The short version
Around Missoula, 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.
Anyone in Missoula dealing with wild animals around the house.
What to look for
Around Missoula, 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
Expect the roof to be checked from a ladder. Roof returns, gable vents, chimney flues, and soffit gaps are where most Missoula attic entries happen, and none are visible from the driveway.
- Time
- 60–120 minutes
- Best for
- Every job; the species decides the method
Humane Live Trapping and Removal
$150–$500 per animal, plus trip fees
Ask how many trap days are included. Clear answers separate careful operators from cheap ones.
- Time
- Several days to two weeks
- Best for
- Animals already inside or denning under structures
Attic Cleanup, Sanitation, and Follow-Up
$500–$3,000+ depending on insulation removed
Cleanup in Missoula 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 Missoula, so ask for the square footage in the quote.
- Time
- 1–2 days
- Best for
- Soiled insulation, droppings, odors, and re-checks
One-Way Doors and Eviction
$200–$600
In Missoula, one-way doors are the least stressful removal method for the animal and often the cheapest for the homeowner. They avoid trap-days, trip fees, and relocation rules entirely.
- 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 Missoula.
Around Missoula, the most common animals are raccoons, squirrels, skunks and bats.
Local wildlife conditions in Missoula.
Missoula sits in a warm summer continental climate, and that sets the pace for wildlife activity here: spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). In Missoula, 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 Missoula usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Missoula'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 Missoula and Montana 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?
- 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.
Around Missoula, 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 Missoula.
- Winter: lows near 18°F in Missoula. Animals den up in attics. - Fall: animals hunt for winter dens. Seal gaps now. - Summer: highs near 86°F in Missoula. 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.
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.
- 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.
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
- Chimney cap size and whether a flue liner is needed.
- Warranty length on exclusion work and sealed points.
- Damage to ductwork, wiring, or vents needing repair.
- Materials used: steel and hardware cloth over foam.
- Protected bird species requiring seasonal timing.
- Species involved; skunks and raccoons cost more to handle.
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What worries you most about wildlife?
When to call for help
Call if an animal is in the attic, walls or chimney. right away if one acts sick or aggressive. Babies and droppings need careful handling.
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 Missoula
A local provider who knows Missoula and Montana can point out the specific conditions that matter most here before you commit to a plan. In Missoula, take a minute to note where you have seen activity and when it appears, so the inspection is faster and the quote more accurate. In Missoula, most of the housing is urban, so the usual entry points, moisture spots, and sheltered areas near the structure are what an inspection checks first. Missoula has a warm summer continental climate, and wildlife activity here tends to pick up spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). In Missoula, animals live comfortably in town, using alleys, storm drains and older buildings. In Montana, skunks and bats carry most rabies. Winter lows near 18°F in Missoula send animals into attics and crawl spaces in fall.
Local research
Wildlife in Missoula, MT: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wildlife actually live in Montana, when they are busiest around Missoula, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
When wildlife are busiest around Missoula
Fall/winter den-seeking; June-July bat blackout. Upper Midwest: bats and skunks are the reservoirs; raccoon rabies absent.
Based on Missoula’s warm summer 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.
Metal mesh keeps animals out of vents for good. Foam and light screen won't hold.Did you know?
Starlings were introduced to North America in 1890 in Central Park
Raccoons wash food not to clean it but to feel it
Questions people ask
How do I get rid of a groundhog?
Groundhogs are rare here. A digger under the shed is likely a skunk.
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.
What season is worst for wildlife problems?
Spring babies and fall den-hunting are busiest around Missoula.
What animal is in my attic?
Quick scurrying at dawn: squirrels. Rustling at dusk: bats.
Do most homeowners do anything about nuisance wildlife?
In Missoula, nuisance wildlife is usually removed by trapping, then the entry points are sealed so the next animal cannot move into the same spot. In Missoula, 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 Missoula?
Mostly raccoons, squirrels, skunks and bats.
When are wild animal babies born in Missoula?
Usually from about April through June. Don't seal a hole while babies are inside.
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Sources (8)
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