WILDLIFE REMOVAL & EXCLUSION IN EAST TEXAS

Wildlife Problems in East Texas Are Structural Problems

East Texas wildlife — raccoons, squirrels, opossums, armadillos, and snakes — regularly exploit structural gaps in homes to den, nest, and overwinter. Houston County’s proximity to the Davy Crockett National Forest and numerous creek drainages means wildlife pressure is constant for properties on the outskirts of Crockett, Kennard, and Grapeland.

The damage accumulates fast. Raccoons in an attic shred insulation, contaminate it with a concentrated latrining behavior, and can damage HVAC ductwork within weeks. Squirrels gnaw on wiring — a documented cause of structure fires. Our blog on what to do when wildlife gets into your attic covers the first steps to take before professional removal.

Texas Parks and Wildlife wildlife regulations govern which animals can be trapped and relocated and which must be handled by licensed pest control operators. We operate within all TPWD guidelines — protecting you from legal exposure while solving your wildlife problem humanely and permanently.

Trapping, Removal & Exclusion: Why All Three Matter

Trapping alone doesn’t solve wildlife problems — it creates a vacancy that the next animal fills within days. Exclusion is the permanent solution: professionally sealing every gap, vent, soffit breach, and chimney opening that allowed entry.

We use galvanized hardware cloth, commercial-grade flashing, and expandable foam with wire insert to close off all entry points. The same entry gaps used by raccoons are often used by rodents like mice and roof rats — and by spiders, scorpions, and other pests seeking harborage. A thorough exclusion closes all of them at once.

For properties near Kennard with significant forest exposure, our exclusion service at pest control near the Davy Crockett National Forest area addresses the full range of wildlife that moves between forest edge and residential structures.

Disease Risk: Why Raccoons and Opossums Need Professional Removal

Raccoon feces can contain Baylisascaris procyonis — raccoon roundworm — whose eggs are microscopic and can cause severe neurological disease in humans. The CDC’s Baylisascaris resource documents that exposure typically comes from contact with dried raccoon feces in attics or outbuildings. Never disturb raccoon latrines without professional protective equipment.

Opossums and armadillos, while generally less aggressive, create structural damage through burrowing and can carry fleas that introduce tick and flea infestations to your property. Removal should be part of a broader pest management approach.