The short version
Around Lewiston, 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 Lewiston dealing with wild animals around the house.
What to look for
Around Lewiston, the usual animals are raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, groundhogs 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
Identifying the animal correctly matters in Lewiston because a mother with young changes the whole plan. Sealing a raccoon out while her kits remain inside in Lewiston is how homeowners end up with a dead-animal odor.
- 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
Once the animals are out and the house is sealed, Lewiston providers remove contaminated insulation, vacuum droppings, and apply an enzyme-based sanitizer to nesting areas. Raccoon latrines get special handling because of roundworm risk.
- 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.
In the attic, look for flattened insulation, droppings and nests. Leave big cleanups to someone with the right gear.Animals around Lewiston.
Groundhogs are common here, and they're behind many holes under sheds in Lewiston. Homes from Lewiston out to Auburn and Brunswick see much the same mix. Around Lewiston, the most common animals are raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, groundhogs and bats.
Local wildlife conditions in Lewiston.
A provider who works Lewiston and Maine 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 Lewiston'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. An inspection in Lewiston usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Around Lewiston, 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. Lewiston sits in a humid continental climate, and that sets the pace for wildlife activity here: spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter).
Brush, mulch and fallen fruit near the house give animals cover and food. Keep the edges tidy.What’s that noise?
- A big burrow beside the shed: groundhogs. - A strong smell under the deck: skunks. - Rustling at dusk at the roof edge: bats. - Heavy thumps at night: raccoons. - Quick scurrying at dawn and dusk: squirrels.
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 Lewiston, most babies are born from about April through June.
A year of wildlife in Lewiston.
- Winter: lows near 10°F in Lewiston. Animals den up in attics. - Fall: animals hunt for winter dens. Seal gaps now. - Summer: highs near 80°F in Lewiston. Animals roam at night. - Spring: babies are born from about April through June. Don't seal while young are inside.
Raccoons.
Never handle one. They tear open vents and roof edges. Heavy thumps at night usually mean a raccoon.
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 Lewiston, 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.
- 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. - Identify: figure out which animal it is.
Where animals get in.
- Under decks, porches and sheds. - Crawl-space doors and foundation vents. - Uncapped chimneys. - Gaps where the roof meets the wall. - Roof vents and soffit corners.
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.
- Large attic messes are a job for pros. - Wet droppings down, then bag them. - Wear gloves, a mask and old clothes. - Don’t sweep or vacuum droppings dry.
Keeping your yard less inviting.
- 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. - Trash: locking lids, or keep bins in the garage.
Wildlife myths.
- 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. - Out in daylight means rabid: not always; mothers forage by day.
Birds in vents and chimneys.
Chimney swifts nest in chimneys in summer and leave in fall. Then fit a vent cover that still lets air out. Wait until the young have flown. Most native birds are protected while nesting. Starlings and sparrows love dryer and bath vents.
If an animal seems sick.
Don't try to trap or touch it. animal control or your local health department. Keep people and pets inside. Staggering, circling or acting unafraid can mean illness.
Pets and wildlife.
your vet if your pet tangles with a wild animal. Bring pets in at night. Keep pets' rabies shots up to date.
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.
- 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. - People and pets: wash with peroxide, baking soda and dish soap.
Babies found alone.
Call a wildlife rehabilitator. Hurt or clearly orphaned? Leave them be and watch from a distance for a day. Baby animals alone are often just waiting for a parent.
Fencing that works.
- Gates: keep gaps underneath to a couple of inches. - Gardens: hardware cloth beats chicken wire. - Climbers: an electric wire near the top stops raccoons. - Diggers: bury wire mesh a foot down, bent outward.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- Is cleanup included? - What will you seal with? - What happens to the animal? - How will you handle babies? - Where is it getting in? - Which animal is it?
What affects the price
- Roof height and pitch affecting ladder or lift needs.
- Protected bird species requiring seasonal timing.
- Square feet of insulation removed and replaced.
- Number of animals, since trapping is priced per animal.
- Materials used: steel and hardware cloth over foam.
- Species involved; skunks and raccoons cost more to handle.
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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 Lewiston
Winter lows near 10°F in Lewiston send animals into attics and crawl spaces in fall. About 46 inches of rain a year in Lewiston softens fascia and soffits, and soft wood is easy to chew through. In Maine, raccoons and bats carry most rabies. Around Lewiston, animals live comfortably in town, using alleys, storm drains and older buildings.
Local research
Wildlife in Lewiston, ME: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wildlife actually live in Maine, when they are busiest around Lewiston, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Nuisance Wildlife species recorded in Maine
- 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 Lewiston
Fall/winter den-seeking; June-July bat blackout. Upper Midwest: bats and skunks are the reservoirs; raccoon rabies absent.
Based on Lewiston’s humid continental climate profile.
Bats, beavers and bears require additional MDIFW training and Best Management Practice experience beyond the base ADC certification.
Rules that apply in Maine
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: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries 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?
Flying squirrels glide up to 150 feet using a skin membrane
A gray squirrel can rotate its ankles to descend headfirst
Questions people ask
Does homeowners insurance cover wildlife damage?
Sometimes, for sudden damage. Gradual chewing often isn't covered. Ask your insurer.
Do wildlife pros use poison?
No. Poisons aren't used on wildlife like raccoons or squirrels. Ask what any chemical is for.
What season is worst for wildlife problems?
Spring babies and fall den-hunting are busiest around Lewiston.
How long does wildlife removal take?
Usually a few days to two weeks, including sealing.
Can I trap the animal myself?
Check Maine's rules first. Trapping can catch the wrong animal or orphan babies.
How common are nuisance wildlife problems around suburban homes?
Around Lewiston, nuisance wildlife is usually removed by trapping, then the entry points are sealed so the next animal cannot move into the same spot. Around Lewiston, 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 Lewiston?
Mostly raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, groundhogs and bats.
When are wild animal babies born in Lewiston?
Usually from about April through June. Don't seal a hole while babies are inside.
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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