Squirrels
505.328.9606
Two species of squirrels, rock squirrels and Abert's squirrels, live in Albuquerque and the surrounding areas. Rock squirrels are a common, burrowing squirrel found on both sides of the Sandia Mountain. Like mice and rats, they frequently enter homes through various exterior openings. They also will burrow in yards and under sheds; sample various fruits and veggies from your property; and feast at your bird feeders.
Abert's, also known as tassel-eared, squirrels are a high elevation squirrel found in some areas of the east mountains. They nest tree in trees and often wind up in roofs and ceilings of East Mountain homes. Abert's squirrels appear to be brighter than rock squirrels and occasionally can be difficult to trap. One-way doors are sometimes needed to be installed so they can exit but not reenter. Once out, closures need to be made to stop future entry.
SERVICES:
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If squirrels are entering any part of the home, then a full inspection will be done to identify entry points. Trapping service is provided to capture and relocate squirrels. Finally, exclusion service is offered to seal home to further entry.
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If squirrels are causing damage to property (vehicles or gardens primarily) or are a concern for encounters with children or pets, trapping service to relocate squirrels is offered.
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If a client has captured a squirrel in their own trap but are unsure what to do with it now, I offer relocation services and return of the client trap.
Skunks
The striped skunk is the species commonly found throughout Albuquerque and surrounding communities. For good reason, nobody really wants a skunk making a home on their property. Common calls for service include having a dog sprayed, digging up lawns looking for grubs, and living under homes or sheds.
ODOR CONTROL
A frequently asked question is how to remove that skunk spray odor. First, it's important to note that the time between the skunk spraying and the time the cleaning start matters. Skunk spray is very oily and deeply penetrates clothing, skin, and pet fur. If it is 2 AM and you or your dog just got sprayed, plan on a couple of more hours of cleaning time so that the next few days will be more bearable. If you, your pet, or property are sprayed, immediately wash the areas with copious amounts of soap (particularly one that cuts grease well) and warm to hot water. Then mix a quart of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and 1 to 2 teaspoons of liquid soap or detergent together and start scrubbing. This mixture is a good odor neutralizer and will remove most of the odor from you or your pet. Rinse off well with plenty of water. No matter how diligently you clean, you will still get the occasional whiff of skunk odor for a more few days. Skunk spray is a powerful deterrent for skunks in the natural world.
SERVICES:
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If skunks are entering any part of the home, usually a crawlspace, then a full inspection will be done to identify entry points. Trapping service is provided to capture and relocate skunks. Skunks that have established a home on a client's property are generally very easy to capture. Finally, exclusion service is offered to seal home to further entry.
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If skunks are causing damage to property (lawns primarily) or are a concern for encounters with pets, trapping services to relocate skunks are offered. Skunks that meander onto the property from time to time to visit lawns or food bowls can be more difficult to capture as skunk visits need to be occurring over same period that the traps are in place.
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If a client has captured a skunk in their own trap but are unsure what to do with it now, I offer relocation services and return of the client trap.
Raccoons
Raccoons are common throughout the Albuquerque area. They are nocturnal, and clients rarely stay asleep when a raccoon is walking in their ceiling in the middle of the night. Many clients have called the police to their homes because they believe someone has broken into the home. Raccoons frequently enter attics, roofs, and chimneys. Raccoons are very bright and often "know" what traps are and avoid them. Most urban raccoons have several client homes that they use for limited periods of time based on their own use of various neighborhoods. This is why many people will experience noise for a few nights, then no troubles again for some length of time; only to start hearing noise again a few days or weeks later.
SERVICES
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I do not trap raccoons. We offer a free inspection to identify the entry points and advise on the best course of action. I use techniques, and work with homeowners, to make the raccoon feel less comfortable at the property and want to move on. Often times the best solution is to seal raccoons out when they haven't been heard at the property for a few nights. I leave raccoon trapping, if needed, to other wildlife companies as the game department mandates that all captured raccoons must be euthanized.
