Animal Control vs Wildlife Removal – What’s the Difference?
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When an animal intrudes on your property, who should you call? Many homeowners think animal control and wildlife removal services are the same — but they’re not. While both are essential for managing animal-related issues and ensuring safety, they serve different purposes.
Animal control is a government-run program with specific responsibilities, mainly focused on public safety and handling domestic animals. Wildlife removal, on the other hand, is performed by private, state-licensed companies equipped to handle a broader range of wildlife issues. But let’s dive deeper into the specifics of what each service offers to help you make the right call.
What Does Animal Control Do?
Animal control agencies are dedicated to maintaining public health and safety as they relate to animals within a community. Animal control focuses on situations that affect the community at large, ensuring a harmonious relationship between humans and animals.
Their overall goals include:
- Protecting Public Safety: Addressing situations where animals pose a threat to humans, such as aggressive dogs or potentially rabid wildlife in public areas.
- Managing Domestic Animals: Handling issues related to stray, lost, or abandoned pets to prevent overpopulation and reduce the spread of diseases.
- Enforcing Animal Laws: Upholding local and state regulations regarding animal welfare, ownership responsibilities, and licensing requirements.
- Public Education: Providing resources and information to the community about responsible pet ownership, vaccination programs, and animal safety.
- Disease Control: Monitoring and controlling outbreaks of zoonotic diseases that can transfer from animals to humans, like rabies or distemper.
When Should You Call Animal Control?
You should contact animal control in specific scenarios where public safety or animal welfare is at immediate risk. In these cases, animal control can intervene to protect both the community and the animals involved. These situations include:
- Encountering a Stray or Aggressive Dog
- Reporting Animal Abuse or Neglect
- Dealing with Injured Domestic Animals in Public Areas
- Wild Animals Showing Signs of Rabies (for more information, check out our article “How to Tell If a Raccoon Has Rabies”)
- Addressing Nuisance Animals Affecting the Community (e.g. a colony of feral cats)
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What Does a Wildlife Removal Company Do?
A wildlife removal company should be your go-to expert for issues affecting your property. Wildlife removal specialists can offer personalized solutions tailored to your specific situation. Some examples of specialized services include:
- Humane Trapping and Removal: Safely capturing and relocating animals from raccoons, squirrels and skunks to snakes, protected birds, and many more.
- Property Inspections: Assessing your property to identify the type of wildlife present and the extent of the issue.
- Exclusion Techniques: Sealing entry points and implementing measures to prevent animals from returning.
- Cleanup and Sanitation: Removing animal waste, dead animals, and contaminants to restore a healthy environment.
- Consultation and Prevention Advice: Providing tips and solutions to minimize future wildlife problems.
When Should You Call Wildlife Removal?
Wildlife removal professionals are equipped to handle these situations efficiently, ensuring both your safety and the humane treatment of the animals involved. Consider reaching out to a wildlife removal service when you encounter:
- Noises in Walls or Attic
- Damaged Property
- Nests or Burrows
- Frequent Wildlife Sightings
- Animal Droppings
Who Should You Call About Birds and Protected Species?
Some wildlife, including many birds, are protected under laws like the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This century-old federal law makes it illegal to harm or move certain bird species, their nests, or eggs without proper authorization.
You might think animal control is the appropriate contact in these situations, but actually, you should call a wildlife removal company. Licensed wildlife removal professionals are authorized and experienced in handling protected species. They know the legal guidelines and humane methods required to address issues involving:
- Protected Birds: Safely relocating birds that have nested in undesirable locations on your property.
- Bats: Handling bat infestations, which are also protected due to their ecological importance and potential to carry diseases like rabies.
- Other Protected Species: Navigating the complexities of dealing with animals listed under state or federal protection.
Call Us for Wildlife Removal Services in Southeastern United States
Unwanted wildlife can cause damage to your home and property. Don’t wait for the problem to resolve itself – it probably won’t. Our team of licensed wildlife removal and rodent control experts will resolve your issues quickly and without hassle.
Ready to take back control of your home? Call Rocket Pest Control, your trusted partner for professional wildlife removal in Southeastern United States.
