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As the temperature dips this time of year, rodents are looking for a way to warm up in your home’s nooks and crannies. That is the bad news. The good news? You can keep these unwanted invaders out with a few simple housekeeping practices. 1. Seal any points of entry - It is important to seal off any place that makes it possible for rodents to gain entry to your home. Mice and rats are extremely adept at squeezing through small gaps. A good rule of thumb to follow is to close off any opening larger than ¼-inch. Check your window screens for any tears and repair them. Seal any cracks in walls or the foundation with wire mesh. Examine spots where pipes enter your home and if there are gaps, fill them with mesh and caulk. Finally, if you have a chimney, add a cap. Rodents are excellent climbers. 2. Elevate or Cover your Firewood – If you burn firewood to keep your home nice and warm, you likely have a stockpile of lumber. Unfortunately, firewood is a favorite hideout for mice and rats. To remove rodent-friendly conditions, elevate your logs at least 18 inches off the ground and store it away from the house. Covering it tightly with a tarp also offers some degree of protection. 3. Fall Landscaping – There are a few easy yard chores you should take when the colder weather arrives. Trim any branches that hang close to your house as they could provide rats with easy access to your roof or attic. Tidy up any overgrown vegetation and remove weeds and leaf piles to ensure rodents have fewer hiding places. 4. Add a Brush Strip – Installing a sweep or brush strip to your exterior doors is a great way to prevent rodents from getting inside. By blocking off the small gaps at the base, which are especially common with older doors, mice will have fewer ways to get inside. Choose one with an adhesive strip rather than screws for easy installation. This chore will also save you money this winter by keeping the heat inside. These easy to perform steps will go a long way in protecting your home from the animals wanting to make it theirs this winter.

You’re not the only one with RATS in your house! Have you been seeing evidence such as droppings, tiny footprints, unusual  noises or odors, gnawed holes or marks on your doors or trim?  You’re not alone! We’ve been helping lots of folks in the area as rats are looking for a warm place to go. We’ve noticed that some of our customers have seemed embarrassed or nervous to tell us they have rats! There’s nothing to worry about, this is what we do! Rats are very common and it’s a problem you want to take care of sooner than later. Seeking assistance from a professional pest control company is highly recommended. Rats are most attracted to homes with a food source like bird seed, compost, pet food or garbage outside or in accessible places like your garage or shed. To help avoid a rat infestation: 1. Keep your garbage and your compost in a bin with the lid securely closed, empty your bird feeders and keep pet food inside the home in a closed container. 2. Removing any water source is also helpful such as bird baths or any standing water. 3. Keeping the inside of your home tidy and free from open food sources is also very important especially if you suspect they are already inside your house. We have successfully helped many families around town get rid of their rat problem and we offer ongoing maintenance to ensure they don’t return! We offer a full inspection to look for vulnerable areas such as holes or missing vents on your house or tree branches that are touching your roof – yes rats will climb! So yes, rats are bad – but don’t be sad, Give us a ring – and we will bring, Our expertise to your home – and let you know you’re not alone! We’re here to help exterminate – the noise that’s been keeping you up so late! We service Woodstock, London, Brantford, Kitchener, Waterloo, Stratford and surrounding areas.

If you must travel in winter weather, inform a friend or relative of your proposed route and expected time of arrival. Follow these safety rules if you become stranded in your car: 1. Make your car visible to rescuers by tying a brightly colored cloth to the antenna, raising the hood of the car (if it is not snowing), and turning on the inside overhead lights (when your engine is running). 2. Move anything you need from the trunk into the passenger area and stay with your car unless safety is no more than 100 yards away. 3. Keep your body warm by wrapping your entire body, including your head, in extra clothing, blankets, or newspapers and huddle with other people if you can. 4. Stay awake and stay moving so you will be less vulnerable to cold-related health problems. As you sit, keep moving your arms and legs to improve circulation and stay warmer. 5. Run the motor (and heater) for about 10 minutes per hour, opening one window slightly to let in air. Make sure that snow is not blocking the exhaust pipe to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. We hope these tips help keep you safe and healthy. Gunning Wildlife Removal & Pest Control provides affordable pest control and humane removal of wildlife from homes, businesses and properties. We serve Southwestern Ontario including Woodstock, London, Brantford, Kitchener, Waterloo, Stratford and surrounding areas. Have a safe & warm Winter!

We’ve been seeing lots of baby raccoons and squirrels so far this Spring around Woodstock, Kitchener, Waterloo, Brantford, London and surrounding areas. They are right on schedule with baby season! If you hear chirping, squeaking or scratching in your attic call Gunning Ontario Wildlife Removal & Pest Control. We’re equipped, experienced, licensed and insured exterminators and will seal off their entry points, move them out of your home and we offer preventive measures to avoid future wildlife invasions. For affordable pest control & humane wildlife solutions call Gunning Wildlife Removal & Pest Control. Here are a few tips to keep them out of YOUR home: Block off any areas you feel raccoons may be able to enter your home.  They can fit through holes and cracks in your chimney, attic vents and surprisingly even the seams along your roof and baseboards!  The best way to block such areas is with sheet metal or heavy screening.  You may want to contact a professional to do this for you. Keep your garbage lids on tight.  Raccoons can easily move loose or broken lids because they have opposable thumbs!  Use garbage cans with lids that lock or clamp or keep your bins in a secure building. Keep your pet food dishes inside the house.  If you feed your pets outside, feed them during the day and move their dishes inside at night.  Raccoons will eat your pets’ food at night and they don’t mind fighting your cat or dog for it! Keep your compost pile covered and unaccessable to raccoons. Plant cucumbers in your garden and adjacent to fencing as these critters can’t tolerate the smell of cucumbers. Raccoons love to live in water bodies, so take care that you cover your swimming pool at night. Here’s what DOESN’T work – just in case you were wondering: Scaring raccoons with light, noise or water.  While bright lights, clanging noises or spraying water may be a temporary solution raccoons are persistent and this will only work until the raccoon becomes accustom to the light, noise and/or finds a way around the water-sprayer. There is some evidence that moth balls may keep raccoons away from enclosed spaces within you house – however the objective is to keep them OUT of your house in the first place!  Placing mothballs at possible entry points may be helpful.

Its Getting Colder – Don’t Let the Rodents In! Rodents are looking for a warm place as the cold weather begins. Pest prevention is RODENTS ARE LOOKING FOR A WARM PLACE AS THE COLD WEATHER BEGINS! As the temperature dips this time of year, rodents are looking for a way to warm up in your home’s nooks and crannies. That is the bad news. The good news? You can keep these unwanted invaders out with a few simple housekeeping practices. Seal any points of entry – It is important to seal off any place that makes it possible for rodents to gain entry to your home. Mice and rats are extremely adept at squeezing through small gaps. A good rule of thumb to follow is to close off any opening larger than ¼-inch. Check your window screens for any tears and repair them. Seal any cracks in walls or the foundation with wire mesh. Examine spots where pipes enter your home and if there are gaps, fill them with mesh and caulk. Finally, if you have a chimney, add a cap. Rodents are excellent climbers. Elevate or Cover your Firewood – If you burn firewood to keep your home nice and warm, you likely have a stockpile of lumber. Unfortunately, firewood is a favorite hideout for mice and rats. To remove rodent-friendly conditions, elevate your logs at least 18 inches off the ground and store it away from the house. Covering it tightly with a tarp also offers some degree of protection. Fall Landscaping – There are a few easy yard chores you should take when the colder weather arrives. Trim any branches that hang close to your house as they could provide rats with easy access to your roof or attic. Tidy up any overgrown vegetation and remove weeds and leaf piles to ensure rodents have fewer hiding places. Add a Brush Strip – Installing a sweep or brush strip to your exterior doors is a great way to prevent rodents from getting inside. By blocking off the small gaps at the base, which are especially common with older doors, mice will have fewer ways to get inside. Choose one with an adhesive strip rather than screws for easy installation. This chore will also save you money this winter by keeping the heat inside. More ideas here from the Canadian Federation of Wildlife. These easy to perform steps will go a long way in protecting your home from the animals wanting to make it theirs this winter.

Don’t let their bushy tails and big cheeks fool you. They may be cute and bright-eyed, but if left unchecked, squirrels can do an impressive amount of damage. Your garden could be torn up, but even more concerning is the damage to your home, particularly to the attic, vents and eavesdrops. There is unfortunately no quick and easy way to deter squirrels, but you can do several things to slowly shoo away these mischievous creatures. Here are five ways you can either prevent a squirrel problem or deal with the one you already have: 1. A Focus on Food – If the neighborhood squirrels seem more interested in your house than the one next door, it makes sense to try and figure out why. Scan your property for an obvious food source, like as a bird feeder. Even if mounted on a tree or atop a pole, bird feeders are well within reach of squirrels. We have all seen these agile animals jump eight to ten feet with ease. 2. Prevent Safe Passage – Squirrels are expert climbers. But, by banding tree trunks with plastic or metal collars (sometimes known as baffles), you can prevent squirrels from moving along those routes that provide easy access to vulnerable areas like the overhang of your roof. 3. Make it Smell – Hang ammonia-soaked rags on the branches squirrels seem to favour. You can also purchase and spread predator urine, available for sale at garden supply stores, home centers, and online retailers. These treatments should be reapplied after every rainfall. 4. Chemical Options – There are several chemical repellents on the market that work well to deter squirrels. Look for products containing the active ingredient capsaicin. Some homeowners choose to spray repellent near entry points to the attic, but you could go a step further and apply it directly to bulbs before planting. 5. Hire a professional – if squirrels have gained access to your house a wildlife removal/pest control technician can offer humane solutions for removal and future prevention. Here’s a fun quiz – Speedy Squirrels

It’s baby raccoon season and they don’t seem to care much if the weather is nice or not – they’re right on time! We’ve been finding lots of litters in local attics, garages, sheds and balconies. If you hear chirping, squeaking or scratching call Gunning Ontario Wildlife Removal & Pest Control. We’re equipped and experienced to move them out, seal off entry points and offer preventive measures to avoid future wildlife invasions. We handle raccoons, squirrels, skunks, mice, rats, bats, birds, wasps, possums and more. We offer affordable solutions for pest control and for humane wildlife removal serving Woodstock, London, Brantford, Kitchener-Waterloo, Stratford and surrounding areas. Call us at 519-421-2677 or text 289-987-0390.

Opossums are becoming almost as common as raccoons around many parts of Ontario. Much like raccoons they are clever and enjoy getting into trash cans. This time of year both are having litters and it is important to remember this when contemplating trapping or moving the mother animal. The last thing we want is for raccoon or other animal babies to be left behind with no mother and therefore no source of food or water. Being North Americas only marsupial, opossums on the other hand take their young with them in their pouch for up to two months. If you need help safely removing a raccoon or other wildlife from your home, business or property call Gunning Wildlife Removal & Pest Control at 519-421-2677 or text 289-987-0390.

We hope you’ve enjoyed a safe and joyous holiday season.  Tradition dating back to the 4th century, marks yesterday as the time to take down your tree and decorations. Should you discover any surprise critters in your house after the dust settles call Gunning Wildlife Removal & Pest Control.  We will safely remove raccoons, squirrels, mice, rats and other nuisance animals from your home and property. Remember to put all your seasonal treats away and vacuum up all those party crumbs to avoid attracting these guys into your cupboards. The weather has been nice enough to keep wildlife and rodents active but still looking for food and a warm place to nest. Gunning Wildlife Removal & Pest Control offers affordable solutions serving Woodstock, London, Brantford, Kitchener, Waterloo, Stratford and surrounding areas.  Call Gunning Wildlife Removal & Pest Control 519-421-2677 or text 289-987-0390.

Summer is just around the corner!  That means longer days, warmer temps, kids are off school and you’re possibly taking a vacation! As you prep for all the fun that summer promises we’d like to suggest you take care of any possible wildlife or rodent issues that may be lurking around your home or property.  If you suspect any animal activity take a quick look around for such tell-tale signs as: 1. Damage from gnawing, nest-building, and defecation;. 2. Disappearing pet food. 3. Chewed insulation or wires 4. Damaged or eaten bulbs or seedlings in your garden and flower beds. 5. Shredded paper, cardboard or clothing. 6. Chewed holes in roofs, vents and fascia. These could all be indicators of wildlife or rodents taking up residence in your home.  Keep in mind squirrels breed in June or July with a gestation period of 36-40 days and it is best to clear them out before they have their litter! Mice on the other hand begin reproducing at 6-10 weeks old and can give birth to as many as 60 baby mice per year! Call Gunning Wildlife Removal & Pest Control for a thorough inspection, removal and prevention.  Secure your home from pesky critters then sit back, relax and enjoy your summer!  We serve Woodstock, London, Brantford, Kitchener, Waterloo, Stratford and surrounding areas.  Call 519-421-2677 or  Text 289-987-0390  info@gunningwildliferemoval.ca

This year’s Ride Don’t Hide event saw the Gunning Wildlife Rascals Team participate with more than double their team size from last year! Ride Don’t Hide events support mental health programs in our communities. The Canadian Mental Health Association is committed to building inclusive, healthy communities through: Elimination of the stigma of mental illness; Educational initiatives that promote mental health and build understanding about the impacts of mental illness and the resources available; Leadership and partnerships to plan, deliver, and evaluate a broad range of quality programs and services that meet the evolving needs of consumers and community. We are pleased with our Ride Don’t Hide results, happy to support this cause and looking forward to entering a team in the 2020 Ride!! Gunning Wildlife Removal & Pest Control offers affordable solutions for humane wildlife removal & for pest control as well as inspections and preventive measures. Call us 519-421-2677 or text 289-987-0390. We are pleased to serve Woodstock, London, Brantford, Kitchener, Waterloo, Stratford and surrounding areas.

Bats typically mate in the late summer and early autumn with a gestation period of 40 days to 6 months giving birth to one baby called a pup. Young pups drink milk from its mother like most mammals. A common misconception is that bats carry disease and are very unclean, but bats are actually very helpful in controlling the population of crop destroying insects. Bats roost in trees, caves, mines and barns. Anyplace that provides shelter from weather and predators. Bats live in groups called colonies, which contain 100 to 1,000 bats. They are nocturnal and can fly up to 31 miles to find food. They eat half its body weight per day, feasting on flowers, insects, fruits, nectar, pollen and leaves. Bats are the only mammals that can fly and are known to feed on blood. They make up 1/5th of the earths mammal population. With life spans of almost 40 years. Bats can be found almost anywhere in the world except the polar regions and extreme deserts. Should you find bats or other nuisance critters in your home, business or property call Gunning Wildlife Removal 519-421-2677 or text 289-987-0390. We offer humane, affordable removal of wildlife as well as inspections and preventive measures to avoid future invasions of raccoons, squirrels, skunks, bats, birds, rabbits, hornets and more. We serve Woodstock, London, Brantford, Kitchener, Waterloo, Stratford and surrounding areas