The short version
Around Lakewood, 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 Lakewood with an animal in the attic, walls, chimney or yard.
What to look for
Around Lakewood, the usual animals are raccoons, squirrels, skunks and bats. Each one gets in differently and needs a different fix. Babies are usually born from about April 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
Before anything is trapped or sealed, a provider in Lakewood walks the roofline, attic, crawl space, and foundation looking for entry points and nesting sites. The report should name the species and mark every opening.
- 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
Sealing is the part that keeps animals out for good. Ask for a list of every spot that gets closed.
- Time
- Half a day to two days
- Best for
- Sealing the home after animals are out
Attic Cleanup, Sanitation, and Follow-Up
$500–$3,000+ depending on insulation removed
Providers in Lakewood who do cleanup should wear respirators and bag waste on site. Homeowners in Lakewood handling raccoon droppings without protection risk exposure to Baylisascaris roundworm eggs, which survive for years in soil.
- 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
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 Lakewood.
Around Lakewood, the most common animals are raccoons, squirrels, skunks and bats. Homes from Lakewood out to Denver and Arvada see much the same mix.
Local wildlife conditions in Lakewood.
Lakewood sits in a semi-arid climate, and that sets the pace for wildlife activity here: spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). In Lakewood, 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 Lakewood usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Lakewood'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 Lakewood 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?
- Quick scurrying at dawn and dusk: squirrels. - Heavy thumps at night: raccoons. - Rustling at dusk at the roof edge: bats. - A strong smell under the deck: skunks.
Baby season.
Around Lakewood, most babies are born from about April through June. 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.
A year of wildlife in Lakewood.
- Spring: babies are born from about April through June. Don't seal while young are inside. - Summer: highs near 88°F in Lakewood. Animals roam at night. - Fall: animals hunt for winter dens. Seal gaps now. - Winter: lows near 19°F in Lakewood. Animals den up in attics.
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.
- 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. - Recheck: make sure nothing is trying to get back in.
Where animals get in.
- Roof vents and soffit corners. - Gaps where the roof meets the wall. - Uncapped chimneys. - Crawl-space doors and foundation vents. - Under decks, porches and sheds.
If an animal gets inside the house.
Close interior doors so it stays in one room. 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.
Droppings and cleanup.
- Don’t sweep or vacuum droppings dry. - Wear gloves, a mask and old clothes. - Wet droppings down, then bag them. - Large attic messes are a job for pros.
Keeping your yard less inviting.
- 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. - Cover: clear brush and wood piles near the house.
Wildlife myths.
- 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. - Lights and radios work: only briefly.
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.
The tech walks the roofline and the foundation. 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.
If a skunk sprays.
- 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. - Under the house: air it out; the smell fades over days.
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.
- Diggers: bury wire mesh a foot down, bent outward. - Climbers: an electric wire near the top stops raccoons. - Gardens: hardware cloth beats chicken wire. - Gates: keep gaps underneath to a couple of inches.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- Which animal is it? - Where is it getting in? - How will you handle babies? - What happens to the animal? - What will you seal with? - Is cleanup included?
What affects the price
- Protected bird species requiring seasonal timing.
- Materials used: steel and hardware cloth over foam.
- Permit, relocation, or disposal rules in your state.
- Whether young are present and need hand removal.
- Species involved; skunks and raccoons cost more to handle.
- Follow-up visits included in the quoted price.
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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
Secure trash, bring in pet food and trim branches. Getting an animal out of the house is a pro's job. Never corner or handle one.
Wildlife in Lakewood
Winter lows near 19°F in Lakewood send animals into attics and crawl spaces in fall. In Colorado, skunks and bats carry most rabies. In Lakewood, animals live comfortably in town, using alleys, storm drains and older buildings. Lakewood has a semi-arid climate, and wildlife activity here tends to follow spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). An inspection in Lakewood that starts outside and works inward usually finds the entry points, moisture, and shelter that matter most before anyone treats.
Local research
Wildlife in Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, 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 Lakewood
April skunk peak, October bat peak. Texas 2024 monthly peaks were driven by skunks in April and bats in October.
Based on Lakewood’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.
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
Flying squirrels glide up to 150 feet using a skin membrane
Questions people ask
How do I choose a wildlife company?
Look for someone licensed for wildlife work in Colorado. Ask how they handle babies and what they seal with.
What if there are babies in the attic?
Around Lakewood, babies are usually born from about April through June. A pro finds them and reunites them with the mother.
Can I trap the animal myself?
Check Colorado's rules first. Trapping can catch the wrong animal or orphan babies.
Will the animals come back?
Others will try. Sealing every gap with metal is what keeps them out.
What is included in attic cleanup?
Removing droppings and soiled insulation, then sanitizing. New insulation goes in if needed.
Can my neighbor feeding wildlife cause problems at my house?
In Lakewood, nuisance wildlife is usually removed by trapping, then the entry points are sealed so the next animal cannot move into the same spot. In Lakewood, 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 Lakewood?
Mostly raccoons, squirrels, skunks and bats.
When are wild animal babies born in Lakewood?
Usually from about April 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