The short version
A simple wildlife job in New Orleans often costs a few hundred dollars. Sealing, repairs and attic cleanup add more.
- Babies can add work.
- Attic cleanup is often extra.
- Metal sealing keeps animals out.
- Compare what each quote includes.
Anyone in New Orleans dealing with wild animals around the house.
What to look for
Around New Orleans, the usual animals are raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, armadillos and bats. Each one gets in differently and needs a different fix. Babies are usually born from about February through May. Never handle a wild animal.
- 1Scratching or thumping in the attic.
- 2Torn vents, soffits or shingles.
- 3A musky or skunky smell.
- 4Dug holes under decks or sheds.
- 5Trash bins knocked over.
- 6Droppings on decks or in the attic.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Chewed wires and damaged insulation.
- Droppings that can spread disease.
- Babies make removal harder.
- Rabies risk from bites.
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Estimate wildlife removal cost in New Orleans
Adjust for your situation to see a ballpark range.
Estimated range
A rough guide only. Repairs and attic cleanup can cost more.
Treatment options and typical costs
Inspection and Species Identification
$100–$300
Identifying the animal correctly matters in New Orleans because a mother with young changes the whole plan. Sealing a raccoon out while her kits remain inside in New Orleans is how homeowners end up with a dead-animal odor.
- Time
- 60–120 minutes
- Best for
- Every job; the species decides the method
One-Way Doors and Eviction
$200–$600
Ask what happens after the door comes off. The device comes off and the hole is closed with metal.
- Time
- 3–7 days
- Best for
- Squirrels, raccoons, and birds using a single main entry
Attic Cleanup, Sanitation, and Follow-Up
$500–$3,000+ depending on insulation removed
Once the animals are out and the house is sealed, New Orleans providers remove contaminated insulation, vacuum droppings, and apply an enzyme-based sanitizer to nesting areas. Raccoon latrines get special handling because of roundworm risk.
- Time
- 1–2 days
- Best for
- Soiled insulation, droppings, odors, and re-checks
Exclusion Repairs (Chimney Caps, Vent Screens, Foundation Mesh)
$300–$2,500+ depending on scope
A full exclusion seals every opening an animal could use. The provider should list what was sealed and where.
- Time
- Half a day to two days
- Best for
- Sealing the home after animals are out
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Crawl spaces are a favorite den. Check the vent screens and the access door.What wildlife removal costs in New Orleans.
- A typical home in New Orleans is worth around $245k, and attic damage costs far more than sealing a gap. Babies arrive from about February through May around New Orleans, which can add work. - Inspection and Species Identification: $100–$300 - One-Way Doors and Eviction: $200–$600 - Attic Cleanup, Sanitation, and Follow-Up: $500–$3,000+ depending on insulation removed - Exclusion Repairs (Chimney Caps, Vent Screens, Foundation Mesh): $300–$2,500+ depending on scope
Local wildlife conditions in New Orleans.
New Orleans sits in a humid subtropical climate, and that sets the pace for wildlife activity here: spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). In New Orleans, the area is mostly urban, so wildlife pressure can differ from one block to the next depending on how tight the entry points are and how much food, water, or shelter is close by. An inspection in New Orleans usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing New Orleans's seasonal timing lets you schedule treatment before the busy stretch rather than after it, which usually means faster service and a more accurate quote. A provider who works New Orleans and Louisiana every day can point out the specific conditions that matter most here, and getting the scope, price, and follow-up terms in writing makes it easier to compare options.
Brush, mulch and fallen fruit near the house give animals cover and food. Keep the edges tidy.Animals around New Orleans.
Around New Orleans, the most common animals are raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, armadillos and bats. Homes from New Orleans out to Gretna and Kenner see much the same mix. Armadillos are common here, and they're behind many dug-up lawns in New Orleans.
What’s that noise?
- Quick scurrying at dawn and dusk: squirrels. - Heavy thumps at night: raccoons. - Rustling at dusk at the roof edge: bats. - A strong smell under the deck: skunks. - Small cone-shaped holes in the lawn: armadillos.
Baby season.
Around New Orleans, most babies are born from about February through May. Mothers look for warm, dry spots like attics and chimneys. Never seal a hole while babies are still inside. Bat exclusion waits until pups can fly, usually by mid-August.
A year of wildlife in New Orleans.
- Spring: babies are born from about February through May. Don't seal while young are inside. - Summer: highs near 91°F in New Orleans. Animals roam at night. - Fall: animals hunt for winter dens. Seal gaps now. - Winter: mild in New Orleans, so animals stay active.
Raccoons.
Heavy thumps at night usually mean a raccoon. They tear open vents and roof edges. Never handle one.
Tree squirrels.
Squirrels are busy at dawn and dusk. They chew small gaps into bigger holes, and wires too.
Opossums.
Opossums are quiet, slow and mostly harmless. They move into crawl spaces and under decks.
Skunks.
Skunks den under decks, sheds and porches. A strong smell after dark is the giveaway.
Armadillos.
Armadillos dig small, cone-shaped holes hunting grubs. They're most active at night in warm weather.
Bats.
Bats slip through gaps as small as a thumb. Look for droppings under a gap at the roofline.
Getting them out the right way.
- Identify: figure out which animal it is. - Check: look for babies first. - Door: a one-way door lets the animal leave. - Seal: heavy metal mesh on every gap. - Recheck: make sure nothing is trying to get back in.
Where animals get in.
- Roof vents and soffit corners. - Gaps where the roof meets the wall. - Uncapped chimneys. - Crawl-space doors and foundation vents. - Under decks, porches and sheds.
If an animal gets inside the house.
Close interior doors so it stays in one room. Open an outside door or window in that room, then leave. Keep kids and pets away. Is it a bat, and was someone asleep there? Call your health department first.
Droppings and cleanup.
- Don’t sweep or vacuum droppings dry. - Wear gloves, a mask and old clothes. - Wet droppings down, then bag them. - Large attic messes are a job for pros.
Keeping your yard less inviting.
- Trash: locking lids, or keep bins in the garage. - Pets: feed them indoors. - Birds: use a seed tray, and sweep up spills. - Fruit: pick up what falls. - Cover: clear brush and wood piles near the house.
Wildlife myths.
- Out in daylight means rabid: not always; mothers forage by day. - Moving them is kind: often illegal, and babies get left. - Mothballs drive them out: they don’t, and they’re a health hazard. - Lights and radios work: only briefly.
Birds in vents and chimneys.
Starlings and sparrows love dryer and bath vents. Most native birds are protected while nesting. Wait until the young have flown. Then fit a vent cover that still lets air out. Chimney swifts nest in chimneys in summer and leave in fall.
If an animal seems sick.
Staggering, circling or acting unafraid can mean illness. Keep people and pets inside. animal control or your local health department. Don't try to trap or touch it.
Pets and wildlife.
Keep pets' rabies shots up to date. Bring pets in at night. your vet if your pet tangles with a wild animal.
What a wildlife visit looks like.
The tech walks the roofline and the foundation. They look for tracks, droppings and torn vents. They set a one-way door or trap. Later, they come back and seal up. Cleanup comes last.
If a skunk sprays.
- People and pets: wash with peroxide, baking soda and dish soap. - Tomato juice: it doesn’t really work. - Eyes: keep the mix out; rinse with cool water. - Clothes: wash with baking soda added to the load. - Under the house: air it out; the smell fades over days.
Babies found alone.
Baby animals alone are often just waiting for a parent. Leave them be and watch from a distance for a day. Hurt or clearly orphaned? Call a wildlife rehabilitator.
Fencing that works.
- Diggers: bury wire mesh a foot down, bent outward. - Climbers: an electric wire near the top stops raccoons. - Gardens: hardware cloth beats chicken wire. - Gates: keep gaps underneath to a couple of inches.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- Which animal is it? - Where is it getting in? - How will you handle babies? - What happens to the animal? - What will you seal with? - Is cleanup included?
Ways to keep the cost down.
- Secure trash and pet food yourself. - Cap the chimney and screen vents early. - Call before baby season.
What affects the price
- Permit, relocation, or disposal rules in your state.
- Square feet of insulation removed and replaced.
- Damage to ductwork, wiring, or vents needing repair.
- Trip fees for daily trap checks over multiple days.
- Length of deck or shed perimeter needing buried mesh.
- Warranty length on exclusion work and sealed points.
- Presence of a raccoon latrine requiring special cleanup.
- Materials used: steel and hardware cloth over foam.
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What matters most in a wildlife quote?
When to call for help
right away if one acts sick or aggressive. Babies and droppings need careful handling. Call if an animal is in the attic, walls or chimney.
What you can do yourself
Never corner or handle one. Getting an animal out of the house is a pro's job. Secure trash, bring in pet food and trim branches.
Wildlife in New Orleans
Mild winters in New Orleans, with lows near 45°F, keep animals active all year. About 64 inches of rain a year in New Orleans softens fascia and soffits, and soft wood is easy to chew through. In Louisiana, bats are the animal most often found with rabies. In New Orleans, animals live comfortably in town, using alleys, storm drains and older buildings.
Local research
Wildlife in New Orleans, LA: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wildlife actually live in Louisiana, when they are busiest around New Orleans, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
When wildlife are busiest around New Orleans
Spring denning, fall baiting. Southeast ORV projects run October; Georgia forbids relocating carnivores.
Based on New Orleans’s humid subtropical climate profile.
For context, nationally
- Around 4,000; more than 90% in wildlife — Animal rabies cases reported per year. CDC
- More than 20% each — Skunks and foxes that expose people or pets and are rabid. CDC
Sources: CDC. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep wildlife away
- Use locking or strapped trash lids.
- Bring pet food in at night.
- Cap the chimney.
- Trim branches back from the roof.
- Bury wire mesh around decks and sheds.
- Pick up fallen fruit and spilled bird seed.
Ask which animal it is, how babies will be handled, and whether sealing and cleanup are included.Did you know?
Flying squirrels glide up to 150 feet using a skin membrane
Opossums play dead involuntarily; the response is a fainting reflex
Questions people ask
Does the price include a follow-up visit?
Often, but ask. Traps and one-way doors need checking.
How much does wildlife removal cost?
Simple jobs around New Orleans often cost a few hundred dollars. Sealing and cleanup add more.
Can I save money by doing part of the job myself?
Yes.
What does attic cleanup cost?
It depends on how much insulation is soiled. Big jobs can run into the thousands.
What animal is in my attic?
Quick scurrying at dawn: squirrels. Rustling at dusk: bats.
Will the animals come back?
Others will try. Sealing every gap with metal is what keeps them out.
What season is worst for wildlife problems?
Spring babies and fall den-hunting are busiest. Mild winters in New Orleans keep animals active year-round.
Which animals are most common around New Orleans?
Mostly raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, armadillos and bats.
When are wild animal babies born in New Orleans?
Usually from about February through May. Don't seal a hole while babies are inside.
Nearby cities
Related guides
Sources (10)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Wildlife Exterminator · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides