The short version
Around Greeley, 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 Greeley with an animal in the attic, walls, chimney or yard.
What to look for
Each one gets in differently and needs a different fix. Babies are usually born from about April through June. Around Greeley, 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
A good inspection covers the roofline, attic and foundation. It ends with a list of every gap that needs sealing.
- 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
Odor and scent trails are a real issue in Greeley: leftover raccoon or squirrel scent tells the next animal that this attic was a good den. Sanitizing removes the invitation along with the mess.
- 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.Animals around Greeley.
Around Greeley, the most common animals are raccoons, squirrels, skunks and bats. Homes from Greeley out to Loveland and Fort Collins see much the same mix.
Local wildlife conditions in Greeley.
An inspection in Greeley usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Around Greeley, 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. Greeley sits in a semi-arid climate, and that sets the pace for wildlife activity here: spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). A provider who works Greeley 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. Knowing Greeley'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.
Brush, mulch and fallen fruit near the house give animals cover and food. Keep the edges tidy.What’s that noise?
- Quick scurrying at dawn and dusk: squirrels. - A strong smell under the deck: skunks. - Rustling at dusk at the roof edge: bats. - Heavy thumps at night: raccoons.
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 Greeley, most babies are born from about April through June.
A year of wildlife in Greeley.
- Spring: babies are born from about April through June. Don't seal while young are inside. - Winter: lows near 16°F in Greeley. Animals den up in attics. - Fall: animals hunt for winter dens. Seal gaps now. - Summer: highs near 90°F in Greeley. Animals roam at night.
Raccoons.
They tear open vents and roof edges. Heavy thumps at night usually mean a raccoon. 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.
- 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
- Warranty length on exclusion work and sealed points.
- Follow-up visits included in the quoted price.
- Materials used: steel and hardware cloth over foam.
- Square feet of insulation removed and replaced.
- Presence of a raccoon latrine requiring special cleanup.
- Whether young are present and need hand removal.
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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
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 Greeley
Greeley has a semi-arid climate, and wildlife activity here tends to pick up spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). Around Greeley, 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 Greeley, 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 Greeley and Colorado can point out the specific conditions that matter most here before you commit to a plan. Winter lows near 16°F in Greeley send animals into attics and crawl spaces in fall. With only about 14 inches of rain a year in Greeley, animals go looking for water near homes. In Colorado, skunks and bats carry most rabies. In Greeley's neighborhoods, decks, sheds and trash bins draw animals in.
Local research
Wildlife in Greeley, 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 Greeley, 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 Greeley
April skunk peak, October bat peak. Texas 2024 monthly peaks were driven by skunks in April and bats in October.
Based on Greeley’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?
A raccoon's mask likely reduces glare and improves night vision
Starlings were introduced to North America in 1890 in Central Park
Questions people ask
Can the animal just be relocated?
Many states, Colorado included in some cases, limit moving trapped animals. Ask your provider. Often not.
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.
How do I get rid of a skunk under my deck?
Wait until it leaves at night. Then close the gap with buried wire mesh.
How long does wildlife removal take?
Usually a few days to two weeks, including sealing.
Will the state help with nuisance wildlife?
Around Greeley, nuisance wildlife is usually removed by trapping, then the entry points are sealed so the next animal cannot move into the same spot. Around Greeley, 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 Greeley?
Mostly raccoons, squirrels, skunks and bats.
When are wild animal babies born in Greeley?
Usually from about April through June. Don't seal a hole while babies are inside.
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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