Category: Golf Courses

Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services – It’s who we are and what we do

Animal Attacks, Animal Damage, Bats, Beavers, Charlottesville, Distemper, Foxes, Giardia, Golf Courses, Henrico, Histoplasmosis, Moles, Odor Control, Odor Removal, Opossums, Rabies, Raccoons, Removing Animals From Chimneys, Richmond, Skunk Odor, Skunk Odors, Skunks, Snakes, Squirrels, Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, Voles, White Nose Syndrome, WNS

Virginia Wildlife Removal, Animal Trapping & Pest Control

(434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975

virginia wildlife removalVirginia Wildlife Removal Services was started due to the increasing need for nuisance wildlife to be humanely removed from homes, commercial properties and other areas. Our goal has always been to safely remove wild animals and restore your Richmond and Charlottesville Virginia home or business to its normal condition, whenever possible.

Our Professionalism, Education and Integrity sets us apart.

Professionalism:

We arrive on time and are clearly identified by our uniforms and trucks. We provide you with the highest level of customer service every time. We try to clearly explain everything we are going to do before we do it and we are always available to answer questions. If we do not feel we can effectively solve your problem we tell you this BEFORE we start, not after!

Education:

Many animal removal technicians have very little training, experience, or education. Here at Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services we put a high priority on advanced education because we believe it enables us to better understand animal behavior, provide effective solutions to various problems, and maintain lifelong scientific learning in this field. Just because your dad or your dad’s dad were trappers DOES NOT make you an effective nuisance wildlife removal and control technician. We are not just trappers, but problem solvers.

Integrity:

We charge a SET fee for trapping and exclusions, which we quote to you UP FRONT. We do NOT charge per trap or per animal caught! Some unethical companies can charge you per animal, and then proceed to trap and catch the SAME animal numerous times costing you much more than it should.

Our normal procedures include checking the live traps to monitor progress, change trap locations as necessary, and changing bait to keep it fresh. We always maintain constant communication with you about our progress. Our customers are what make us successful. Our goal is 100% satisfaction from our customers — they are, after all why we have a thriving business. We love what we do! We provide bat removal, beaver removal, bee control, bird control, deer management, foxes, flying squirrel removal, groundhog removal, mice control, mole removal, opossum removal, raccoon removal, rat removal, skunk removal, snake removal, squirrel removal, vole removal and more. Call us today at (434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975.

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Opossums in Richmond and Charlottesville, VA | Trapping | Removal | Control & Exclusion

Bats, Beavers, Charlottesville, Golf Courses, Henrico, Moles, Odor Removal, Opossums, Rabies, Raccoons, Removing Animals From Chimneys, Richmond, Skunk Odors, Skunks, Snakes, Squirrels, Voles

Opossum Removal In Virginia

(434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975

Opossum Removal. The opossum (Didelphid virginiana) is definitely the only marsupial in Richmond and Charlottesville Virginia which is a distant relative with the kangaroo. The most known similarity for these close relatives is definitely the female opossum’s abdominal pouch intended for carrying and nurturing young. Unlike its relative, though, the opossum is really a sluggish animal which has a repulsive smell.

Adult opossums in Richmond and Charlottesville are around the proportions of a big cat. They’ve long, light gray hair which includes a scaly tail of approximately one foot. Typically, the opossum likes to start a home within existing structures like hollow logs, garages, under buildings, inside burrows, as well as squirrels’ nests in trees. It likes establishing residence in close proximity to a food source with an easy commute. The opossum is definitely an omnivore, so it’s not picky. Almost anything the marsupial are able to find to eat is likely to make for a meal – fruits, grass, insects, mammals, birds, fish, and carrion. They’re proven to damage Richmond and Charlottesville lawns, too, when digging for grubs.

Opossums aren’t community creatures. Typically, they reproduce once each year but sometimes have two litters producing about 7 offspring each. The count may go up to 13 in the litter, though. Gestation lasts only 13 days, and newborns are merely the dimensions of small bumble bees and partially developed. The young will nurse within the mother’s pouch for the following 3 months while they further develop and mature.

The best approach to get rid of or prevent an infestation by opossums is by exclusionary techniques. Ensure that there aren’t any holes, cracks, or damage of any kind where an opossum could access permanent structures like garage, house, basement, barn, shed, etc. Just before installing a procedure for closure, inspect the premises for infestation. Before you take control measures, check local regulations as opossums may be protected. In the event you aren’t certain of the infesting pest or that you could humanely capture it, we always recommend contacting a pest control management professional like Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, LLC to get an evaluation.

We provide humane and efficient opossum trapping, opossum control, opossum removal and opossum exclusion for the Richmond and Charlottesville areas. We handle all types of nuisance wildlife pests and animal critter trapping and removal. Visit us on the web at www.virginiaprofessionalwildliferemovalservices.com or call us at (434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975.

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Getting Rid of Moles in Richmond & Charlottesville — Not Easily Done

Animal Damage, Charlottesville, Golf Courses, Henrico, Moles, Richmond, Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services

Moles Removal in Richmond & Charlottesville, VA — No Easy Answer
Forget the ground hog, there’s one sure sign spring is on the way popping up in yards all over Richmond and Charlottesville Virginia — mole tunnels. Though moles tunnel actively all year in Richmond and Charlottesville, the tunnels they make in spring and fall are usually more obvious because they are closer to the soil surface. Unfortunately there is no easy, fast solution to rid a yard of moles. Instead, effective mole control relies on patience, persistence, and a little knowledge about their habits and behaviors.

The Ways of Moles in Richmond and Charlottesville, Virginia
Moles generally lead solitary lives in Richmond and Charlottesville and are believed to be fairly territorial. Adult moles reproduce once a year, with females giving birth to between two to five babies in spring.

These young moles strike out on their own when they reach five to six weeks old. Though homeowners often think they have multiple moles living in their yards, this is often not the case. Extensive damage can be caused by one mole, which may create up to 150 feet of new tunnel each day.

Mole Control Options For Richmond and Charlottesville
There are a plethora of home remedies touted for mole control — unfortunately none of them work. Many commercially available products, such as sonic vibration devices and castor bean repellents, have not been scientifically shown to have any effect either. In reality mole control is very difficult and even if you get rid of the mole living in your yard right now there is nothing stopping a new one from moving in. The problem is the conditions where grass grows best, where the soil is well drained, loose, and reasonably fertile, are also the conditions preferred by moles.

Reducing the amount of insects in the soil by broadcasting pesticides throughout your lawn is sometimes touted as way to reduce mole damage, but this is rarely effective and not recommended. Most soil applied pesticides target specific insects, such as white grubs or mole crickets. Moles, on the other hand, eat a wide array of insects with earthworms being one of their favorite foods. Most lawn insecticides do not kill earthworms, which is a good thing because earthworms are highly beneficial to lawns and gardens. In some cases treating your lawn with pesticides can even increase mole activity in the short term because moles will have to tunnel further to find enough insects to eat.

The most effective mole control method is trapping, but successfully trapping moles takes time and patience. Two types of traps are available, live traps and kill traps. To use either successfully you must first find out which tunnels your mole is actively using by mashing them down each day and checking the next day to see which ones have popped back up. Traps should be set in the tunnels that are popped back up and checked daily. Both have their drawbacks — kill traps can be difficult to use and dangerous, while with live traps you must do something with the captured animal. Another option is to hire a wildlife damage control company like Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, LLC to come and trap the moles for you. We provide mole removal, mole control and mole trapping services in Richmond and Charlottesville, VA. Call us today at (434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975 for all of your animal wildlife pest removal problems.

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Who Do I Call If I Have A Nuisance Wildlife Pest Problem In Charlottesville Or Richmond, Virginia?

Animal Attacks, Animal Damage, Bats, Beavers, Charlottesville, Distemper, Foxes, Golf Courses, Henrico, Histoplasmosis, Moles, Odor Control, Odor Removal, Opossums, Rabies, Raccoons, Removing Animals From Chimneys, Richmond, Skunk Odor, Skunk Odors, Skunks, Snakes, Squirrels, Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, Voles, White Nose Syndrome, WNS

If you own a home or business in Charlottesville or Richmond, Virginia, you know that dealing with strange animals is never any fun. And if you don’t have experience in the matter, you need to seek out an expert for help—a company like Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, LLC.

If you’re having trouble with critters showing up on your Charlottesville or Richmond property, contact Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services fast. We know what to do to rid your home or business of its animal troubles.

As a wildlife control company, we are going to make a point to figure what type of animal we’re dealing with before proceeding with any course of action. For instance, you may have trash scattered around your yard every night, but cannot figure out what’s causing the mess. It could be something as simple as a cat, or, on the other hand, it could be a raccoon. It’s hard to figure out what it is if you aren’t an expert. A professional company like ours will know what to do to determine the type of animal that’s at the root of the problem.

Once our wildlife control experts discover what animal is causing all the issues, then it’s a matter of finding out how the animal is getting onto the property. Many times, animals can dig under fences or get in through the smallest cracks or crevices. Our professionals will know how to narrow down the possibilities as far as entry onto the property. As a result, we will keep this in mind when going through the process of how best to keep animals out.

The hardest part of wildlife control is catching the animal. Some animals are easier to catch than others. There are various methods involved in catching wild animals. The thing that our professionals know is that different animals call for different methods of capture. For instance, if the issue involves a snake, our experts are not going to use the same tactics that we would use to catch a possum; and vice versa. The bottom line is that hiring an experienced company like ours will save you time, money and offer peace of mind.

After the animal is caught, it’s essential that our wildlife control specialists properly seal off the opening where the animal is getting in. This way, you can rest assured that the animal doesn’t get in from that location again. Also, our specialists can help in identifying and preventing animals from entering from new locations.

When dealing with critters, you want to make sure whoever handles the problem offers a guarantee. Nothing’s worse than thinking you have all those pests squared away, only to wake up one morning and see one of those same critters staring you in the face. If you’re dealing with a professional company like Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, we will offer a guarantee that the nuisance will be gone or we’ll come out again to remedy the problem.

When you know you have a critter roaming through your Charlottesville or Richmond property, you won’t rest until it’s gone. That’s why you want a wildlife control service company like Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services. We use the most humanely efficient methods to rid your home or business of animal pest problems.

Some of the services we offer Charlottesville and Richmond, Virginia homes and businesses include bat removal, bat control, beaver removal, beaver trapping, bird removal, bird control, squirrel removal, squirrel trapping, raccoon removal, raccoon trapping, skunk removal, skunk trapping, snake removal, snake trapping, opossum removal, opossum trapping, groundhog removal, groundhog trapping, mole removal, mole control, fox trapping, fox removal, coyote trapping, coyote removal, chipmunk trapping, chipmunk removal, and turtle trapping and turtle removal. Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, LLC is licensed and insured and provides 24/7 service to home owners and businesses. Call (434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975 to have us solve your wildlife problem.

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Charlottesville and Richmond Virginia Wildlife Removal and Prevention Services

Animal Damage, Bats, Beavers, Charlottesville, Foxes, Golf Courses, Henrico, Moles, Opossums, Raccoons, Removing Animals From Chimneys, Richmond, Skunks, Snakes, Squirrels, Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services

Wildlife Prevention Services For Charlottesville and Richmond

Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, LLC is the leading full service animal control company in the Charlottesville and Richmond areas. Our certified team of wildlife management experts and animal control technicians are expertly trained in animal removal and animal damage control. We remove nuisance wildlife animals and prevent them from returning through the use of humane and efficient animal control prevention techniques. Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services will find every point of entry for unwanted animals, from raccoons, squirrels and bats in the attic to groundhogs, skunks, snakes and moles in your yard.

We implement our prevention strategies to ensure the elimination of recurrent wildlife invasions, including using screening vents, installing chimney caps, and closing entry holes.

Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services makes use of several methods of habitat modification and exclusion techniques to effectively prevent future wildlife problems from arising. Habitat modification entails limiting access to food, water or shelter for the target species. Exclusion techniques may include sealing entry points, placing screens over vents or establishing other barriers to intrusion from the target species.

Call our office at (434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975. We provide removal and prevention services for the Richmond, Charlottesville, Goochland, Louisa, Orange, Fluvanna, Albemarle, Henrico, Hanover and Powhatan.

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Removing and Controlling Moles and Voles on Richmond, Virginia and Charlottesville Virginia Golf Courses

Charlottesville, Golf Courses, Moles, Richmond, Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services, Voles

Mole Removal & Trapping in Central VA

(434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975

mole removalWe currently offer ongoing mole trapping and vole control programs for golf courses, and in taking over the mole control on these courses either from the maintenance crews or from other independent contractors, we have repeatedly seen several key factors that often cause mole and vole control programs on golf courses to fail. All the courses we do have had mole and/or vole control programs of one form or another in place before bringing us on, but none of them had achieved the kind of near 100% control that is possible with the implementation of an optimized trapping program. Listed below are several of what we feel to be the most important factors in determining success.

1. Trapping vs. Fumigation and Baiting of Moles

There is a common misconception that trapping is not as efficient as poisons when dealing with large populations of moles and voles as often exist on golf courses. Nothing could be further from the truth–we’ve seen many courses where populations of hundreds of moles and voles survived poisoning efforts, but were quickly brought down to near zero with an optimized trapping program.

The success of poisons varies widely depending on soil composition and moisture content. Soils that are on the sandy or dry side allow the poisons to diffuse into the soil, and you simply don’t build up a sufficient concentration to kill the moles and voles. And baiting and fumigation are completely ineffective in controlling moles, as their long narrow tunnels make it even less likely that fumigants will build up to lethal levels in their tunnel system.

Trapping can be a devastatingly effective control technique. It’s also a relatively hassle free from a regulatory perspective. No pesticides to buy and store, and no pesticide permits, licenses or notices of intent are required.

 2. Mole Trap Shyness and Trap Avoidance

mole hair caught in trapIf you look closely at the Macabee trap shown at right, you see mole hair between the tines of the sprung trap, but no mole.  Macabees, Easy Sets, and other similar traps may catch juvenile moles on a regular basis, but they just don’t have sufficient spring strength or the proper mechanics needed to catch the larger adults consistently. Many larger adults are pinched in traps, but wriggle free to live another day.  And they do learn from their experience.  Moles that are pinched in ineffective traps and manage to escape will quickly become trap shy and almost impossible to trap. Once they know the danger associated with that foreign object in their tunnel system, they will repeatedly pack dirt against it or simply avoid it altogether.

Creating trap shy moles through the use of marginally effective traps is a disaster for any mole and vole control program. Your staff will spend countless hours of wasted time repeatedly re-setting traps for the same trap shy moles and voles with minimal results, and the trap shy moles and voles will continue to breed and produce offspring that will re-invade tunnel systems on a course.  You may continue to catch many naive younger moles and voles, but without eliminating the larger breeding adults, you will never disrupt the breeding cycle and achieve real population control.

When we take over doing mole and vole control on golf courses usinig our stainless steel traps, we’ll literally haul out buckets of trapped moles and voles.  The superintendents on these courses are often shocked by how efficient our trapping program is compared to results they obtained with their staff using rusty Macabee traps or similarly ineffective traps. Theyr’e also consistently shocked by the size of the moles and voles we catch, as they’re used to seeing the juveniles that their staff catch with less powerfull traps, and they’re not used to seeing the full sized adult moles and voles that we take out with our traps.

 3. Spot Treatment vs. Population Control for Moles

We’ve noticed on many of the golf courses we’ve taken over that due to time constraints, the maintenance staff tend to “spot treat” moles and voles when they get into highly visible areas such as greens, tees, bunkers, and out in the middle of fairways, but often pay less attention to them when they’re in the roughs or other less critical areas. In our view this is a short sighted approach to mole and vole control, because even though those moles and voles in the less critical areas may not be a major concern, they do continue to breed and thus produce an endless supply of moles and voles to re-invade the critical areas of the course.

A more effecitve approach that will result in far better control and will also eat up significantly less staff time in the long run is to shoot for 100% control throughout the grounds. Mole and vole control becomes a vastly easier proposition once you get the population low enough to break the breeding cycle. You’ll always have to trap moles and voles invading from the perimeter, but this is a very easy proposition compared to constantly trying to keep pace with the natural increase of a breeding population.

 Consultations for Moles

We do a lot of work on golf courses as part of our service business, and we enjoy talking with golf course superintendents about mole and vole control, so if any of you have questions about mole and vole trapping or need advice about getting going with a truly effective trapping program, please feel free to call us for a no cost consultation.

Call Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal (434) 270-0488 or toll-free at (888) 893-1975.

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