The short version
Around Ketchikan, 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 Ketchikan with an animal in the attic, walls, chimney or yard.
What to look for
Around Ketchikan, red squirrels chew into homes, and foxes den under sheds. Bears and moose wander into yards looking for food. Never approach a bear or a moose.
- 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 starts with the animal: tracks, droppings, hair and the size of the hole. Ask for photos of each entry point.
- Time
- 60–120 minutes
- Best for
- Every job; the species decides the method
Attic Cleanup, Sanitation, and Follow-Up
$500–$3,000+ depending on insulation removed
Cleanup in Ketchikan is priced by how much insulation has to come out and go back in. A few soiled bays cost far less than a whole attic in Ketchikan, so ask for the square footage in the quote.
- Time
- 1–2 days
- Best for
- Soiled insulation, droppings, odors, and re-checks
Humane Live Trapping and Removal
$150–$500 per animal, plus trip fees
Traps go near the entry and get checked daily. Ask what happens to the animal afterward.
- 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
Sealing work often comes with a warranty of a year or more; ask that it cover chimney caps and vent screens, the Ketchikan points most often reopened. Ask what it covers; the repair is the real value.
- 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.
In the attic, look for flattened insulation, droppings and nests. Leave big cleanups to someone with the right gear.Animals around Ketchikan.
Around Ketchikan, the most common animals are red squirrels, red foxes, black bears and moose.
Local wildlife conditions in Ketchikan.
An inspection in Ketchikan usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Ketchikan'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 Ketchikan 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. Ketchikan sits in a marine west coast climate, and that sets the pace for wildlife activity here: spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). For Ketchikan homes, the area is mostly rural, 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.
Brush, mulch and fallen fruit near the house give animals cover and food. Keep the edges tidy.What’s that noise?
- Digging under a shed: a fox. - Trash scattered overnight: possibly a bear. - Bark stripped from young trees: moose. - Scurrying by day: red squirrels.
Baby season.
Never seal a hole while babies are still inside. Bat exclusion waits until pups can fly, usually by mid-August. Around Ketchikan, most babies are born from about March through June. Mothers look for warm, dry spots like attics and chimneys.
A year of wildlife in Ketchikan.
- Summer: foxes raise kits under sheds. - Fall: squirrels store cones and move into attics. - Winter: lows near 30°F in Ketchikan. Moose browse yards. - Spring: bears wake up hungry. Put bird feeders away.
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. Take bird feeders down in spring and summer. Black bears learn fast where food is.
Moose in the yard.
Give them plenty of room, especially cows with calves. Fence young trees. Moose browse yards in winter.
Porcupines.
Keep dogs away from them. Wrap young trees and close off crawl spaces. Porcupines chew wood, siding and even tires for salt.
Voles under the snow.
You'll see the damage in spring. Wire guards around trunks help. Voles tunnel under snow and chew bark off shrubs and young trees.
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.
- 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. - Identify: figure out which animal it is.
Where animals get in.
- Gaps where the roof meets the wall. - Uncapped chimneys. - Crawl-space doors and foundation vents. - Under decks, porches and sheds. - Roof vents and soffit corners.
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.
- Wear gloves, a mask and old clothes. - Wet droppings down, then bag them. - Large attic messes are a job for pros. - Don’t sweep or vacuum droppings dry.
Keeping your yard less inviting.
- 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. - Trash: locking lids, or keep bins in the garage.
Wildlife myths.
- 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. - Out in daylight means rabid: not always; mothers forage by day.
Birds in vents and chimneys.
Wait until the young have flown. Then fit a vent cover that still lets air out. Starlings and sparrows love dryer and bath vents. Most native birds are protected while nesting.
If an animal seems sick.
animal control or your local health department. Don't try to trap or touch it. Staggering, circling or acting unafraid can mean illness. Keep people and pets inside.
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 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.
- 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. - People and pets: wash with peroxide, baking soda and dish soap.
Babies found alone.
Hurt or clearly orphaned? Call a wildlife rehabilitator. Baby animals alone are often just waiting for a parent. Leave them be and watch from a distance for a day.
Fencing that works.
- Climbers: an electric wire near the top stops raccoons. - Gardens: hardware cloth beats chicken wire. - Gates: keep gaps underneath to a couple of inches. - Diggers: bury wire mesh a foot down, bent outward.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- Where is it getting in? - How will you handle babies? - What happens to the animal? - What will you seal with? - Is cleanup included? - Which animal is it?
What affects the price
- Damage to ductwork, wiring, or vents needing repair.
- Materials used: steel and hardware cloth over foam.
- Protected bird species requiring seasonal timing.
- Permit, relocation, or disposal rules in your state.
- 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. 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 Ketchikan
Winter lows near 30°F in Ketchikan slow animals down, but don't stop them. About 141 inches of rain a year in Ketchikan softens fascia and soffits, and soft wood is easy to chew through. In Alaska, rabies is mostly found in foxes in the north and west of the state. Around Ketchikan's farms and woods, barns, sheds and coops attract animals.
Local research
Wildlife in Ketchikan, 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 Ketchikan, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
When wildlife are busiest around Ketchikan
Spring litters; fall den-seeking. Pacific Northwest: bats are the only rabies carrier; raccoon and squirrel conflicts are structural.
Based on Ketchikan’s marine west coast 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.
Metal mesh keeps animals out of vents for good. Foam and light screen won't hold.Did you know?
A gray squirrel can rotate its ankles to descend headfirst
A raccoon's mask likely reduces glare and improves night vision
Questions people ask
Do wildlife pros use poison?
No. Poisons aren't used on wildlife like raccoons or squirrels. Ask what any chemical is for.
How do I get rid of a groundhog?
Groundhogs are rare here. A digger under the shed is likely a skunk.
How do I choose a wildlife company?
Look for someone licensed for wildlife work in Alaska. Ask how they handle babies and what they seal with.
What is included in attic cleanup?
Removing droppings and soiled insulation, then sanitizing. New insulation goes in if needed.
Will the animals come back?
Others will try. Sealing every gap with metal is what keeps them out.
Which animals are most common around Ketchikan?
Mostly red squirrels, red foxes, black bears and moose.
When are wild animal babies born in Ketchikan?
Usually from about March 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