Home Services

As the seasons change, your Southern Maine home may suffer from unsightly stains or dirt on the siding. Aluminum and wood siding are tricky to clean, and the job is best left to the professionals. If left uncleaned, dirty aluminum and wood siding can attract mold, critters, and long-term damages. 

How do you clean aluminum or wood siding?

Southern Maine homeowners want their homes clean, but it’s just not worth the tradeoff if harsh chemicals are used.  Critter Control offers environmentally safe cleaning solutions.  The WashSafe products we use are made from earth-friendly hydrogen peroxide (the active ingredient is sodium percarbonate), and it will not harm plants, people, pets, or property. Being an oxygen-based cleaner, the product only has an active life of 3-4 hours before the product biodegrades, making it the safest product in the home exterior cleaning industry. WashSafe is effective in removing dirt, moss, black algae, mold, lichen, or fungi that may grow on buildings. We also offer environmentally friendly sealers for wood siding, bricks, pavers, etc. Contact us here for more information or a FREE estimate.

So your problem animal has been removed—but what should you do with the urine and feces they've left in their wake? Wild animal droppings are incredibly unhygienic. Call Critter Control of Southern Maine today for more information on removing wildlife feces in your home!

Animal Droppings in Homes

Wildlife animals have several reasons to get inside homes, including for shelter, to find a food source, and a safe place to nest away from the elements. An unfortunate side effect of wildlife being in your Southern Maine home is the amount of droppings that can and does gather. Read on to learn more about where you may find wildlife droppings in your home.

Wildlife Feces in Attics

Animals like raccoons, mice, bats, and squirrels all love the dark and cozy space your attic provides. Depending on the animal, you will find droppings either confined to a single spot or scattered throughout the attic. Regardless of what type of animal, the number of feces, or where the droppings are, there is always a need for wildlife dropping removal in attics if you have had a wildlife guest.

Animal Droppings in the Kitchen

It makes sense that you would discover wildlife droppings in your kitchen since many wildlife animals are primarily food-driven. The most common culprit is a rodent. Mice and rats are notorious for slinking around baseboards of your kitchen and home searching for food, and their droppings are prevalent in pantries, cupboards, or under your sink. If you even suspect that the droppings in your kitchen have come close to any food for human consumption, please discard it immediately, but do not attempt to handle the dropping removal yourself.

Wildlife Droppings in Garage

Since it is an extension of the outdoors, it stands to reason that wildlife may get into your garage at times for shelter and food, as well. Near trash cans, the floor near walls, and on shelves are all common places you may see wildlife droppings in your garage.

Types of Wildlife Feces

Mouse Poop

Mouse poop is generally less than 1/4" in length and composed of a few separate pellets, which are pointed at the ends. They look similar to grains of rice. You will likely find mouse poop near food, like kitchen cupboards and drawers. You may also find it along pathways the mice consistently travel or in the attic, crawlspace, or basement. 

Rat Poop

Rat poop is a bit larger than mouse poop, averaging 1/2–3/4" in length. Norway rats produce droppings that have blunt ends. Like mice, you'll likely find rat poop near food or along their pathways.  

Squirrel Poop

Squirrel droppings are about 5–8 mm in length and resemble the shape and size of a raisin. Because squirrels have a diverse diet, their droppings can be diverse in color and shape too, ranging from brown to dark brown to green. Squirrels will pick a hole or crevice to use as their toilets, such as a hole in a tree, or a special spot in your attic. 

Bat Poop

Bat droppings, often called guano, are small and dark and look similar to mouse droppings. They are dark brown and look like grains of rice. Bat poop disintegrates to the touch, which makes it tricky to clean up. Bat poop is full of nutrients and is commonly used as fertilizer; however, because it's so potent, it can easily spread disease in your attic. 

Raccoon Poop

Raccoons make quite the mess with their poop. They choose one place to consistently defecate, called a latrine. Their droppings are cylindrical, have rounded or broken ends, and are dark in color. Their poop will often contain berries. 

Why is Wildlife Feces Dangerous?

Pathogens and diseases like salmonella, histoplasmosis, raccoon roundworm, and more can all be transmitted directly or indirectly through coming into contact with wildlife feces. Do not handle the droppings yourself—call the professionals at Critter Control of Southern Maine immediately! 207.405.2606

There are many parts of your Southern Maine home that offer a cozy entry point for critters, and your roof is no exception! Many critters love this area, including squirrels, mice, birds, and raccoons, and it can be tricky to keep the clever critters out. Critter Control is here to help!

Attic, Soffit, & Louver Vent Screen Guards in Southern Maine

Prevention is the easiest way to keep animals out of your home. Critter Control can install attic, soffit, and louver screen guards to keep critters away. We will ensure your home is wildlife-proof from the crawl space to the attic. 

Attic Vent Guards

It's important in the fluctuating Maine weather to have the proper attic vents. However, it's also important to have the proper attic vent guards to keep critters from taking advantage of this point of entry into your home. Our professionals know the balance between keeping your home critter-free, and keeping the proper ventilation flowing through your home. 

Soffit Vent Guards

The soffits of your home are the underside of the roof overhang. This area can present an easy way for critters to enter your home. Critter Control of Southern Maine can install soffit vent guards to keep the wildlife outside where they belong. 

Louver Vent Guards

Louver vents are the shutters on your home that allow for air to flow through. Animals, especially birds, love to use this part of your house to make their home. Critter Control can install the proper louver vent guards to keep the animals out. 

Whether it's attic fan vent guards or roof vent guards, gable vent closures, or soffit vent repairs, our skilled technicians here at Critter Control of Southern Maine have the expertise to fix your problems. Let us do all the work for you — do not hesitate to Contact Us today!

Not only do dead animals leave a horrible smell in your home, but decayed animal bodies can also lead to other problems like insect infestations, health hazards, and diseases. Our experienced professionals will remove the carcass from your attic, and purify your attic with special deodorizers and neutralizers. Call Critter Control of Southern Maine today for more information, and let us do all the work for you!

Where in my house are the dead animals?

Wild animals can die in the most inconspicuous places in your home, leaving their body hard to find afterwards. You may sometimes not even know an animal died in your home. You may also come across evidence of a dead animal in the wall or your chimney.

Common areas you may find squirrels, bats, rodents, and raccoons include:

• Attics
• Walls
• Crawlspaces
• Outdoor areas like yards and beneath porches

The easiest way to find a dead animal in your home is usually to follow your nose. If you need help removing the animal, especially if it's in a hard-to-reach area such as behind drywall or in your crawlspace, contact Critter Control of Southern Maine. 

What should I do if I find a dead animal in my house?

Not only do you need to know how to remove a dead animal from your attic, but you need to rid the area of the odor after carcass removal. Many times, the odor from a dead animal is stronger than what a regular household cleaner can clean. Critter Control of Southern Maine has the professional tools and experience to properly conduct dead animal disposal and their odor from your home. 

Common animals that die in Southern Maine homes include: 

• Mice
• Squirrels
• Rats
• Raccoons
• Bats

How do I know if an animal has died in my Southern Maine home?

Your first clue that an animal has died in your Southern Maine home will likely be the odor. Once an animal has died, the body starts to decay. As the carcass decays, the odor gets stronger. To find the source of the odor, follow your nose. You will probably find the stench is strongest in a vent or at a pinpoint spot on a wall. This means the animal has died in either your vent or inside the wall. The stench will grow stronger until the body completely decays. Luckily, the experts at Critter Control of Southern Maine can find the dead animal quickly, remove it, and deodorize the space, all with minimal damage. If we need to cut into the drywall, we will repair the space as well. 

The easiest way to get dead animals out of your home is to prevent them from coming in in the first place. Contact Critter Control of Southern Maine today for your professional dead animal removal and prevention plan!

Our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) service will seal all the cracks and crevices in your home with proper materials to prevent pests from coming inside; this will also result in energy savings in your home. Our trained technicians will perform inspections and monitorization for pests in order to identify potential problems in your home. We prevent small pest infestations from becoming a larger problem. Don't wait until it becomes a problem; be proactive and prevent the problem from happening! Contact us here for more information on preventing pest entry and damage.

Sealing and Caulking Holes

Some common places that benefit from caulking and sealing include:

• Kitchen cabinets
• Kitchen pipes
• Water heater
• Washing Machine
• Basement Pipes
• Crawlspace
• Attic entrances and vents
• Exterior doors
• Exterior windows
• Fascias
• Roof
• Eaves

If the inside or outside of your home could use some caulking as part of your wildlife prevention plan, give Critter Control of Southern Maine a call today! 207.405.2606

Critter Control of Southern Maine offers a wide range of animal prevention products and services. After the removal of unwanted animals, we repair damage and implement state-of-the-art prevention techniques. Screening vents, installing chimney caps/screens, and closing entry holes all reduce the opportunity for future conflicts with other unwanted nuisance animals. Contact us here for more information.

With years of experience, Critter Control of Southern Maine offers a wide selection of products and services related to animal and pest control. After the removal of unwanted pests and wildlife from your Southern Maine home is complete, our service professionals are capable of repairing any damages done to your home with the use of modern prevention techniques. 

Chimney Repair

After we vacate the raccoons, birds, or other critters that were living in your chimney, there may be some damage to repair. Even if you haven’t had any critters living in your chimney, the bricks and mortar joints tend to break down over time. All these problems are fixable, and the experts at Critter Control of Southern Maine know how to handle this damage.

Chimney Cap Installation

If your chimney does not have the proper cap, you’re not only subjecting your chimney to damage from critters, but you’re subjecting your home to damage from the elements. Critter Control of Southern Maine will ensure you have the proper fitting chimney cap to keep your Southern Maine home safe from anything wanting to make its way inside.

Sealing Entry Holes

Animals like mice and squirrels can make their way into your home through a hole the size of a dime! From soffits to foundations to doors and windows, there are plenty of opportunities for critters to crawl in if your home if it isn’t properly sealed. If the mortar on your chimney is damaged, it will also be available for critters to access your home. The experts at Critter Control of Southern Maine will evaluate your home for any possible entry points and seal them up to ensure your home is sealed up tight from unwanted visitors.

Tuck Pointing

If the brick on your chimney has started to look tired, tuckpointing can be a good option. Tuckpointing is the process of removing some of the deteriorating mortar, filling the joints back up with mortar that matches the brick, then covering the seams with putty in a contrasting color to the brick. This will revive the look of your brick as well as protect the mortar joints from further deterioration.

Contact us today for an estimate on chimney repairs.

Similar to attics, crawlspaces are commonly invaded by wildlife and pests. Our trained technicians will clean up the crawlspace of your home after the animals have been removed. We will remove all of your animal droppings and inspect the condition of the pipes and insulation of your home to ensure there are no possible leaks that can cause inefficient energy usage.

Insulation Restoration

It’s common for small animals like mice and rodents to crawl through your insulation, leaving their droppings along the way. If you have soiled insulation in your crawlspace, we can clean it up and replace it for you.

Our team has expertise in safely and effectively replacing insulation. It can be a health hazard if it’s not properly taken care of.

What animal is in my crawlspace?

It can be hard to know what animal is in your crawlspace from just the sound they make. It can be dangerous to go look as you may be faced directly with a frightened animal. If you hear light scratching or scurrying, you may have a rodent in your crawlspace. If the sound is a bit louder and more active during the day, you could have squirrels. Heavy thumping or bumps are often signs of raccoons. Whatever the animal is, it’s important to remove it quickly before it gets out of hand.

What damage will animals do to my crawlspace?

A wildlife infestation in your Southern Maine crawlspace can cause quite the headache. Some of the no-good behavior those critters get up to include:

Chew the wood: Animals, especially rodents, love to chew wood, including the wood in your Southern Maine crawlspace. This can cause structural damage to your home. 

Chew the wires: In addition to chewing wood, rodents love to chew wires. Chewed wires are a fire hazard--as the rodent chews the wire, the protective coating gets worn off. This makes it easy for the cord to light on fire. 

Gain access to the house: If animals have taken over your crawlspace, your home is likely their next stop. If your home isn't completely sealed, they will find their way inside. 

The damage that wildlife does to your home can be costly if it's left too long. Call Critter Control of Southern Maine today if you suspect there are any unwanted animal problems in your home. 207.405.2606

After the removal of unwanted animals from your crawlspace, we repair damages and implement prevention techniques. Screening foundation vents, installing chimney caps and screens, and closing entry holes reduce the opportunity for future conflicts with other unwanted nuisance animals. 

There are many issues with foundation vents in your Southern Maine home that can cause your home to be susceptible to animal issues. Problems may include a poor fit against the siding, poor quality vents, or poor installation. We will install a vent that finds a balance between allowing your foundation vent to circulate air and being strong enough to keep critters away.

What animals get into your foundation in Southern Maine?

You may be wondering why animals love your basement or crawlspace. In the wild, animals like raccoons, mice, and opossums like to be covered by trees, pipes, or anything that feels safe to them. Your Southern Maine basement vents or crawlspace are a great place to get in!

Raccoons In The Crawlspace

When raccoons make their way into your crawlspace, it's usually because they are looking for a cozy spot to have their babies. This is important to know because if you trap baby raccoons inside your crawlspace and lock the mother out, you will create even more damage to your home. Raccoons have a lot of dexterity—couple that with a mother raccoon's will to get her babies back, and you have a recipe for a damaged vent. 

Mice In The Crawlspace

Mice in the crawlspace are a common problem in Southern Maine. They can cause more problems than leaving their droppings around. Mice chew–a lot. If you have anything stored in your crawlspace, they will certainly find it.

Worse than your holiday decor, however, is your electrical wiring. Mice are known for chewing wires, which can be a fire hazard. It's important to keep mice out of your crawlspace to avoid this highly dangerous problem. 

Opossums In The Crawlspace

If there is an opossum in your crawlspace, it likely won't be there for too long. Opossums are always on the move. However, it is important to keep them from entering your crawlspace in the first place. While their visit may be shorter, they still leave plenty of mess behind. They may also chew your insulation or wiring while they're at it. Keeping them out is the best way to prevent unexpected home damage.

Keeping wildlife out of your Southern Maine crawlspace is part of maintaining a healthy home. Call Critter Control of Southern Maine today for more information on solving all your animal problems. 207.405.2606

Cleaning Your Home's Gutter

Keeping your Southern Maine’s gutters cleaned of debris and animal nests can help you save a considerable amount of money and frustration in the future. Clogged gutters prohibit your gutters from doing their job: diverting water off your home. Instead, your foundation, windows, fascia, soffits, and basement are all at risk of rot, mildew, mold, insect infestations, and decay when you suffer from clogged gutters. Clogged roofs can also cause roof leaks.

Keep Animals & Debris Out of Your Gutter

Leaf-proof and Leaf Defier gutter guards work to help keep your home safe from potential damage due to clogged gutters. Leaf guards sit in your gutter and allow water to flow through, but prevent animals from nesting in your gutter and keep leaves and other debris out. 

Do animals live in your gutter?

If your gutter is not cleaned, it can be a breeding ground for bugs and rodents. Common animals that live in Southern Maine gutters include:

• spiders
• mosquitos
• mice
• birds

These and other pests will come alive in the debris trapped in your Southern Maine gutters, eventually making their way into your home.

Rodents like mice will also crawl through the debris in your gutters, attracting them towards and eventually into your home. You can easily prevent this headache by having Critter Control of Southern Maine clean, repair, and maintain your gutters!

Call Critter Control of Southern Maine for more information on our gutter cleaning! 207.405.2606