In-Depth Guides for Smarter Pest Control Decisions
November 18, 2025
Michigan's suburban expansion has created perfect conditions for wildlife conflicts, with raccoons, squirrels, and skunks leading the invasion into local homes.
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Michigan’s suburban landscape creates perfect conditions for wildlife conflicts. As development pushes into natural habitats, raccoons, squirrels, and skunks adapt by moving closer to human structures.
These three species share common traits that make them particularly problematic. They’re intelligent, adaptable, and opportunistic. They also reproduce quickly and have few natural predators in suburban environments.
What sets them apart from other wildlife is their comfort level around humans. While deer or foxes typically avoid human contact, these three actively seek out the food sources, shelter, and safety that residential areas provide.
Raccoons earn their reputation as the most destructive wildlife intruders in Michigan. Their dexterous paws can open garbage cans, unlatch doors, and tear through roofing materials with surprising ease.
These nocturnal bandits typically weigh 15-40 pounds and can squeeze through openings as small as 4 inches. Once inside your attic or crawl space, they create extensive damage through nesting activities and waste accumulation. A single raccoon family can deposit 15-20 pounds of feces in an attic over one season.
The health risks are serious. Raccoons carry rabies, raccoon roundworm, and leptospirosis. Their feces can contain parasites that remain infectious for years, even after the animals are gone. This is why professional cleanup is essential after any raccoon intrusion.
Raccoons also cause significant structural damage. They tear insulation, chew electrical wires, and damage ductwork. The average raccoon remediation project costs homeowners $2,000-$5,000 when you factor in removal, cleanup, and repairs.
What makes raccoons particularly challenging is their problem-solving ability. They remember solutions and share information with other raccoons. If one figures out how to access your property, others will follow the same path.
Raccoons earn their reputation as the most destructive wildlife intruders in Michigan. Their dexterous paws can open garbage cans, unlatch doors, and tear through roofing materials with surprising ease.
These nocturnal bandits typically weigh 15-40 pounds and can squeeze through openings as small as 4 inches. Once inside your attic or crawl space, they create extensive damage through nesting activities and waste accumulation. A single raccoon family can deposit 15-20 pounds of feces in an attic over one season.
The health risks are serious. Raccoons carry rabies, raccoon roundworm, and leptospirosis. Their feces can contain parasites that remain infectious for years, even after the animals are gone. This is why professional cleanup is essential after any raccoon intrusion.
Raccoons also cause significant structural damage. They tear insulation, chew electrical wires, and damage ductwork. The average raccoon remediation project costs homeowners $2,000-$5,000 when you factor in removal, cleanup, and repairs.
What makes raccoons particularly challenging is their problem-solving ability. They remember solutions and share information with other raccoons. If one figures out how to access your property, others will follow the same path.
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The internet is full of DIY wildlife removal advice, but most homeowners quickly discover that professional intervention saves time, money, and frustration. Wildlife removal requires understanding animal behavior, proper equipment, and knowledge of state regulations.
Michigan has specific laws governing wildlife removal. Some species require special permits, and there are restrictions on removal methods and timing. Violations can result in significant fines.
Professional wildlife removal companies like us at First Choice Pest Control bring 26 years of experience dealing with Michigan’s specific wildlife challenges. We understand seasonal patterns, local regulations, and effective long-term solutions.
Skunks present unique challenges that make professional removal almost essential. Their defensive spray can contaminate large areas, and the odor can persist for months without proper treatment.
Striped skunks are Michigan’s most common species. They typically weigh 6-14 pounds and prefer to den under structures like decks, sheds, and porches. Unlike raccoons and squirrels, skunks don’t usually enter homes, but their presence around your property creates ongoing problems.
The spray issue is just the beginning. Skunks carry rabies at higher rates than most other wildlife species. They’re also primary carriers of distemper, which can spread to pets. A rabid skunk may not show obvious symptoms, making any skunk encounter potentially dangerous.
Skunks are excellent diggers and can cause significant lawn damage while searching for grubs and insects. They create cone-shaped holes throughout grass areas, and their digging can undermine foundations, walkways, and landscaping.
Removal requires specialized techniques. Skunks have poor eyesight but excellent hearing, so they’re easily startled into spraying. Professional wildlife removal specialists use specific approaches to minimize spray risk during capture and relocation.
The cleanup process after skunk encounters requires professional-grade deodorizers and sometimes structural modifications. Standard household cleaners are ineffective against skunk spray, and improper cleanup attempts can actually set the odor permanently.
Effective wildlife control goes beyond removing the current problem animals. Professional services include comprehensive exclusion work to prevent future intrusions.
Exclusion involves identifying and sealing all potential entry points using materials that wildlife cannot chew through or manipulate. This includes installing heavy-gauge wire mesh, metal flashing, and specialized vents that allow airflow while blocking animal access.
The timing matters significantly. Exclusion work must be completed after ensuring no animals are trapped inside. Baby animals are particularly vulnerable, and sealing them inside structures creates both legal and ethical problems.
Professional wildlife removal companies also address the attractants that drew animals to your property initially. This might involve securing garbage containers, removing food sources, trimming vegetation, and modifying structures that provide easy access routes.
Our pest control services Swartz Creek MI includes personalized assessment of each property’s specific vulnerabilities. Our technicians identify the factors that make your home attractive to wildlife and develop customized prevention strategies.
The investment in professional exclusion work typically pays for itself by preventing future wildlife problems. The cost of comprehensive exclusion is usually less than dealing with a second wildlife intrusion, especially when you factor in cleanup, repairs, and health risks.
Dealing with raccoons, squirrels, and skunks requires more than just removing the animals. Effective wildlife control addresses the immediate problem, prevents future intrusions, and protects your family’s health and safety.
Professional wildlife removal provides the expertise, equipment, and legal compliance that DIY approaches can’t match. The health risks, structural damage potential, and complexity of proper exclusion work make professional intervention a smart investment.
If you’re dealing with wildlife problems around your Swartz Creek home, we at First Choice Pest Control bring decades of experience with Michigan’s most problematic species. Our comprehensive approach ensures you get lasting results, not just temporary fixes.
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