You hear something in the ceiling, or find droppings in the garage, and the first thing you search is “pest control.” That’s a reasonable start, but pest control and wildlife removal are different trades. Calling the wrong one costs you time, and the animal stays put. Here’s how to tell which you need.
The Quick Answer
| What you’re dealing with | Who to call |
|---|---|
| Roaches, ants, termites, lawn insects | Pest control (for insects, our sister company Green Guard) |
| Scratching or thumping in the attic or walls | Wildlife removal |
| Rats or mice | Wildlife/rodent removal (trapping + exclusion) |
| Squirrels, raccoons, opossums, bats | Wildlife removal |
| Snake in the house or garage | Wildlife removal |
| Fresh holes dug in the yard | Wildlife removal (or lawn pest control if grubs are the cause) |
| Dead animal smell | Wildlife / dead animal removal |
| Stray dog or cat | Alachua County Animal Services |
What Pest Control (Extermination) Covers
Pest control is mostly insect work: roaches, ants, termites and lawn pests. Most insect pest control companies don’t trap animals or seal the gaps animals use. If you have bugs, our sister company Green Guard (blockthebugs.com) can help.
What Wildlife Removal Covers
Wildlife removal deals with animals living in or around your home: squirrels, raccoons, rats, bats, snakes, opossums, armadillos and birds. A full job means removing the animal, sealing the entry points so it can’t come back, and cleaning up droppings and damage. → Wildlife removal in Gainesville
Rats & Mice: Where They Overlap
Rats and mice are where the two trades meet, which is why so many people call an exterminator for them. Bait may kill some rats, but they can crawl into a wall to die, and the gaps they used stay open for the next ones. Trapping plus exclusion deals with the cause. → Rat removal · Rodent control
Animal Control vs. Private Wildlife Removal
Alachua County Animal Services handles domestic animals like dogs and cats. They don’t come out to remove a raccoon from your attic or a rat from your walls. For wildlife in or under your home, you need a private wildlife removal company.
Symptom Checker
Scratching in the attic
That’s an animal, not insects. The timing and weight of the sound are your best clues to which one. → Animal in attic removal
Droppings
Small, dark droppings along walls usually mean rodents. A pile below a roost can be bat guano, and a single heap of larger droppings can be a raccoon latrine. → Pest control in Gainesville: bugs or animals?
Holes in the yard
Overnight digging is often an animal looking for food, commonly armadillos. If lawn grubs are drawing them in, Green Guard can handle the insects.
Dead animal smell
A sour smell from a wall, vent or ceiling usually means an animal died inside.
Animal under the house
Noises under the floor or movement under a deck or crawlspace may be an opossum, armadillo or snake.
Need Bug Control? Meet Our Sister Company, Green Guard
We focus on animals and rodents. For insects and general pest control, our sister company Green Guard Pest Control offers eco-friendly, safe pest control: blockthebugs.com · 352-415-0010.
When to Call Us 24/7
Call us when you hear, smell or see signs of an animal, when you’ve found droppings you can’t identify, or when something is inside your living space right now.
Describe what you’re hearing, and we’ll tell you who to call: (352) 577-8229, 24/7.
FAQ
Can an exterminator get rid of squirrels?
Most insect exterminators don’t trap squirrels or seal the entry points they use. Squirrels need a wildlife removal company.
Does pest control handle rats?
Some do, usually with bait stations. That can thin out rats, but it won’t close the openings they’re using. We trap, remove and seal.
Who do I call for a raccoon in my attic?
A private wildlife removal company. Call us 24/7 at (352) 577-8229.
Does Alachua County remove wildlife?
Alachua County Animal Services handles domestic animals like dogs and cats, not wildlife in your home.
What if I’m not sure what the animal is?
Call and describe what you’re hearing or seeing. We’ll help you narrow it down and inspect if needed.
