Skunks have strong front paws with long nails. These paws make them excellent diggers. Skunks will often dig when looking for food such as earthworms or other insects. They also dig burrows if there is no alternative shelter to be found. If you find holes in your lawn, yard, or anywhere on your property beware of skunks inside. You'll want to avoid these areas to prevent being sprayed, if a skunk feels threatened. If you happen upon such holes call Guardian Wildlife Services​. We can remove them from the property or any other animals that may have created or may be inhabiting such burrows.

Raccoons are intelligent animals and often cause trouble for many families. They often steal food from camps, get into gardens, knock over trash, and come up with other clever ways to forage food. One of the reasons they are able to do so is because of their hands. Raccoons have five fingers and long fingernails, but no opposable thumbs. Due to this, they cannot grasp objects like humans can, but they found another way. Raccoons often use both forefront paws to manipulate objects. If a raccoon is found on your property they might be getting into trouble. Before you find your garden ruined or your trash all over your driveway, call Guardian Wildlife Services. We will remove the animals before than can cause any more harm.

When searching for shelter voles will burrow underground, creating a series of tunnels in which they will live. These tunnels not only provide shelter from the elements but also a place to store food and  protection from predators. Voles have small feet, and forefeet with only four toes. They use these feet to dig golf-ball sized holes in the soil, mulch, or walls as entrances to the tunnels. These holes are most visible in early spring, when the snow has just melted. If you see these holes in your yard you may have a vole problem. If so, call Guardian Wildlife Services! We will help remove the voles from your property safely.

When mice occupy a space they will leave behind many traces. There may be chewed cabinets, furniture, walls, and more. Mice will also leave small, dark, cylinder-shaped droppings wherever they live. If you hear scratching, scurrying, or squeaking throughout the night you may have mice in your home. Mice are nocturnal animals, meaning they sleep during the day and are active at night. This is why you may only hear them during the night. If you find any traces of mice in your home call Guardian Wildlife Services! We will set you up with a rodent program to take care of the issue and reduce the population in the area in hopes of preventing future issues.

All animals search for shelter and a place to nest. Most are able to make their own shelters, but some like opossums inhabit the abandoned nests of other animals. Opossums also take cover in tree holes, sheds, and other buildings they can access. Once a shelter is found opossums will pack the space with leaves, hay, grass, and cotton-like materials to create a nest. Opossums may dig into walls, to take insulation, or trash as cushion for their nests. This can cause major damage to your home and it's overall structure. If you find a opossum nesting in your home call Guardian Wildlife Services! We can remove the animals and prevent them from causing any more damage.

Opossums are omnivores, meaning they consume both animal and plant matter. Some of these foods include grasses, leaves, grains, fruit and seeds, bulbs, carrion, snails, slugs, worms, insects, rats, mice, snakes, amphibians, eggs, and fish. Many of these foods are most commonly found in brushy or forested areas. If your home backs up to woods it is more likely that you will spot a opossum. There is also a higher chance that a opossum may seek shelter in your home. If you find a opossum in your home call Guardian Wildlife Services! We will remove the animal and close up any entryways from which they could return.

Woodchucks fall into the Sciuridae family, also known as the squirrel family. These animals are also related to other marmots that occupy the western United States. Woodchucks have flat heads, blunt muzzles, short legs, and bushy tails. Their fur color ranges from a yellow-gray brown to almost black and most have lightly colored undersides. Their facial features consist of small ears and large black eyes. Woodchucks weigh about 7-14 pounds and are about 20-25 inches long from head to tail. 

In Illinois, one of the most commonly found bats inside structures are brown bats. These bats have a wingspan of less than one foot, and weigh half an ounce or less. This species of bat along with four others are considered endangered species. It is unlawful to harm or kill a bat and only with special permits can these bats be killed. If you are worried about bats in your home it is best to trap them in the space they occupy and call professionals to help. Bats carry many diseases that can be passed on through many forms of contact. It can be extremely dangerous to handle bats or try to remove bats from your home. If you find bats in your house, call Guardian Wildlife Services. Our technicians know how to deal with them safely and legally. We will also work to prevent the bats from returning to your home.

Everyone knows that squirrels eat nuts, but their diet consists of more than just that. Squirrels also consume a variety of fruits, barks, insects, bird eggs, seeds, and most of anything they can scavenge, as well as corn. It is common that squirrels may catch or find more food than they can eat during the warmer seasons of the year and will store it for later. They do so by burying it underground to keep it safe and hidden. During the winter food sources become scarce and squirrels may resort to eating bark, or digging up what's left of their food stores underground. 

Skunks main sources of food are mice, young rabbits, bird eggs, corn, fruit, and berries. Due to this, spring and summer are the best seasons for them to hunt and gather food. These seasons are also those in which skunks have their babies since the breeding season begins in February. Both of these are reasons why it is more common to see a skunk in the spring and summer months. During this time they will be looking for shelter and may find it in your home. If you hear scratching or other animal noises at night call Guardian Wildlife Services. We will inspect the area for skunks as well as other animals and get them taken care of.