The short version
Around Denver, 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.
Anyone in Denver dealing with wild animals around the house.
What to look for
Each one gets in differently and needs a different fix. Babies are usually born from about April through June. Around Denver, the usual animals are raccoons, squirrels, skunks and bats.
- 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 the roof to be checked from a ladder. Roof returns, gable vents, chimney flues, and soffit gaps are where most Denver attic entries happen, and none are visible from the driveway.
- Time
- 60–120 minutes
- Best for
- Every job; the species decides the method
Humane Live Trapping and Removal
$150–$500 per animal, plus trip fees
Trapping is used when a door won't work. Ask how many visits are included.
- Time
- Several days to two weeks
- Best for
- Animals already inside or denning under structures
Exclusion Repairs (Chimney Caps, Vent Screens, Foundation Mesh)
$300–$2,500+ depending on scope
Raccoons can pull off aluminum vent louvers and squirrels chew through plastic in Denver, so exclusion uses galvanized steel, heavy hardware cloth, or copper mesh. Foam and caulk alone do not hold.
- Time
- Half a day to two days
- Best for
- Sealing the home after animals are out
One-Way Doors and Eviction
$200–$600
For bird problems in Denver, netting or one-way flaps let starlings and sparrows out of a vent or attic space before the opening is screened. The birds move to a nearby tree; the vent gets covered.
- Time
- 3–7 days
- Best for
- Squirrels, raccoons, and birds using a single main entry
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.Animals around Denver.
Around Denver, the most common animals are raccoons, squirrels, skunks and bats. Homes from Denver out to Commerce City and Lakewood see much the same mix.
Local wildlife conditions in Denver.
Denver sits in a semi-arid climate, and that sets the pace for wildlife activity here: spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). For Denver homes, 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 Denver usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Denver'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 Denver and Colorado 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.
Walk the foundation with a flashlight. Gaps at ground level let animals under the house.What’s that noise?
- Rustling at dusk at the roof edge: bats. - A strong smell under the deck: skunks. - Quick scurrying at dawn and dusk: squirrels. - Heavy thumps at night: raccoons.
Baby season.
Never seal a hole while babies are still inside. Bat exclusion waits until pups can fly, usually by mid-August. Around Denver, most babies are born from about April through June. Mothers look for warm, dry spots like attics and chimneys.
A year of wildlife in Denver.
- Fall: animals hunt for winter dens. Seal gaps now. - Winter: lows near 19°F in Denver. Animals den up in attics. - Spring: babies are born from about April through June. Don't seal while young are inside. - Summer: highs near 88°F in Denver. Animals roam at night.
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.
Skunks.
Skunks den under decks, sheds and porches. A strong smell after dark is the giveaway.
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.
- 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. - Identify: figure out which animal it is. - Check: look for babies first.
Where animals get in.
- Uncapped chimneys. - Crawl-space doors and foundation vents. - Under decks, porches and sheds. - Roof vents and soffit corners. - Gaps where the roof meets the wall.
If an animal gets inside the house.
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. Open an outside door or window in that room, then leave.
Droppings and cleanup.
- Wet droppings down, then bag them. - Large attic messes are a job for pros. - Don’t sweep or vacuum droppings dry. - Wear gloves, a mask and old clothes.
Keeping your yard less inviting.
- Birds: use a seed tray, and sweep up spills. - Fruit: pick up what falls. - Cover: clear brush and wood piles near the house. - Trash: locking lids, or keep bins in the garage. - Pets: feed them indoors.
Wildlife myths.
- Mothballs drive them out: they don’t, and they’re a health hazard. - 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.
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.
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.
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. They look for tracks, droppings and torn vents.
If a skunk sprays.
- 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. - People and pets: wash with peroxide, baking soda and dish soap. - Tomato juice: it doesn’t really work.
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.
- Gardens: hardware cloth beats chicken wire. - 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.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- How will you handle babies? - What happens to the animal? - What will you seal with? - Is cleanup included? - Which animal is it? - Where is it getting in?
What affects the price
- Follow-up visits included in the quoted price.
- Length of deck or shed perimeter needing buried mesh.
- Species involved; skunks and raccoons cost more to handle.
- Presence of a raccoon latrine requiring special cleanup.
- Damage to ductwork, wiring, or vents needing repair.
- Warranty length on exclusion work and sealed points.
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What worries you most about wildlife?
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
Getting an animal out of the house is a pro's job. Secure trash, bring in pet food and trim branches. Never corner or handle one.
Wildlife in Denver
In Colorado, skunks and bats carry most rabies. For Denver homes, animals live comfortably in town, using alleys, storm drains and older buildings. Winter lows near 19°F in Denver send animals into attics and crawl spaces in fall. With only about 14 inches of rain a year in Denver, animals go looking for water near homes.
Local research
Wildlife in Denver, CO: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wildlife actually live in Colorado, when they are busiest around Denver, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Raccoon relocation distance
Raccoons, tree squirrels and cottontail rabbits are the only species that may be relocated without a permit.
Colorado Parks and WildlifeAll other species
Any relocation outside the raccoon, tree squirrel and cottontail exception needs a permit first.
Colorado Parks and WildlifeNuisance Wildlife species recorded in Colorado
- Raccoon (Procyon lotor) — Top terrestrial rabies vector in the East; relocation banned in most states.
- Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) — Primary rabies reservoir in Texas and the central U.S.; Illinois requires euthanasia of trapped striped skunks.
When wildlife are busiest around Denver
April skunk peak, October bat peak. Texas 2024 monthly peaks were driven by skunks in April and bats in October.
Based on Denver’s semi-arid climate profile.
Landowners and their agents may take nuisance species causing damage on private property without a permit, but mountain lions and black bears may not be destroyed for property damage alone.
Rules that apply in Colorado
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: Colorado Parks and Wildlife; Rabies in the United States: Protecting Public Health; Class A (commercial) Nuisance Wildlife Control Permit study packet (17 Ill. Adm. Code 525). 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.
Metal mesh keeps animals out of vents for good. Foam and light screen won't hold.Did you know?
Starlings were introduced to North America in 1890 in Central Park
Flying squirrels glide up to 150 feet using a skin membrane
Questions people ask
Is wildlife removal humane?
It can be. One-way doors let animals leave on their own.
Can I trap the animal myself?
Check Colorado's rules first. Trapping can catch the wrong animal or orphan babies.
What is included in attic cleanup?
Removing droppings and soiled insulation, then sanitizing. New insulation goes in if needed.
Are bird nests protected?
Most native bird nests are protected by federal law. Starlings, house sparrows and pigeons aren't.
Can the animal just be relocated?
Many states, Colorado included in some cases, limit moving trapped animals. Ask your provider. Often not.
How common are nuisance wildlife problems around suburban homes?
For Denver homes, nuisance wildlife is usually removed by trapping, then the entry points are sealed so the next animal cannot move into the same spot. For Denver homes, because many animals are protected by state rules, removal has to be done legally, and a written plan should spell out removal, exclusion, and cleanup.
Which animals are most common around Denver?
Mostly raccoons, squirrels, skunks and bats.
When are wild animal babies born in Denver?
Usually from about April through June. 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