Animals of the rodent family, weasel family, and other small mammals are all at risk of contracting distemper. Distemper is characterized by discharge from the mouth, ears, eyes, and nose; along with strange behavioral changes. This disease is often confused with rabies due to the similar symptoms. The difference between the two is that rabies can only be contracted through bites, while distemper can be transferred through the air. While humans can contract rabies from infected animals we are not in danger of contracting distemper. 

Bats are nocturnal animals and it is normal to see one flying around at night. If you spot a bat in the daytime though, there may be cause for concern. This is out of the ordinary behavior for these animals and the bay may be dangerous; so avoid contact at all costs. Bats found in your home should be avoided too along with any room they may occupy. Bats come with many threats including rabies and histoplasmosis. Rabid bats may not show any signs of having rabies. Therefore, contact with all bats should be avoided if possible. The rooms these bats occupy are likely to have traces of urine or guano. Since contact with either of these substances can cause the contraction of histoplasmosis, it is suggested that you and other members of your home stay out of these areas until a specialist is called. If you find bats or bat droppings in your home call Guardian Wildlife Services. We have trained technicians who will take care of the issue and make sure the space is safe to renter.

Other than squirrels, there is another animal known for their love of nuts. These are chipmunks! Chipmunks have  various colors of fur, but they are most recognizable by the white or black stripes on their backs. These animals are always looking for cover and often end up in homes. Again, similarly to squirrels these animals can cause great damage to the structure of your home. Chipmunks also burrow underground to store food or find shelter. This can cause damage to your home and your yard depending on where they choose to dig. If you find yourself with a chipmunk problem call Guardian Wildlife Services! We will help remove them before any more damage is done.

One of the many rodents found in Illinois is the Norway rat. These rats have brown fur with lighter undersides yet almost no fur on their ears. They range from 12 to 18 inches in length and about 10 to 16 ounces. Like most animals of the rodent family, rats are nocturnal. This means they are most active at night. Due to this, if there is an infestation in your home you are more likely to see or hear them at night. If you hear clawing, squeaking, or gnawing do not ignore it. If you do have rats they can do a ton of damage to your home and put you at risk of contracting various diseases. To prevent any of this give Guardian Wildlife Services a call! Our rodent program will take care of the rats in your home along with reduce the population in the area.

Leptospirosis is a common disease carried by many mammals. It can be spread through contact with infected urine from these animals. Some that carry this disease include raccoons, skunks, squirrels, and many more. If contracted with this disease you may experience flu like symptoms as well as jaundice, kidney failure, and even death in more severe cases. Even so, this disease can be treated through antibiotics. To prevent the spread of leptospirosis as much as possible it is best to stay away from these animals. If you find one to be living in your home that becomes much harder and you are more at risk to contract the disease. In order to stay safe, please do not attempt to remove the occupants yourself. Instead call Guardian Wildlife Services! Our technicians are trained to remove such animals and are able to do it safely.

While it may seem like a good idea to record the silly family of raccoons digging through your trash, for many people, it should be more concerning. There are many threats that follow having raccoons in suburban areas. Some include the spread of disease; such as distemper, leptospirosis, rabies, and roundworm; damage to crops; and damage to homes.  If a raccoon gets into your home they can cause damage to the structure as well as become a nuisance; constantly disrupting your sleep. To avoid some of these issues use that phone to instead call Guardian Wildlife Service! We will take care of the raccoons for you so everyone stays healthy and safe. 

Known for their deep red coats, these squirrels are most commonly found in the northeastern part of Illinois. Red squirrels weigh only 2/5 of a pound and stretch to a length of 11.5 to 13.5 inches long. It is easy to mix these squirrels up with the fox squirrel, but can be differentiated solely by their size. Red squirrels are fun to watch, but not as fun in your house. They can stir up a lot of trouble if found in your walls. When this happens give Guardian Wildlife Services a call! We can take care of the issue and get those troublemakers away from your home.

These handsome squirrels are probably the largest found in Illinois. Fox squirrels can weigh from 1.75 to 2 full pounds! They also range from about 19.5 to 22 inches in length. A funny name, but their fur is colored orange similar to what we may see on a red fox. Their cute faces and bushy tails make them look innocent but like any squirrel they are nutty. These squirrels live in forested habitats and often forage the grounds and trees for nuts, insect, seeds, leaves, and eggs. On their hunt for food they may stumble across your home and take a look inside. If they like what they seem you may end up with a new roommate. If you find these squirrels in your home call Guardian Wildlife Services. We will remove them before they can cause any more trouble.

When you have a rodent infestation, there are many things you can do to remove them. Setting small traps and spraying rodenticide are option, but they will do little to resolve the problem overall. Trapping will have to be repeated yearly and rodenticide will kill many rodents, but also leave you with the terrible smell of the dead animals within your home and walls. These will also only take care of a small portion of the rodents in your home currently and more will keep coming. No company can guarantee to close up your entire home and prevent all rodents from ever entering your home again. Our rodent program, on the other hand, is performed with secure trapping on the outside of your home and not a danger to people, pets, or other wildlife. During one period there is trapping that will take care of the rodents in and around your home followed by our extended program that reduces the overall population in your area; in order to resolve the problem once and for all. So to get rid of those pesky rodents, call Guardian Wildlife Services!

 There are many species of rodents found in Illinois. One interesting rodent you may see scurrying across your floors is the White-footed mouse. They are called this because the fur on their undersides and feet is colored white while their backsides and faces are colored slightly brown. Their tails are about half the size of their bodies; giving them a total length of around 7 inches. Just like any rodent white-footed mice can cause chaos in a home. This can include structural damage, electrical issues, food contamination, and other health concerns. To avoid these issues, if you spot a rodent in your home ​call Guardian Wildlife Services! We will set you up with our rodent program that ensures the issue is resolved and takes care of any additional rodents coming in.