The short version
Around Albuquerque, the most common animals are raccoons, squirrels and skunks. Identify yours first. Then get it out and seal the gap.
- Never handle a wild animal.
- Figure out which animal it is first.
- Check for babies before sealing.
- Use metal mesh, not foam.
- Secure trash and pet food.
Homeowners in Albuquerque with an animal in the attic, walls, chimney or yard.
What to look for
Around Albuquerque, the usual animals are raccoons, squirrels, skunks, pack rats, rock squirrels, javelina and bats. Each one gets in differently and needs a different fix. Babies are usually born from about March through June.
- 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.
Treatment options and typical costs
Inspection and Species Identification
$100–$300
Expect an Albuquerque inspector to check the roof from a ladder, not just the ground. Roof returns, gable vents, chimney flues, and soffit gaps are where most Albuquerque attic entries happen, and none are visible from the driveway.
- Time
- 60–120 minutes
- Best for
- Every job; the species decides the method
Exclusion Repairs (Chimney Caps, Vent Screens, Foundation Mesh)
$300–$2,500+ depending on scope
Chimney caps are the single most common exclusion repair in Albuquerque: an uncapped flue is an open invitation to raccoons, squirrels, and chimney swifts. A stainless spark-screen cap solves it in an hour.
- Time
- Half a day to two days
- Best for
- Sealing the home after animals are out
One-Way Doors and Eviction
$200–$600
Eviction devices work best for squirrels and adult raccoons in Albuquerque when every other opening has already been sealed. Leave one gap unsealed and the animal simply moves to it.
- Time
- 3–7 days
- Best for
- Squirrels, raccoons, and birds using a single main entry
Humane Live Trapping and Removal
$150–$500 per animal, plus trip fees
For a skunk under a porch in Albuquerque, providers use covered traps and slow, quiet handling to keep the animal calm. Skunks spray when startled, so technique beats speed.
- Time
- Several days to two weeks
- Best for
- Animals already inside or denning under structures
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
In the attic, look for flattened insulation, droppings and nests. Leave big cleanups to someone with the right gear.Animals around Albuquerque.
Homes from Albuquerque out to Rio Rancho and Los Lunas see much the same mix. In the desert around Albuquerque, pack rats and rock squirrels are as common as raccoons. Around Albuquerque, the most common animals are raccoons, squirrels, skunks, pack rats, rock squirrels, javelina and bats.
Local wildlife conditions in Albuquerque.
Across Albuquerque, 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 Albuquerque usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Albuquerque'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 Albuquerque and New Mexico 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. Albuquerque sits in a semi-arid climate, and that sets the pace for wildlife activity here: spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter).
Walk the foundation with a flashlight. Gaps at ground level let animals under the house.What’s that noise?
- A strong smell under the deck: skunks. - Quick scurrying at dawn and dusk: squirrels. - Heavy thumps at night: raccoons. - Rustling at dusk at the roof edge: bats.
Baby season.
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. Around Albuquerque, most babies are born from about March through June.
A year of wildlife in Albuquerque.
- Winter: lows near 26°F in Albuquerque. Animals den up in attics. - Spring: babies are born from about March through June. Don't seal while young are inside. - Summer: highs near 92°F in Albuquerque. Animals roam at night. - Fall: animals hunt for winter dens. Seal gaps now.
Raccoons.
They tear open vents and roof edges. Never handle one. Heavy thumps at night usually mean a raccoon.
Rock squirrels and ground squirrels.
Rock squirrels dig under patios and walls. Some climb into attics and block walls.
Skunks.
Skunks den under decks, sheds and porches. A strong smell after dark is the giveaway.
Pack rats.
Pack rats build big stick nests in yards and engine bays. Clear brush piles and check parked cars.
Javelina.
Javelina root through gardens and trash at dusk. Don't feed them, and keep dogs away from them.
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.
- Recheck: make sure nothing is trying to get back in. - 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.
Where animals get in.
- Under decks, porches and sheds. - Roof vents and soffit corners. - Gaps where the roof meets the wall. - Uncapped chimneys. - Crawl-space doors and foundation vents.
If an animal gets inside the house.
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. Close interior doors so it stays in one room.
Droppings and cleanup.
- Large attic messes are a job for pros. - Don’t sweep or vacuum droppings dry. - Wear gloves, a mask and old clothes. - Wet droppings down, then bag them.
Keeping your yard less inviting.
- Cover: clear brush and wood piles near the house. - 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.
Wildlife myths.
- Lights and radios work: only briefly. - 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.
Birds in vents and chimneys.
Most native birds are protected while nesting. Wait until the young have flown. Then fit a vent cover that still lets air out. Starlings and sparrows love dryer and bath vents.
If an animal seems sick.
Keep people and pets inside. animal control or your local health department. Don't try to trap or touch it. Staggering, circling or acting unafraid can mean illness.
Pets and wildlife.
Bring pets in at night. your vet if your pet tangles with a wild animal. Keep pets' rabies shots up to date.
What a wildlife visit looks like.
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. The tech walks the roofline and the foundation.
If a skunk sprays.
- Under the house: air it out; the smell fades over days. - 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.
Babies found alone.
Leave them be and watch from a distance for a day. Hurt or clearly orphaned? Call a wildlife rehabilitator. Baby animals alone are often just waiting for a parent.
Fencing that works.
- Gates: keep gaps underneath to a couple of inches. - Diggers: bury wire mesh a foot down, bent outward. - Climbers: an electric wire near the top stops raccoons. - Gardens: hardware cloth beats chicken wire.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- Is cleanup included? - Which animal is it? - Where is it getting in? - How will you handle babies? - What happens to the animal? - What will you seal with?
What affects the price
- Number of entry points that must be sealed.
- Square feet of insulation removed and replaced.
- Follow-up visits included in the quoted price.
- Protected bird species requiring seasonal timing.
- Materials used: steel and hardware cloth over foam.
- Trip fees for daily trap checks over multiple days.
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What worries you most about wildlife?
When to call for help
Call if an animal is in the attic, walls or chimney. right away if one acts sick or aggressive. Babies and droppings need careful handling.
What you can do yourself
Getting an animal out of the house is a pro's job. Never corner or handle one. Secure trash, bring in pet food and trim branches.
Wildlife in Albuquerque
Winter lows near 26°F in Albuquerque send animals into attics and crawl spaces in fall. With only about 9 inches of rain a year in Albuquerque, animals go looking for water near homes. In New Mexico, foxes, skunks and bats carry most rabies cases. Across Albuquerque, animals live comfortably in town, using alleys, storm drains and older buildings.
Local research
Wildlife in Albuquerque, NM: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wildlife actually live in New Mexico, when they are busiest around Albuquerque, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
When wildlife are busiest around Albuquerque
April skunk peak, October bat peak. Texas 2024 monthly peaks were driven by skunks in April and bats in October.
Based on Albuquerque’s semi-arid 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?
Skunk spray can be smelled by humans a mile downwind
A raccoon's mask likely reduces glare and improves night vision
Questions people ask
How do I get rid of a groundhog?
Groundhogs are rare here. A digger under the shed is likely a skunk.
What animal is in my attic?
Quick scurrying at dawn: squirrels. Rustling at dusk: bats.
Is wildlife removal humane?
It can be. One-way doors let animals leave on their own.
What if there are babies in the attic?
Around Albuquerque, babies are usually born from about March through June. A pro finds them and reunites them with the mother.
Will the animals come back?
Others will try. Sealing every gap with metal is what keeps them out.
Which animals are most common around Albuquerque?
Mostly raccoons, squirrels, skunks, pack rats, rock squirrels, javelina and bats.
When are wild animal babies born in Albuquerque?
Usually from about March through June. Don't seal a hole while babies are inside.
Nearby cities
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Sources (9)
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