We will gladly remove dead animals on your property. This service includes removing the animal along with deodorizing and disinfecting the area where the animal was found.
Birds can live in many areas in or around your home. They usually prefer to nest in vents, eaves, and attics, or sometimes you may find them behind a porch light, your lawn furniture, or even the bushes near your doorway. Usually breeding in late spring, birds can become threatened if a person gets too close to their nest. They may chirp loudly, swoop, and even dive at a nearby person. If birds are residing in one of your vents, you may notice a horrible odor. You may also notice flies, nesting, or fleas in that area, all of which can be more than just a nuisance.
Cockroaches
Nobody enjoys having insects around their home or business. In addition to “bugging” you, common pests such as fleas, cockroaches, and mosquitoes are often carriers of infectious diseases. They’re also responsible for causing many allergies, unpleasant itching sensations, and sometimes even asthma. If ignored, large insect populations can also wreak havoc upon your lawn or garden, destroying your plants and other vegetation. Illinois Wildlife Services, Inc. offers insect removal and control services for McHenry, Lake, and Northern Cook County residents to help them breathe a little easier at night. Our primary focus is on Asian lady beetles and boxelder bugs, though we’re experienced at removing many types of insects for your ongoing protection and peace of mind.
Bees
Opossums are nocturnal animals, meaning they become active shortly after sunset until shortly before sunrise and spend their days sleeping. Female opossums have a pouch on their belly to carry and birth their young. Breeding season is February through March, and they usually give birth just weeks later. An average litter size can be up to 13, with the young being about the size of honey bees at birth. Baby opossums tend to reside in their mother’s pouch for the first 60 days. Opossums tend to be less active during the winter months, and they usually prefer to live alone when they’re not breeding.
Wasps
There are roughly 4,000 wasp species in the United States, including yellow jackets, which can be identified by their distinct coloration (alternating bands of yellow and black on their abdomen) and their rapid, side-to-side flight patterns. Wasps usually fall into two main categories: solitary and social. We see most of our customer concerns with social wasps who function in colonies that can number up to several thousand per nest. Most of the wasp species have no role in pollinating plants. Wasps build their nests in a variety of sunlight-rich places, including underground holes, attached to walls, trees, or plants, underneath decks/floors, and on the eaves of homes. Wasps will attack and sting humans and pets, especially when threatened. Yellow jackets have been known to mark their aggressors and will pursue. While their stings are repeated and painful, they’re typically only life-threatening to those with allergies. Wasps’ nests found near the home can be very dangerous and should be removed by a professional.
Ticks
When it comes to attic restoration in McHenry, Lake, or Northern Cook County, don’t hesitate to call Illinois Wildlife Services, Inc. to request an estimate. From muskrats, squirrels, and chipmunks to birds, bats, raccoons, skunks, and opossums, we have the knowledge and equipment to remove your unwanted attic wildlife, their droppings, and any parasites they may be carrying (such as ticks or fleas). Please contact us today for more info or to request an appointment. You’ll never know they were there!
Mosquitoes
Flies
Beetles
Asian lady beetles are usually a domed shape and measure about 1/3″ long. They come in three main color variations: red or orange with black spots, black with two red spots, and black with four red spots. This species was introduced to the United States in 1916 to control the aphid population and has flourished ever since. These beetles become dormant in the cooler months and begin to move around when temperatures reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit. They often lay dormant in crevices, behind siding, and inside walls.
Hornets
Hornets present a significant risk to humans and pets when a colony is near a house or public area. Hornets have stingers used to kill prey and defend the nest. Hornet stings are more painful than wasp stings because hornet venom contains a large amount of acetylcholine (approximately 5%), though the toxicity varies by species. Hornets will sting multiple times and can mobilize the entire nest to sting in defense. If a hornet is killed near the nest, it may release an attack pheromone that bonds to materials that come into contact with it. Hornets are dangerous and should be dealt with only by professionals.
Yellow Jackets
While we deal with a wide range of pests common to the Midwest, bees, yellow jackets, wasps, and hornets are a few pests that we often treat at Illinois Wildlife Services, Inc. Each of these insects has different behaviors and habits that we, as pest control professionals, have to understand before we can treat effectively for them. While some cause more damage or pose more of a safety hazard to your family, all are considered pests. Rely on our bee, wasp, and hornet removal services in McHenry, Lake, and Northern Cook County, and take back your patio this summer!
Aphids
Boxelder Bugs
Adult boxelder bugs are about 1/2” long with dark brown or black coloration with red wing veins and markings on their abdomens, while boxelder nymphs are bright red in color. These bugs are primarily found on boxelder, maple, and ash trees. They’re not known to cause any significant damage and are not considered an agricultural pest. Boxelder bugs are considered a nuisance pest to the public because of their hibernation traits and their large, focused populations. During the winter, they tend to invade homes and other human-made structures, often hiding behind siding and inside walls. If these pests are exterminated and not removed from the structure, some people will notice a foul odor.
If birds or bats have nested in or around your home or business, Illinois Wildlife Services, Inc. is highly trained to provide bird and bat removal services in McHenry, Lake, and Northern Cook County. Bird feces carries many diseases harmful to humans, most notably Histoplasmosis, which is a type of lung infection caused by breathing in the fungal spores found in bird droppings. Bat droppings, also known as guano, also carry many infectious diseases and must be removed from living quarters immediately.
Raccoons
Raccoons tend to vary in weight, from 6-20 pounds for a female and 15-27 pounds for a male. Raccoons are a nocturnal animal, meaning they become active shortly after sunset until shortly before sunrise and spend their days sleeping. The raccoon breeding season is February through March, with them giving birth approximately 2-2 1/2 months later. On average, there are about 2-5 pups per raccoon litter. When it’s not the mating season, raccoons tend to live in small groups of 1-3 at a time. They typically find refuge under porches, stoops, decks, chimneys, and sometimes even inside attics.
Wildlife
When you’ve realized you have a pest problem on your property, there are many steps you may choose to take. The most common step is getting in contact with a wildlife removal company, such as Illinois Wildlife Services, Inc. One of the biggest differences between our company and similar services in the area is that we offer animal prevention services, which helps to prevent future problems.
Opossums
For nearly two decades, home and business owners have relied upon Illinois Wildlife Services, Inc. for opossum removal in urban areas of McHenry, Lake, and Northern Cook County. We follow all industry-accepted standards and best practices to rid your residential or commercial property of many kinds of nuisance wildlife and help prevent them from coming back in the future. Please contact us today to request an estimate or more information about our safe, effective animal removal techniques. When you call us, you can expect prompt, professional, and personalized service!
Muskrats
They weigh 2-4 pounds and grow to an average length of 18-25 inches long with a tail that’s approximately 8-11 inches long. Muskrats have a high reproductive rate, making them a nuisance pest. They’re polygamous, and breeding takes place from late March through July. With a gestation period of 28-30 days, they can produce up to four litters per year, each with 6-7 young.
A part of the rodent family, mice can cause extensive property damages and fire hazards thanks to their constant chewing of furniture, electrical wiring, and more. Mice also cause major health issues by spreading various diseases and increasing the risk for respiratory problems among humans – the most common one being asthma attacks. Our team of trained specialists at Illinois Wildlife Services, Inc. provides mice removal services for McHenry, Lake, and Northern Cook County homes and businesses of all sizes. Using various techniques, including sanitation, nest and hiding space removal, and traps/rodenticides, our rodent removal services are second-to-none.
Mice
House mice are the most common form of mice, and they can grow to be about 6 1/2 inches long, including their tail. House mice can range in colors from yellowish-gray to include streaks of black and lighter gray mixed in. Field mice are typically larger than house mice, growing up to 20 inches in length, and may vary in color from gray and black to white and brown. Mice are frequent breeders and can have 5-10 pups in a litter every 10-17 weeks. Always on the lookout for food and shelter to feed their growing families, mice are also fierce scavengers. If there’s a way to get into your home or business, you can rest assured they’ll find it. Capable of flattening their bodies, mice can fit inside openings as small as a dime!
Rats
You can count on Illinois Wildlife Services, Inc. to rid your home or business of all mice and rats thanks to our proven techniques for rodent removal and prevention of future infestations. Our staff specializes in providing personalized services to meet your needs for mice removal in McHenry, Lake, and Northern Cook County. Please contact us today to request more info about our techniques or to request an estimate!
Squirrels
Squirrels are a member of the rodent family and are a daytime animal. They commonly nest in attics, soffits, eves, and trees. Their breeding season is usually in the spring, and once again during the fall, with an average litter size of 4 to 6. Squirrels are extremely intelligent and adaptable, and their front teeth never stop growing. The word “rodent” actually means “to gnaw” in Latin. Depending on the species, squirrels can range in size from 2.8 inches to over 3 feet, weighing as much as 18 pounds!
Chipmunks
Lively and speedy, chipmunks are small members of the squirrel family that are almost exclusively found in North America. They’re generally seen scampering through the undergrowth of a variety of plants and shrubs. Some chipmunks dig burrows to live in, complete with tunnels and chambers, while others make their homes in nests, bushes, or logs.