Wildlife, Rodent, & Pest Control Services

Knoxville is home to plenty of things that go “bump” in the night. More often than not, those bumps come from above your head when you’re trying to sleep; that’s because a substantial number of wildlife invasions begin in attics. From the perspective of the average critter, the attic of your home in Knoxville is incredibly inviting. It’s sheltered, it’s dark, it’s warm and it might even have bugs to eat. In short, your attic is a perfect spot for pests to build a home. Unfortunately, once they move in, your uninvited tenants are sure to wreak havoc on your attic.

Many different species of wildlife might invade your attic in the Knoxville area. Here are some of the most common intruders and how you can tell them apart.

The Most Common Wildlife Species Found in Knoxville Attics

• Squirrels – Among the most persistent attic invaders, squirrels are crepuscular critters, which means that they’re most active at dawn and twilight. If you hear rustling and chittering noises in your attic during these times, and also sometimes throughout the day, you’ve most likely got a family of squirrels living in your attic in Knoxville. It doesn’t take much space for them to get in, either; gray squirrels can enter your attic through a 1 ½ inch hole and flying squirrels can squeeze in through a hole that’s less than an inch in diameter! Once inside your attic, squirrels will make a mess by chewing up wires and insulation, and by scattering feces and urine all over the place, creating a foul odor.
• Raccoons – The biggest and most destructive of attic invaders in Knoxville, raccoons will usually take advantage of roof damage to break in, inflicting further damage in the process. Mother raccoons will then rip apart everything from insulation to roof shingles to create nests for their young. Raccoons are nocturnal wildlife, meaning that you will most likely hear them at night and they will be very loud; much more so than other pests. Ransacked garbage bins are another telltale sign of raccoon incursions. Be careful if you think you have a raccoon in the attic, as these feisty critters will attack both people and pets if they feel threatened, and they are known carriers of rabies.
• Bats – A particularly troublesome attic invader, bats can slip in and out through a hole smaller than half an inch! These nocturnal pests commonly roost inside attics during the day, then emerge to hunt insects at night. If you hear squeaking and fluttering sounds coming from your attic, with particular activity at night, you most likely have a bat infestation. Though bats are not as actively destructive as other wildlife intruders in Knoxville, bat excrement – known as guano – is highly corrosive and will pile up quickly when a colony of bats roosts in your attic. Guano can destroy insulation and flooring, creates a noxious odor and may lead to the spread of histoplasmosis. Another danger of bats is their propensity to carry rabies, so never try to handle them yourselves.
• Opossums – Aside from raccoons, opossums are the largest Knoxville wildlife species that has a tendency to invade attics. You may have a tough time distinguishing between these two pests if you don’t see them since both opossums and raccoons are nocturnal, loud, make lots of vocal noises, raid trash bins and can cause major damage. One distinguishing factor is the smell; opossums defecate frequently and their droppings carry a particularly pungent odor. As a result, you may actually smell an opossum in your attic long before you see or hear it.

Professional Wildlife Control in Greater Knoxville

When wild animals enter your attic, they’re bound to cause destruction and they may even spread disease. No matter what kind of wildlife has invaded your attic, it’s important to have the critters removed and the damage to your attic restored by a team of licensed professionals. Call Critter Wranglers today for the most trusted wildlife control and attic restoration services in the Greater Knoxville area!