in the chimney, then seal and repair the chimney cap to keep the problem from happening again. 

Chimney Cap Installers in Cleveland

The team at Critter Control has years of experience installing chimney caps in Cleveland! If you're wondering who can install a chimney cap, look no further. We offer professional chimney cap replacement or installation. For chimney capping services, give Critter Control of Cleveland a call today. 

If you suspect you have wildlife living in your Cleveland chimney, contact us today. If you’d like an inspection on your chimney cap, we can do that as well! 216.342.2316