The short version
Around Fairbanks, the most common animals are red squirrels, red foxes and black bears. 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 Fairbanks with an animal in the attic, walls, chimney or yard.
What to look for
Bears and moose wander into yards looking for food. Never approach a bear or a moose. Around Fairbanks, red squirrels chew into homes, and foxes den under sheds.
- 1Scurrying in the attic during the day.
- 2Cone scraps piled on decks.
- 3Dug holes under sheds.
- 4Trash bins knocked over.
- 5Tracks in the snow near the house.
- 6Chewed siding or trim.
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
The inspection is the cheapest step, and it prevents mistakes. Ask for entry-point photos and a written, ordered plan.
- 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
Exclusion means sealing every gap with steel mesh, vent covers and caps. Foam and caulk alone don't hold.
- Time
- Half a day to two days
- Best for
- Sealing the home after animals are out
One-Way Doors and Eviction
$200–$600
A one-way door is a hinged or funnel-style exit fitted over the animal's main entry hole in Fairbanks. The animal leaves and can't get back in. Then the gap is repaired.
- Time
- 3–7 days
- Best for
- Animals in the attic, walls or yard
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 Fairbanks.
Around Fairbanks, the most common animals are red squirrels, red foxes, black bears and moose.
Local wildlife conditions in Fairbanks.
An inspection in Fairbanks usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Around Fairbanks, the area is mostly suburban, 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. Fairbanks sits in a subarctic climate, and that sets the pace for wildlife activity here: spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). A provider who works Fairbanks and Alaska 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. Knowing Fairbanks'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.
Walk the foundation with a flashlight. Gaps at ground level let animals under the house.What’s that noise?
- Scurrying by day: red squirrels. - Bark stripped from young trees: moose. - Trash scattered overnight: possibly a bear. - Digging under a shed: a fox.
Baby season.
Bat exclusion waits until pups can fly, usually by mid-August. Never seal a hole while babies are still inside. Mothers look for warm, dry spots like attics and chimneys. Around Fairbanks, most babies are born from about April through June.
A year of wildlife in Fairbanks.
- Spring: bears wake up hungry. Put bird feeders away. - Winter: lows near -15°F in Fairbanks. Moose browse yards. - Fall: squirrels store cones and move into attics. - Summer: foxes raise kits under sheds.
Red squirrels.
Red squirrels chew into attics, cabins and sheds. Seal gaps with metal and trim branches away from the roof.
Foxes.
Red foxes den under sheds and decks. Don't feed them, and keep small pets close.
Bears and trash.
Use bear-resistant bins and keep trash in a garage. Black bears learn fast where food is. Take bird feeders down in spring and summer.
Moose in the yard.
Give them plenty of room, especially cows with calves. Moose browse yards in winter. Fence young trees.
Porcupines.
Keep dogs away from them. Porcupines chew wood, siding and even tires for salt. Wrap young trees and close off crawl spaces.
Voles under the snow.
You'll see the damage in spring. Voles tunnel under snow and chew bark off shrubs and young trees. Wire guards around trunks help.
Little brown bats.
Little brown bats roost in attics and sheds in summer. Wait until the pups can fly before sealing them out.
Getting them out the right way.
- Identify: figure out which animal it is. - Recheck: make sure nothing is trying to get back in. - Seal: heavy metal mesh on every gap. - Door: a one-way door lets the animal leave. - Check: look for babies first.
Where animals get in.
- Roof vents and soffit corners. - Under decks, porches and sheds. - Crawl-space doors and foundation vents. - Uncapped chimneys. - Gaps where the roof meets the wall.
If an animal gets inside the house.
Call your health department first. Is it a bat, and was someone asleep there? Keep kids and pets away. Open an outside door or window in that room, then leave. Close interior doors so it stays in one room.
Droppings and cleanup.
- Don’t sweep or vacuum droppings dry. - Large attic messes are a job for pros. - Wet droppings down, then bag them. - Wear gloves, a mask and old clothes.
Keeping your yard less inviting.
- Trash: locking lids, or keep bins in the garage. - Cover: clear brush and wood piles near the house. - Fruit: pick up what falls. - Birds: use a seed tray, and sweep up spills. - Pets: feed them indoors.
Wildlife myths.
- Out in daylight means rabid: not always; mothers forage by day. - Lights and radios work: only briefly. - Mothballs drive them out: they don’t, and they’re a health hazard. - Moving them is kind: often illegal, and babies get left.
Birds in vents and chimneys.
Most native birds are protected while nesting. Starlings and sparrows love dryer and bath vents. Then fit a vent cover that still lets air out. Wait until the young have flown.
If an animal seems sick.
Keep people and pets inside. Staggering, circling or acting unafraid can mean illness. Don't try to trap or touch it. animal control or your local health department.
Pets and wildlife.
Bring pets in at night. Keep pets' rabies shots up to date. your vet if your pet tangles with a wild animal.
What a wildlife visit looks like.
Cleanup comes last. Later, they come back and seal up. They set a one-way door or trap. They look for tracks, droppings and torn vents. The tech walks the roofline and the foundation.
If a skunk sprays.
- People and pets: wash with peroxide, baking soda and dish soap. - Under the house: air it out; the smell fades over days. - Clothes: wash with baking soda added to the load. - Eyes: keep the mix out; rinse with cool water. - Tomato juice: it doesn’t really work.
Babies found alone.
Leave them be and watch from a distance for a day. Baby animals alone are often just waiting for a parent. Call a wildlife rehabilitator. Hurt or clearly orphaned?
Fencing that works.
- Diggers: bury wire mesh a foot down, bent outward. - Gates: keep gaps underneath to a couple of inches. - Gardens: hardware cloth beats chicken wire. - Climbers: an electric wire near the top stops raccoons.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- Which animal is it? - Is cleanup included? - What will you seal with? - What happens to the animal? - How will you handle babies? - Where is it getting in?
What affects the price
- Follow-up visits included in the quoted price.
- Damage to ductwork, wiring, or vents needing repair.
- Roof height and pitch affecting ladder or lift needs.
- Square feet of insulation removed and replaced.
- Chimney cap size and whether a flue liner is needed.
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What worries you most about wildlife?
When to call for help
right away if one acts sick or aggressive. Call if an animal is in the attic, walls or chimney. Babies and droppings need careful handling.
What you can do yourself
Never corner or handle one. Secure trash, bring in pet food and trim branches. Getting an animal out of the house is a pro's job.
Wildlife in Fairbanks
Fairbanks has a subarctic climate, and wildlife activity here tends to pick up spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). Around Fairbanks, most of the housing is suburban, so the usual entry points, moisture spots, and sheltered areas near the structure are what an inspection checks first. Around Fairbanks, take a minute to note where you have seen activity and when it appears, so the inspection is faster and the quote more accurate. A local provider who knows Fairbanks and Alaska can point out the specific conditions that matter most here before you commit to a plan. Winter lows near -15°F in Fairbanks send animals into attics and crawl spaces in fall. With only about 11 inches of rain a year in Fairbanks, animals go looking for water near homes. In Alaska, rabies is mostly found in foxes in the north and west of the state. In Fairbanks's neighborhoods, decks, sheds and trash bins draw animals in.
Local research
Wildlife in Fairbanks, AK: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wildlife actually live in Alaska, when they are busiest around Fairbanks, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
When wildlife are busiest around Fairbanks
Fall/winter den-seeking; June-July bat blackout. Upper Midwest: bats and skunks are the reservoirs; raccoon rabies absent.
Based on Fairbanks’s subarctic 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?
Starlings were introduced to North America in 1890 in Central Park
Opossums play dead involuntarily; the response is a fainting reflex
Questions people ask
How long does wildlife removal take?
Usually a few days to two weeks, including sealing.
What is included in attic cleanup?
Removing droppings and soiled insulation, then sanitizing. New insulation goes in if needed.
Is wildlife removal humane?
It can be. One-way doors let animals leave on their own.
Are bird nests protected?
Most native bird nests are protected by federal law. Starlings, house sparrows and pigeons aren't.
What animal is in my attic?
Scurrying by day usually means red squirrels. Flying squirrels are busy at night.
Which animals are most common around Fairbanks?
Mostly red squirrels, red foxes, black bears and moose.
When are wild animal babies born in Fairbanks?
Usually from about April through June. Don't seal a hole while babies are inside.
Nearby cities
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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