Animal Control vs Wildlife Removal

Serving Broward County and Palm Beach County

When you see a wild animal on your property, you might be confused about who to call – animal control or wildlife removal services. You may think they’re the same, but there are a few differences; both are for managing animal issues, but they handle different situations.
Animal control is a government department that focuses on public safety and domestic animal handling. Wildlife removal, however, is handled by private companies. It deals with wildlife issues rather than domestic animals like dogs and cats. Curious about which you should call? Read on for more details.
If you or someone else is being attacked by an animal of any kind, call 911 immediately. This constitutes an emergency and should be handled by emergency responders.

What Does Animal Control Do?

As a government agency, animal control is intended to protect the health and safety of people and animals within a community. It deals with community-wide issues and maintains a harmonious relationship between humans and animals.
Animal control deals with:

• Protecting public safety. They handle situations where an animal poses an immediate threat to people, like aggressive dogs or rabid animals in public spaces.
• Managing domestic animals. Animal control handles stray, missing, and abandoned pets.
• Enforcing animal laws. They ensure that local and state regulations around animal welfare, ownership, and licensing are upheld.
• Public education. They provide resources about responsible pet ownership, vaccinations, and animal safety.
• Disease control. Animal control monitors and controls animal-borne diseases such as rabies and distemper.

When Should You Call Animal Control?

Animal control should get involved when public safety or animal welfare is under immediate threat. This allows them to protect people and ensure humane treatment of the animals involved. These situations include:

• Stray or aggressive dogs.
• Neglected or abused pets.
• Injured pets in public spaces.
• Animals that appear rabid.
• Nuisance animals affecting the community. (eg. a feral cat colony)

What Does a Wildlife Removal Company Do?

Wildlife removal services can handle just about anything that animal control won’t. If you have a non-domestic animal on your property, you should call a wildlife removal specialist like Petri Pest Control Services, Inc.. Other situations where you should call a wildlife removal company include:

• Humane trapping and removal. A wildlife removal company can capture and remove everything from raccoons to protected bird species, whether or not they’re immediately dangerous.
• Property inspections. Petri Pest Control Services, Inc. can inspect your property to identify your wildlife problems and your property’s vulnerabilities.
• Exclusion techniques. Wildlife exclusion is a treatment that focuses on prevention. It physically prevents nuisance animals from entering the property.
• Cleanup and sanitation. We can clean up after an animal problem – removing dead animals and sanitizing surfaces to ensure health and safety.
• Consultation and prevention advice. We can provide helpful tips for minimizing your risk of future wildlife issues.

When Should You Call Wildlife Removal?

The following situations are better suited for a wildlife removal company than animal control. They are situations with non-domestic animals and less immediate danger. If you’re dealing with any of the following, call Petri Pest Control Services, Inc..

• Noises in your walls or attic
• Property damage from wildlife
• Nests or burrows
• Frequent wildlife sightings nearby
• Unusual animal droppings

Who Handles Protected Species?

Some wildlife, such as many species of birds, are protected by law. This makes it illegal to harm or even relocate certain animals. If you’re dealing with a protected species, you might think that animal control is the group to call, given that they’re a government division. However, it’s actually a job for a wildlife removal specialist. They’re familiar with all the legal guidelines around protected wildlife. Petri Pest Control Services, Inc. can handle:

• Protected birds. We safely relocate birds when they roost in inconvenient locations.
• Bats. All species of bats are protected in South Florida, and so they must be handled with care. They are ecologically significant and can also carry diseases, so it’s essential to hire a specialist.
• Other protected species. We can handle any animals protected under state and local legislation.

Call Petri Pest Control Services, Inc. for Wildlife Removal Services in South Florida

Wildlife problems can damage your property and pose health and safety risks. These issues won’t resolve themselves, and will probably get worse the longer you wait. That’s why Petri Pest Control Services, Inc.’s team of wildlife removal experts is on hand to help. We can build a plan for your property’s specific needs and resolve your wildlife issue efficiently and effectively.
Whatever type of wildlife you’re dealing with, we can help. Call Petri Pest Control Services, Inc. today to get started with a free estimate.

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