Describe a dead animal smell as many things such as; sewer gas, bad cheese, moldy odor, barn-like smell, meat that has gone bad (which it is), smell of burning rubber, etc. When a skunk dies, the resulting odor is a sour skunk smell that will last for weeks to months. If you suspect that an animal has died in or near your home, there is no one better to call for dead animal removal and dead deer removal than Animal Control Specialists. We will quickly identify the source of the dead animal smell and quickly remove the carcass from your home.
I had left some sweets out and may have expected a few ants… I was amazed to find a family of raccoons had moved into my basement!
Spiders
Fleas
Animal Control Specialists, Inc. will remove the problem animals, remove the nesting (or recommend a chimney sweep) if necessary, treat for fleas if warranted and install a professional chimney cap or custom screen.
Bees
Animal Control Specialists, Inc. is a licensed pest control company. In addition to our other services, we specialize in the treatment and removal of bees, wasps and hornets. All treatments are guaranteed.
Wasps
Insects buzz around the yard, and, in most cases, they’re not a threat. Yellow jacket wasps, also known as just yellow jackets, are a threat and do need to be managed. They can be dangerous, especially if someone is allergic to their stings, and the stings are... read more
Ticks
Removal of the source of a foul odor will often improve the issue quickly. Fresh air introduced to an enclosed space may be all that is required after the animal corpse has been taken away. For an additional charge a chemical deodorizer can also be applied. Occasionally, a treatment for flies, fleas, ticks, maggots and other parasitic insects may be necessary. We are a licensed pest control company if additional pesticide treatments are required.
Flies
The strength and duration of the odor given off by a decomposing animal is effected by many variables. The size and species of animal can be the most impactful variable (especially if it is a dead skunk). Humidity, temperature, air currents, barometric pressure, building construction and the presence of parasites like flies all impact the severity of the problem. The smell of a dead mouse in a wall will dissipate on its own after 7 to 10 days. The stink from a larger dead animal like a raccoon or opossum (possum) will usually take weeks to vanish.
Beetles
Hornets
Wasp and Hornets can become extremely aggressive when people approach the nests. This can quickly escalate into a dangerous situation. Removal of wasp and hornet nests is best left to the professionals. Animal Control Specialists can quickly remove Bee Hives as well as Wasp and Hornet Nests.
Yellow Jackets
Stinging Insects
Mites
Slugs
Chipmunk’s diet is mostly composed of fruits, nuts and seed. They will supplement their diet with bird eggs, insects, slugs and mushrooms when these items are available to them. They have large check pouches that they use to transport dry food back to their burrow for storage. When their pouches are filled, they are bigger than the chipmunk’s head. Chipmunks will store food in their burrows year round, it is common to see them taking food to their den.
There are many species of bats in Illinois including the Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), Indiana bat (Myotis sodalist), Red bat (Lasiurus borealis), Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), Silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), Eastern Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus), and Big Brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). Of all the bat species in Illinois, the Little Brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) account for the majority of conflicts with humans and will be the focus of the discussion below.
Raccoons
The raccoon is the most common animal that we deal with, probably due to its diverse habits and adaptable nature. In natural habitats raccoons populate woodlands, wetlands, prairies, etc. They will live wherever food, water and shelter are available. This adaptability is the reason that raccoons are so numerous in urban areas as well.. They make themselves at home in attics, crawlspaces, abandoned buildings, chimneys, under stoops, decks and outbuildings. The abundance of den sites in populated areas results in many conflicts between humans and raccoons.
Wildlife
Animal Control Specialists, Inc. is a Skokie, IL Animal Control Company. We specialize in humane solutions to nuisance, urban wildlife problems. Some of the wild animals that we control include;
Opossums
Opossum removal is a common service we provide. We occasionally get calls from clients stating “I see a big rat under my bird feeder!” In most cases, the animal is actually an Opossum. Possums range in length from 22 – 33 inches (65 – 85 cm); they are about the size of a house cat. They have an elongated head that comes to a point at its pink nose. Opossums’ fur is grayish to white in color and their ears are black and hairless. Their tails are hairless and are scaly in appearance and texture. The opossum can use its tail to steady itself on branches, to hang from branches or to carry leaves or grass to its den. Both its front and rear feet have an opposable thumb which allows the opossum to grip objects with any foot. An adult opossum will have 50 teeth, more than any other mammal species in North America. Opossums are also Illinois’ only marsupial mammal.
Muskrats
Wetlands aren’t the only benefit beavers provide. Abandoned dens dug by beavers provide important homes for other wildlife, including river otters, mink and muskrats. Piles of branches that beavers cut and store underwater for a mid-winter snack provide homes for minnows, crappies and other fishes.
Coyotes
Coyotes are members of the canine family and therefore have a dog-like appearance. Their color can very from dark to gray, yellow or reddish. Their tails droop downward from the height of their back and it gets tucked between their legs when they run. Coyotes will not lift and wag their tails like domestic dogs. The overall length including tail is 44”-54”.
Badgers
Striped skunks are members of the weasel (mustelidae) family of mammals. Other members of this family include ferrets, badgers, river otters, mink and marten. Adult skunks are between 22 – 27 inches (55 – 68 cm) in total length and their bushy tails are 7 – 11 inches (17 – 28 cm) long. Their bodies are black and they have a white stripe on their head and neck. The single stripe splits into 2 on the skunks back and rump that extends into their tails.
Each year, birds cost property owners millions of dollars in damage. Everything from homes, lawns, landscaping, golf courses, parks, equipment, machinery, industrial facilities, and other property are vulnerable to bird damage. Aggressive birds and excessive droppings can also pose public health and safety concerns.
Sparrows
Most species of birds are protected by Federal regulations. They include migratory, native species, ie., ducks, hawks and owls. Non-native or invasive species are not protected and their control is not restricted, ie., European Starlings, English Sparrows and pigeons. Some have become such a nuisance that the States have been given the ability to regulate them, ie., Canada Goose.
Starlings
Animal Control Specialists, Inc. has removed a variety of animals from chimneys over the years. These include raccoons, squirrels, flying squirrels, bats and birds. Some of the species of birds include starlings, sparrows, pigeons, Wood Ducks, owls and hawks.
Crows
Excrement from roosting birds can corrode machinery and car paint and create a slipping hazard on sidewalks. The noise and excrement from a roost of vultures or crows can be so severe that backyard swing sets, grills, and lawn furniture become useless. Many cities and towns also complain of pigeon droppings and damage to historic landmarks, such as monuments and courthouses.
Groundhogs (aka woodchucks) are rodents and members of the squirrel family. They share some of the same traits with their more familiar squirrel cousins, like a large pair of yellowish incisors, a tendency to gnaw and the ability to climb trees. The groundhog’s body is rotund and its short legs are well adapted to digging. Their fur ranges in color from yellowish to reddish brown, they also have short rounded ears and a tail that is about ¼ as long as their body. Groundhogs are around 1 foot (60 cm) in length and weigh between 5 and 11 pounds (2 – 5 kg).
Mice
Rats
Squirrels
The Gray Squirrel rivals the raccoon for the total number of nuisance complaints per year. There are several reasons why they are such a common nuisance. Squirrels are very creative and agile. These abilities enable them to access food from bird feeders and garbage cans. They are just as creative when it comes to finding places to live. Under natural circumstances squirrels live in hollow trees or leafy nests they create in the upper branches of trees. These nests are sloppy in appearance and are generally quite large, in contrast to the small neat nests of birds. Squirrels will generally nest in the type of trees that also produce the seeds that they eat Oak, Hickory, Maple, etc. Animal Control Specialists, Inc specializes in nuisance squirrel removal.
Voles
Bushes, shrubs and ground cover are also frequently damaged by wildlife. Voles and rabbits will eat the bark during long periods of of deep snow cover. Vole damage to your lawn will become apparent when their snaking trails are discovered after the snow melts.
Chipmunks
Make up 2.5 – 4.4 inches (6.3 – 11 cm) of their total length. The backs of chipmunks are grayish brown to red in color and their bellies are white. They have 5 dark stripes that run down their backs and sides with the widest stripe being in the middle, there are white areas between the pairs of dark stripes.