Finding how an animal got into an attic or wall, sealing the entry, and explaining where Illinois wildlife rules apply.
Fastest: call (855) 974-4733. Or send this and we call you back.
Attic animal work finds how an animal got into the building, sets out the steps to close the entry once the animal is gone, and explains what wildlife rules apply. Wildlife work in Illinois can need an Illinois Department of Natural Resources permit, so the technician confirms the rules before any trapping. Tinley Park Pest Control connects Cook County callers with a local technician.
An animal in an attic or a wall is a different kind of call from a mouse. The noise is louder, the droppings and nesting material are bulkier, and the entry is often a damaged vent, a loose soffit or a gap at the roof edge that a larger animal has enlarged. Most of the time the animal is a visitor that found a warm, dry space and stayed.
Wildlife is regulated separately from structural pest work. In Illinois, structural pest certification does not allow a technician to destroy or interfere with wildlife, and trapping or killing certain animals falls under the Wildlife Code. A reputable technician will say so early, rather than setting traps that may not be allowed.
The first step is to find the way in and check the attic for the signs of what is living there. A visit records the entry point, the droppings and the nesting, and it explains what can and cannot be done without a permit. Call (855) 974-4733 as soon as you hear activity in the attic, because the entry is usually the quickest thing to close once the animal has gone.
A pest technician can find the entry, check the attic and explain the rules. Some animals can be removed under state rules, and others require a permit or the work of a wildlife operator. The technician confirms which applies before any trap is set.
Structural pest work and wildlife work are regulated differently in Illinois. Certification for structural pests does not cover destroying or interfering with wildlife, and trapping certain animals falls under the Wildlife Code. The technician will tell you which applies to your situation.
Where a permit is needed, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is the agency to contact. The technician can explain the process, and wildlife work may need a permit from the department before it is done.
Sealing the entry stops the next animal from using the same route. Animals often return to a warm attic that has been used before, and a removal without sealing leaves the way open for the next one.
The seal must be strong enough for the animal to be unable to chew or push through it. A soft filler or a loose vent screen is not enough, and the material is chosen to match the size of the animal and the opening.
Sealing is done after the animal has left, so that it is not trapped inside. A one-way device or a timed exclusion is used where the rules allow, and the sealing follows once the entry is clear.
Droppings and nesting material can carry diseases and should be cleaned with protective equipment. Dry droppings should not be swept or vacuumed, because the dust can be breathed in, and the area should be wet with a disinfectant before removal.
A mask rated for dust, gloves and eye protection are the minimum for an attic clean-up. The material is bagged and sealed for disposal, and the area is ventilated during and after the work.
Insulation that is soiled with droppings or urine is usually replaced rather than cleaned, because the material holds the smell and the contamination. The technician will say how much needs replacing and whether a contractor should be called.
Yes. An animal in an attic can chew wiring, tear insulation and damage the sheathing or the framing. Chewed wiring is a fire risk, so any sign of damage to wiring should be checked by a qualified electrician.
A technician notes wiring that has been chewed, and the homeowner is advised to have an electrician inspect it before the attic is closed up. The inspection is separate from the pest work and is important for safety.
Damage to the sheathing, the fascia or the framing is noted in the report. The repair is for a contractor, and the notes from the pest visit show where the damage is and how the entry was made.
Keep the attic door closed, do not go into the attic with an animal present, and do not try to trap or move an animal yourself. Note when the sounds happen and where, and take a photograph of any damage at the roof edge.
Keep pets and children out of the attic and away from the area under the sound. An animal that feels threatened can bite or scratch, and a frightened animal can make a larger mess when it moves.
A list of the sounds, their timing and the damage seen from below gives the technician a head start. Those notes make the first visit faster and the entry easier to find.
Do not enter an attic with an animal present, and do not handle a sick or injured animal. Do not climb onto the roof to inspect the entry without the right equipment and training. Wear a mask and gloves around droppings, and keep children and pets out of the attic. If you are bitten or scratched, wash the area and seek medical advice the same day, then call (855) 974-4733.
The technician looks at the roof edge, the soffit, the vent screens, the chimney and the gaps around the dormers, and matches those with the attic signs. The entry is often on the side of the house where the animal has been seen, but the inspection checks every opening.
The attic is inspected for droppings, nesting, damaged insulation and any wiring that has been chewed. The technician notes the size of the area affected, since insulation and wiring that have been damaged may need repair by a qualified contractor.
Structural pest certification does not extend to wildlife. The technician explains whether a permit from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is needed for the work, and whether the animal is one that can be handled under the rules. No trap is set until that is clear.
Where the rules permit, a one-way exit device or a timed exclusion is fitted so the animal can leave and not return. Once it has gone, the entry is sealed with a material the animal cannot chew or push through.
Droppings and nesting material are removed with protective equipment, since they can carry disease, and the insulation that has been soiled is replaced. The attic and the roof line are checked again after the work to confirm that no other entry remains.
The most common pattern on a detached house. The animal enters at a gap in the soffit, the fascia or a damaged vent, and it nests in the attic. The entry is found from the outside and the attic is cleared after the animal has left.
An animal enters at a chimney top, a dormer or a gap at a roof penetration. The work requires access to the roof and the chimney, and a cap or a screen is fitted once the entry has been closed. The safety of roof work is handled by the technician or a roofer.
An animal that has entered a wall cavity or a crawlspace from a gap at the foundation or a utility opening. The work is focused on the opening and the cavity, and the wildlife rules are checked before any removal is considered.
Call any hour and explain what is going on. You get a clear price before any work starts.
Many Tinley Park homes are detached houses with attics above the second floor, and the roof edge and the soffit are the usual entry points. The survey begins at the roof line and the vents, since most attic entries are found there.
Wooded and preserve-edge lots in the south suburbs are closer to wildlife habitat, and an animal that moves between the trees and the roof has an easy route. Trimming trees that touch the roof is a useful step that a technician can recommend.
The first hard cold of autumn is when attic animals tend to seek shelter, so calls often come in October and November. An entry sealed before the cold is far easier than one found after an animal has settled in.
Closing the garage thresholds, foundation gaps, utility openings and vents that let rodents and insects into a Tinley Park house.
Locating house mice in walls, attics and garages in Tinley Park, then trapping them and closing the gaps they use.
Assessing and removing paper wasp and hornet nests under eaves, in sheds and near doors around a Tinley Park home.
Sealing the gaps where boxelder bugs and brown marmorated stink bugs enter, and removing the autumn insects gathered on sunny walls.
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
The Illinois Department of Public Health licenses structural pest control businesses and certifies the technicians who apply pesticides indoors and around buildings.
It depends on the animal and the rules, and some trapping requires a permit. Trapping without the right permit or setting a trap that catches the wrong animal can cause problems. Ask the technician to confirm the rules before doing anything yourself.
Listen for sounds at dawn and dusk, and watch for new droppings or fresh damage at the entry. A technician can check the attic and fit a one-way device to confirm that the animal has left before the entry is sealed.
It can, if the entry is not sealed. Sealing the opening with a strong material is what stops a repeat, and the repair is checked after the work.
Coverage depends on the policy and the insurer, and animal damage is often treated differently from other losses. The insurer decides what is covered, and the guide on pest damage and insurance claims in Illinois explains the questions to ask.
Some animals and some methods need a permit from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and the technician will explain which applies. The homeowner is told before any trap is set, and no step is taken that the rules do not allow.
Call as soon as the sounds or the droppings are noticed, because a longer stay means more damage and a harder clean-up. An early call usually leads to a simpler entry repair.