Wildlife Control

Trust us to humanely remove all your critters.

Craig Thomas Pest Control, in partnership with Orkin Pest Control, offers full service wildlife solutions using the most humane animal removal and environmental responsible techniques available. Animals that call home, in your home are not only a nuisance but can cause damage to your home’s structure and even carry disease. Usually when animals invade your space, they are looking for food, water and shelter. However, no one wants wildlife in their home, but you can trust Craig Thomas Pest Control to remove and exclude wildlife for good.

Birds, Bats, Ground Hogs, Moles, Possums, Raccoons, Skunks, Squirrels, Voles, Woodchucks and more!

Craig Thomas Pest Control has the expertise to handle any wildlife problem you may have. Wildlife issues can affect any home, business or facility. We offer a variety of nuisance animal control services to remove or eliminate, repair the area and prevent recurring animal problems.

Our technicians are trained to:

1. Inspect. Performing an inspection to determine what is the problem. Where is it living? How is it gaining entry? What can be done? How can we prevent this from reoccurring again?
2. Remove. We ensure a humane and friendly release and removal of any wildlife, rodent or bird populations by trapping, placing deterrents or excluders.
3. Damage Repair. Once removed, placing a barrier will prevent a future problem. We will also clean, sanitize the area consisting of droppings, urine, nesting or food. If there are other entry points or damage created, we will take care of that too.

At Craig Thomas Pest Control, we are a QualityPro company a accreditation of the National Pest Management Association and have been committed to providing trusted and quality service in  Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, Putnam,  Sullivan, Columbia, Greene, Rockland and Westchester Counties for three Generations. As an industry leader in the Hudson Valley, we have the solution for all your pest and wildlife concerns. To schedule an appointment or schedule a free inspection contact us today.

Chipmunks Identification

Biology

Chipmunks tend to prefer rugged ground covered with rocks and brush, but also live near agricultural lands where they damage planted seeds and young plants. Fruit trees also may suffer damage from their feeding, and they also consume nuts, insects, mushrooms, and bird eggs. Food is carried in cheek pouches and stores are placed in the burrow for consumption later, including during the winter when the animal awakens from its hibernation on regular intervals to feed and then return to sleep. Burrows are normally underground, but some species also create nests in trees, which they use part of the day. Adults are capable of living for up to 8 years, but in nature a maximum of 3 to 4 years is normal. Mating is in mid spring, and a single litter per year is normal, with 4 to 8 young per litter.

Identification

Chipmunks are easily distinguished from similar ground squirrels by the presence of stripes on the sides of their head, running from their nose to the ear. They also have alternating dark and light stripes running along their back, from head to tail. Their tails are shorter than their body length, and their overall length is only about 9 inches. Their movements are a very jerky, quick, stop and go activity.

Characteristics Important in Control

Normally not a major pest problem, but where they occur they may be controlled with trapping.

Tree Squirrel Identification

Origin

Native animals in North America, comprising several genera of which Sciurus seems to be the most important with respect to their structural nuisance potential. The Eastern Gray Squirrel is very widely found, due to its introduction from its native eastern U.S. into the western states. Fox squirrels also represent a large group of widespread species.

Biology

Tree squirrels nest above ground, in cavities in tree trunks or in aerial nests they construct. Their diet is primarily nuts, seeds, berries, fruit, and flowers and flower buds. They may also feed on tender bark, and occasionally on insects, bird eggs or young birds, mice or other small animals. Tree squirrels are diurnal, or active in the daytime. They may live as long as 12 years, but between 4 and 7 years is more normal in nature. They have one to two litters per year, usually in very early spring or late winter, with 3 to 6 young per litter. They do not hibernate, but their activity may diminish a great deal in the winter months. Around structures they can be destructive to wires or other utilities that enter the structure, and commonly find their way inside attics where they cause great damage to wires and other materials inside. It also is common for them to fall into vents or chimneys on the roof, or possibly find their way into wall voids, where they may die and cause odor and pest problems. They may enter through openings only 1.5 inches wide.

Identification

Tree squirrels may be distinguished from ground squirrels and from chipmunks by their long, bushy tails, the lack of dorsal stripes, spotting or flecking, and the lack of internal cheek pouches. When disturbed they flee for the security of a tree, rather than to a ground burrow. Colors vary widely from species to species, with the gray squirrels being the namesake gray, fox squirrels a dark reddish brown, and flying squirrels a silky brown with a white belly. Sizes also vary, from the smaller flying squirrels at only 10 inches from nose to tip of tail, while the gray squirrels are twice that size, up to 22 inches long.

Characteristics Important in Control

In general, tree squirrels are protected animals, and it is illegal to kill them. If tree squirrels are found to be causing serious damage permission may be given to trap and relocate them. Exclusion from a building is the most important control measure for these animals, and removal by live-trapping the best alternative if they have entered.

Woodchuck Identification

Biology

These rodents are diurnal, and hibernate through the winter months. They are herbivores with grasses and other soft foliage as their primary diet, although they also may eat roots, bulbs, and seeds, even climbing trees to reach potential food. They feed in groups, with some individuals acting as guards to warn of danger. Their habitat is open fields, pastures, or sparsely wooded areas where they have a good view around them. They live in underground burrows located near the edges of fields, moving to a different den for their hibernation, usually in a wooded area. The burrow system can be as deep as 7 feet and meander for as much as 45 feet, with numerous entrances to it. The main entrance often has a large mound of dirt piled around it. Mating follows hibernation, young are born in 28 days, from 2 to 4 young per litter, and a single litter per year. Woodchucks live up to 6 years in the wild, but potentially 10 years in captivity.

Identification

Adults are large rodents, up to 26 inches from nose to tip of tail, and they have a stocky build with short, powerful legs. The tail is bushy haired and is flattened and less than half the body length. The color ranges from light brown to reddish brown.

Characteristics Important in Control

Woodchucks can be a severe agricultural pest on clover, alfalfa, or other crops, and their burrow system are a hazard to livestock and farm equipment. Trapping with live traps is an effective method.

If you have a nuisance wildlife problem and would like to have a Craig Thomas Pest Control representative speak to you, give us a call! Contact us by phone 800-255-6777, email

We at Craig Thomas Pest Control, Inc. are grateful to Univar Profession Products and Services for pest information incorporated into this work.