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Here's some mousey info for you: 1. Mice can damage inside walls, chew wiring and insulation, shred paper, cardboard or clothing, chew baseboards, doors, window panes and cabinets!! 2. They begin to reproduce at 6-10 weeks of age with a gestation period of approximately 20 days. Mice can give birth to as many as 10 litters per year with 5-6 young per litter!! 3. Mice are generally nocturnal and are sensitive to bright lights. They have a superior sense of hearing, smell, taste and touch & can memorize the locations of food, pathways and obstacles. 4. Mice like to live in close proximity to humans relying on humans for food and shelter. They remain close to their nest and to a food source. 5. Mouse droppings are 1/4″ seed like. Their tracks are tiny 1/2″ prints with 4 toes on the front paw and 5 toes on the back paw. 6. Mice live in colonies, or family groups. Each colony establishes its own territory by urine and feces markings. Life expectancy of a mouse living in the wild is 5 – 6 months. 7. In ideal conditions a mouse can live up to 2 to 3 years – which means a lot of reproducing that you don’t want in your home or business & property! Call Gunning Wildlife Removal & Pest Control for affordable solutions! We serve Woodstock, London, Brantford, Kitchener, Waterloo, Stratford and surrounding areas. Raccoon, squirrels, skunks, mice, rats, bird, bats, wasps, ants and more! Give us a call 519-421-2677 or text 289-987-0390

With summer around the corner and wildlife roaming around we thought we’d take this opportunity to pass along a few helpful tips: 1. Rabies is present in Ontario so if you spot any sick wild animal or rodent please report it to the Ministry of Natural Resources or call the NON Emergency local police. 2. For domestic nuisance/stray animals please call your local city animal control or whomever the city recommends or contracts it to. 3. For injured wildlife or abandoned baby wildlife please visit www.ontariowildliferescue.ca where you’ll find a map pinned with all the rehabilitation centres in Ontario. Gunning Wildlife Removal & Pest Control is equipped and insured to safely remove healthy wildlife from your home, business or property and provide preventive measures to keep them out. We take time to go over your home thoroughly to find entry points as well as vulnerable spots for future problems. We always find the most humane and least stressful options to remove wildlife. We also offer pest control for mice & rats as well as solutions for birds, bats, bees & wasps. We’re proud to serve Woodstock, London, Brantford, Kitchener, Waterloo, Stratford and surrounding areas.

It’s skunk time again! We’ve been seeing lots of skunk families under sheds so far this summer. By now the baby kits are mobile and it’s a good time to screen off your deck or shed to prevent them from taking up permanent residence! DID YOU KNOW? 1. Many animals have markings that draw attention to their best weapon – a skunk’s stripes will point right to where their noxious spray comes out! And if the stripes aren’t enough a skunk will often stomp its feet or slap its tail. 2. A young skunk with spots who hasn’t yet developed stripes may even do a handstand to ward off danger in an effort to avoid spraying. Spraying their scent actually renders them helpless until they can ‘reload’. 3. Skunks are nocturnal so their sulfur-smelling defense mechanism is quite useful at night. They can spray up to 10 feet out of their glands causing an offensive, long-lasting smell that can also irritate skin and cause temporary blindness. 4. If you’re not lucky enough to be the 1 in 1000 people with no ability to detect the smell of skunk spray then a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide will rid you or your pet of the awful odour. Gunning Wildlife Removal & Pest Control provides affordable solutions for humane wildlife removal and for pest control. Call us at 519-421-2677 or text 289-987-0390. We serve Southwestern Ontario including Woodstock, London, Brantford, Kitchener, Waterloo, Stratford and surrounding areas!

Are you seeing wasps around your house? Most wasps have a narrow waist, are hairless, have 6 legs and 2 pairs of wings. They average 1 inch in size and come in a wide variety of colours. Wasps are attracted to human food, especially high fructose corn syrup-based treats and meats. Their nests can be aerial or ground and can typically be found hanging from trees/bushes, fences, soffits, exterior joists, door/window frames, porches, decks, sheds, garages, barns, attics, basements, crawl spaces, hollow trees or underground burrows. Social wasps can sting multiple times if provoked and are often territorial, aggressive, and dangerous in large numbers. If you have any concerns after being stung by a wasp, seek professional medical assistance. To avoid wasps around your home: 1. Seal all exterior cracks, crevices, gaps and holes where wasps or other insects may enter with quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk. 2. Repair or replace torn window and door screens, weather stripping, screens in roof and soffit vents. 3. Store garbage, green bins and recycling with tight-fitting covers away from your home or business and regularly clean them. If you have a wasp infestation in your home or business call Gunning Wildlife Removal & Pest Control 519-421-2677 or text 289-987-0390. We are licensed and certified to provide affordable solutions for humane removal of wildlife and for pest control serving Woodstock, London, Brantford, Kitchener-Waterloo, Stratford and surrounding areas!

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.