Animal Damage Repair

by SOS Wildlife Control | Jan 6, 2016 | Animal Control, Helpful Tips, Uncategorized

Last Updated: May 2016

It’s certainly not a surprise that animals can cause quite the headache to many property owners. Animal damage repair costs can be cumbersome and the time that takes to complete such repairs can be lengthy. Let’s not forget having to deal with contractors, the living conditions during the repairs, and the cleanup after construction. Unexpected costs aside, the timeliness of such damages can’t be predicted, leaving many property owners desperate and stressed.

How to Avoid Animal Damage Repair Needs:

Here are very basic but extremely effective tips to keep your home from becoming a den for wildlife:

Be proactive in surveying your properties for visible structural damages such as holes, cracks, openings, etc.
Be proactive in identifying animal trails, droppings, and signs of animal life in your property, including attic space, basement, and under porches.
Be cautious and tedious with cleanliness. Keep all foods both human and pet food, contained and sealed.
Keep property off clutter and leaves. Maintain front and backyard trimmed, grass cut, and all leaves raked.
Keep pantry clean and free of opened food packaging.

If at any point you recognize a damage, or animal trail, there are several DIY methods available, but while the internet is full of inexpensive and sometimes free options and solutions, they don’t always provide effective results. Some of the most important things you can do is to identify there is an animal in your property. You should certainly clean the area and keep it hygienic for yourself and your family as many wildlife carry easily spreadable diseases. You can survey the area and find their “home” which is usually a designated area where they sleep, collect food, and keep their family. It is never recommended to try and remove any members of wildlife on your own. If they’re still on your property at the time of discovery, you should not try to catch them on your own. Aside from causing you physical harm, they could cause a lot of damage to your property, rip and chew through electrical cables, and dig their claw through walls, floors, insulation, etc. You should always seek professional services if the animals are present, and if there is a family with their babies. In Ontario, there are strict laws in place in protecting wildlife. These laws are in place to ensure wildlife are treated fairly and humanely. Anyone endangering the life of a member of the wildlife or inhumanely treating an animal can not only be fined up to $5000, but they can also be charged with animal cruelty under criminal law. The cost of animal damage repairs, legal fines, and potential physical harm all lead to one easy solution, which is to contact professional wildlife technicians.

While wildlife may be the more common invader, you could also have rodents and other pests like bedbugs and cockroaches infest your property. These smaller but equally destructive animals could cause permanent damages to your property that could easily drive the existing market value property down. The health risks they pose on humans, as well as their ability to multiply extremely quickly are the reasons why pests should also be taken very seriously. Small droppings, sour smells, tiny footprints could all be signs of an existing or growing mice problem. Cost of animal damage repairs aside, both wildlife and pests can be jeopardizing to healthy living/working environments.

Damages and Damage Repairs

Here are some examples of what animal damage repair costs could be in Ontario:

Insulation: $1 a square foot
Vapor Barriers: $0.70 a square foot
Drywall/Plaster: $9 a square foot
Hardwood Surface Scratch repair: up to $40 per tread
Hardwood Floor Staining and Varnish: up to $50 per tread
Shingle replacement/repair: $275-$750 per square foot (plus the cost of materials)
Concrete crack/hole repair: $250+
Professional Home Disinfection services: start at $500
Electrical Cable replacement: start at $100

Aside from having to fund hefty repair bills, finding reputable contractors, having to spare required time for estimates, work, clean up, and having to relocate family (if required) due to hazardous situations are all stressful but absolutely controllable. Take early action, recognize the signs, and contact
the professionals. DIY options can provide permanent solutions for minor infestation cases, but may only provide short-term solutions for bigger, unidentified problems. Don’t put yourself your family at risk. Contact our technicians who are able to provide a broader assessment, and provide effective results.

Animal damage repair costs are no joke, and we take wildlife and pest control very seriously. We handle all infestation situations with professionalism and provide wildlife removal services the most humane way possible. Our technicians use the most effective methods in the most humane manners. Our technicians are professionally trained, friendly, and professional. They are able to understand animal behavior, as well as traits. They can help identify entry points and offer advice on repair techniques. Don’t let animal damage repair costs to become a headache and a nuisance to your family.

At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, we provide superior wildlife removal services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Let us help you solve your wildlife problems. Taking action before it’s too late will help eliminate animal damage repair costs. We can easily be reached at 1-800-981-0330. Don’t wait and call us to schedule an appointment for a thorough inspection to help evacuate all your unwanted wildlife guests in the most humane way possible.

Call SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated 1.800.981.0330!

Squirrel Damage

by SOS Wildlife Control | Nov 12, 2015 | Squirrel Control

Last Updated: May 2016

Small and quick footed, these little creatures can cause quite the headache to many homeowners across the GTA. Squirrel Damage is one of the most common wildlife problems in Ontario. We see them everywhere, under all types of weather conditions; squirrels are a part of our culture, and of our natural environment. The trouble starts when the weather conditions become more and more extreme, and they start looking for shelter. As it starts snowing and weather gets colder, squirrels start looking for a new home. Often times they sneak in through garage doors, structural cracks, climb through left open doors and windows and climb down your chimneys. Their preference? Your attic! Squirrels in the attic is very common as it is quiet, well insulated, and away from the people. They like to build their dens, and bring their young ones over here. During their stay, they leave behind their feces and plenty of urine. This in return attracts other animals and the squirrel damage begins. Aside from spreading germs and possible diseases, squirrels also cause physical harm to your property. Their urine will weaken the floors, ceilings and lead to leaking. It will stain and spread very quickly.

It’s in their nature for squirrels to chew. They chew on variety of things including metal to keep their teeth short and sharp. Just like their nails, their teeth also grow, and this the only way they know how to keep it trimmed. Squirrel bite marks are the most common damage found where they have set up their dens. They are also notorious for chewing on electrical cables. This is not only a headache to replace; it’s also extremely dangerous as it been the cause of house fires across Canada and the U.S. Their sharp nails which help them climb and grip is also problematic when it comes to damages. They scratch hardwood and plastic surfaces, digging their nails in as deep as half an inch.

Squirrels main objective is to seek warmth and security from extreme weather conditions for themselves and their families. Unlike skunks and raccoons, one would rarely see these little creatures wandering around their home. They are often in hiding in places like the attic or under staircases. Because they don’t wander around the house looking for food, they source external resources and bring their food into their dens. In order for them to enter and exit in and out of your property, they tend to create an obvious opening if there isn’t already one existing. Using their teeth and fingers, they chew out and carve openings where they can bring in food they find outside for themselves and their families. They usually eat through shingles on the roof, or vent pipes to make their entrance ways. All of these damages can be extremely costly and have domino effect in determining repairs.

In not so extreme weather conditions, squirrels still go around, causing damage to properties. They can eat through lead sheathing, fiberglass, and polyethylene. These surfaces are inclusive of but not limited to roofs, water pipes, doors, sliding doors, etc. The squirrel damage caused on one’s property can depreciate the value of one’s home, cause injuries, and under worst case scenarios, even cause fire. Needless to say these little wildlife creatures and the damage they are capable of causing are nothing to be taken lightly.

How to Detect and Avoid Squirrel Damage on your Property

Although the most residents of Toronto and the GTA lead a very busy life, it’s very important to take the time to survey your property regularly to detect wildlife control needs. This includes looking out for scratches, stained or smelly surfaces, cracks and holes both inside and outside of the structure. Property owners should also check the attic, under staircases and under their porches regularly as these spots are prime real estate for not only squirrels but other wildlife as well.

Squirrel damage can be avoided by being proactive and ensuring all repair requiring work gets completed quickly and thoroughly. If the repair work can’t be conducted immediately, temporary solutions should be seeked. Aside from caring for the structure of your property, all steps should be taken as per our squirrel control guidelines.

If you suspect squirrel problems in your property, you should contact wildlife removal technicians immediately as the damage can be hefty and theyre may be health and home hygiene impacts. Our professional technicians here at SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated can help with all of your squirrel removal needs, as well as help identify damages on your property. As per all the damage and repair bills they are capable of causing, squirrels are not only a nuisance but they are dangerous. For the well being of your family and your property, you should seek professional services and ensure you are practicing preventative measures for wildlife entry to your property.

While squirrel damages can be looked at as a financial downer, it can be an emotional one as well. One’s first home, family home, place of employment all have sentimental values attached to memory. Don’t let squirrels ruin this attachment and contact professionals to help humanely get rid of squirrels.

At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, we provide superior squirrel control services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Let us help you solve your squirrel problems, before you have to start dealing with repair bills caused by squirrel damage. We can easily be reached at 1-800-981-0330. Don’t wait and call us to schedule an appointment for a thorough inspection to help evacuate all your unwanted wildlife guests.