The short version
Around Lansing, the most common animals are raccoons, squirrels and opossums. 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 Lansing 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 Lansing, the usual animals are raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, groundhogs 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
Good inspections in Lansing also look for secondary damage: chewed wiring, torn ductwork, soaked insulation, and skunk or groundhog burrows undermining a slab or deck. That damage shapes both the plan and the price.
- 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 Lansing 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 Lansing, so ask for the square footage in the quote.
- 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
For groundhogs and skunks burrowing under a shed or porch in Lansing, providers trench and bury an L-shaped mesh skirt a foot down and a foot out. The animal digs down, hits the mesh, and gives up.
- Time
- Half a day to two days
- Best for
- Sealing the home after animals are out
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
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 Lansing.
Around Lansing, the most common animals are raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, groundhogs and bats. Groundhogs are common here, and they're behind many holes under sheds in Lansing.
Local wildlife conditions in Lansing.
Lansing sits in a humid continental climate, and that sets the pace for wildlife activity here: spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). For Lansing 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 Lansing usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Lansing'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 Lansing and Michigan 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. - A big burrow beside the shed: groundhogs. - 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 Lansing, most babies are born from about April through June. Mothers look for warm, dry spots like attics and chimneys.
A year of wildlife in Lansing.
- Fall: animals hunt for winter dens. Seal gaps now. - Winter: lows near 16°F in Lansing. Animals den up in attics. - Spring: babies are born from about April through June. Don't seal while young are inside. - Summer: highs near 82°F in Lansing. 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.
Opossums.
Opossums are quiet, slow and mostly harmless. They move into crawl spaces and under decks.
Skunks.
Skunks den under decks, sheds and porches. A strong smell after dark is the giveaway.
Groundhogs.
Groundhogs dig big burrows beside sheds, decks and foundations. Around Lansing, they sleep through winter and wake hungry in early spring.
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.
Wait until the young have flown. Then fit a vent cover that still lets air out. Chimney swifts nest in chimneys in summer and leave in fall. Starlings and sparrows love dryer and bath vents. Most native birds are protected while nesting.
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
- Number of animals, since trapping is priced per animal.
- Square feet of insulation removed and replaced.
- Number of entry points that must be sealed.
- Species involved; skunks and raccoons cost more to handle.
- Roof height and pitch affecting ladder or lift needs.
- Materials used: steel and hardware cloth over foam.
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What worries you most about wildlife?
When to call for help
Babies and droppings need careful handling. Call if an animal is in the attic, walls or chimney. right away if one acts sick or aggressive.
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 Lansing
In Michigan, bats are the animal most often found with rabies. For Lansing homes, animals live comfortably in town, using alleys, storm drains and older buildings. Winter lows near 16°F in Lansing send animals into attics and crawl spaces in fall.
Local research
Wildlife in Lansing, MI: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wildlife actually live in Michigan, when they are busiest around Lansing, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
When wildlife are busiest around Lansing
Fall/winter den-seeking; June-July bat blackout. Upper Midwest: bats and skunks are the reservoirs; raccoon rabies absent.
Based on Lansing’s humid continental 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?
Groundhogs whistle to warn each other, earning the name whistle-pig
Raccoons wash food not to clean it but to feel it
Questions people ask
Are bird nests protected?
Most native bird nests are protected by federal law. Starlings, house sparrows and pigeons aren't.
How long does wildlife removal take?
Usually a few days to two weeks, including sealing.
Does homeowners insurance cover wildlife damage?
Gradual chewing often isn't covered. Ask your insurer. Sometimes, for sudden damage.
What is included in attic cleanup?
Removing droppings and soiled insulation, then sanitizing. New insulation goes in if needed.
What season is worst for wildlife problems?
Spring babies and fall den-hunting are busiest around Lansing.
What do homeowners actually do about wildlife in the yard?
For Lansing 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 Lansing 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 Lansing?
Mostly raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, groundhogs and bats.
When are wild animal babies born in Lansing?
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