Buyer Beware in Nuisance Wildlife Industry

In the Akron, Canton, and Kent, Ohio area, homeowners often encounter unwelcome visitors in the form of nuisance wildlife.

From mischievous raccoons to persistent squirrels, these critters can wreak havoc on properties, leading residents to seek the assistance of wildlife removal experts.

However, some recent jobs have shed light on a concerning trend – the prevalence of subpar repair work by some wildlife removal companies.  We are putting this out there for those of you in our area who are looking for wildlife removal and repair. 

Here’s some background: 

In the State of Ohio, it’s not too hard to get a Commercial Nuisance Animal Control Operators license.  All you have to do is take a free, on-line test.  The 30 page manual the test is made from is also available on-line for free.  There are 100 questions.  You have 90 minutes to take the test.  A passing score is 80%.  Let’s be honest: if you can 1) read  2) switch tabs on a computer and 3) use the Ctrl F function you can pass this test today even if you never considered a career in nuisance wildlife removal before today.

Once you take this test and are a licensed operator, you then fill out a business license permit annually and pay $40 per year annually. Having passed the test, filled out the business application, and sent in the forty dollars, you can charge for nuisance animal removal in the State of Ohio.

You sure can’t be a plumber or electrician or barber in the State of Ohio that easily or cheaply!

While we don’t mind this process and wouldn’t change it, we realize it is an invitation to many entrepreneurial-minded individuals to try their hand in the nuisance wildlife industry.  Hence, the number of businesses that come and go in our area is relatively high.  But, hey, we all start somewhere.  There are some really good, newer operators.  There are some who have been in the industry a while and, frankly, aren’t good. 

This system just means that there isn’t a required training period that helps guide and evaluate operators.   The evaluation of a new company or established company is left up to the consumer, for better or worse.

In addition to Frontline Animal Removal, there are a half dozen Nuisance Wildlife Removal Companies in the Stark, Summit, Portage County Metro area that do really good work.  

Your goal as a consumer is to find one of them.

Our goal in this post is to show you what to be on the lookout for in positive and negative ways.

Finding a Skilled Wildlife Problem Solver

Having a nuisance wildlife issue, your goal is to find a critter removal company that can solve your animal issue from removal to repair in a skilled and professional manner.  

How do you do that?

In our opinion, it’s essential for homeowners to research and ensure that the wildlife removal company they hire is capable of providing not only effective removal services but also high-quality repair work. A solid repair job not only prevents wildlife from re-entering the property but also enhances its appearance and value.

We suggest you do this by:

• Finding examples of the business’s work. (These should be easily found)
• Looking at reviews
• Asking a lot of questions
• Getting repair guarantees
• Looking through web sites and social media pages
• Remember, it’s not just about trapping animals

A new company may not have as much available, but everybody can provide some examples of jobs they are proud of and describe the process that they’ll use.  Everyone will be able to describe what to expect once the job is done and provide evidence that that’s what was delivered.

Sub-Standard Repairs

Our point is “Buyer Beware”.

Now we’d like to share with you three recent jobs that prompted this post.

These are the kind of “services” and “repairs” you are looking to avoid.  If you encounter any of these “solutions” in your vetting process for a particular company, we recommend you steer clear.  There are others in our area like Frontline Animal Removal, that can provide a higher quality solution.

Ugly “Repair” & Traps Left?

This first example was some work left by a different company.  Animals were getting in at eave/roof transition spots.  One was sealed.  Two were set up with one-way doors and weak wire that are still there.  The customer is still hearing noise and the company that was first there is out of communication.  We’re not sure why this was all done this way.  Take a look at some red flags for your choosing a wildlife removal company.

Sloppy Soffit Repair

Here is another similar area with an ineffective fix.  Don’t hire whoever did this either.

Hack Job

The last one is an attempt at soffit repair without using soffit panels or getting rid of the raccoon.  We’re not against innovation or resourcefulness.  But, we are against “repairs” that fall apart.

Trusted Wildlife Removal & Repair | Stark, Summit, Portage County

At Frontline Animal Removal, we prioritize transparency and customer satisfaction. We encourage potential customers to ask questions and request examples of our work, whether through pictures or videos. We take pride in our extensive body of work, which serves as a testament to our expertise and commitment to excellence in both wildlife removal and repair services.

When you choose Frontline Animal Removal, you can rest assured that you’re partnering with a trusted team of professionals who go above and beyond to ensure the long-term success of our wildlife removal efforts. From meticulous inspections to precise repairs, we leave no stone unturned in safeguarding your property against unwanted animal intruders.

We strongly believe that repairs are often as important as the animal removal itself.

If you are evicting an animal on your own, do yourself a favor and follow it up with a quality repair!

We are experienced in home repairs and able to make most necessary repairs and modifications to prevent the problem from happening again. Whether it be soffits, fascia, vents, etc. we are able to help.  We feel the relationship between quality repair work and the success of a nuisance wildlife removal attempt cannot be overstated.

As homeowners in the Akron, Canton, Kent Ohio metro area navigate the process of selecting a wildlife removal company, we urge them to prioritize experience, expertise, and a proven track record of excellence. Don’t settle for subpar repairs – choose Frontline Animal Removal for unparalleled service and peace of mind

If you live in the Akron / Canton / Kent , Ohio and are in need of professional animal removal AND animal damage repairs please give us a call today!