The short version
Around Opelika, 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 Opelika dealing with wild animals around the house.
What to look for
Around Opelika, the usual animals are raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, armadillos and bats. Each one gets in differently and needs a different fix. Babies are usually born from about March 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
The inspection is the cheapest step, and it prevents mistakes. Ask for entry-point photos and a written, ordered plan.
- 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
Exclusion is the part of an Opelika wildlife job that actually solves the problem long term. Chimney caps, steel vent covers, hardware cloth on soffit gaps, and buried mesh skirting around decks keep Opelika animals out for years.
- Time
- Half a day to two days
- Best for
- Sealing the home after animals are out
Humane Live Trapping and Removal
$150–$500 per animal, plus trip fees
Trapping is rarely the whole answer in Opelika. Remove one raccoon in Opelika and leave the soffit gap open, and the next raccoon on the block finds it within weeks, so trapping is paired with sealing.
- Time
- Several days to two weeks
- Best for
- Animals already inside or denning under structures
One-Way Doors and Eviction
$200–$600
For bird problems in Opelika, netting or one-way flaps let starlings and sparrows out of a vent or attic space before the opening is screened. The birds move to a nearby tree; the vent gets covered.
- 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.
Crawl spaces are a favorite den. Check the vent screens and the access door.Animals around Opelika.
Homes from Opelika out to Auburn see much the same mix. Armadillos are common here, and they're behind many dug-up lawns in Opelika. Around Opelika, the most common animals are raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, armadillos and bats.
Local wildlife conditions in Opelika.
An inspection in Opelika usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Opelika'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 Opelika and Alabama 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. Opelika sits in a humid subtropical climate, and that sets the pace for wildlife activity here: spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). For Opelika homes, the area is mostly suburban, 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.
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. - Small cone-shaped holes in the lawn: armadillos.
Baby season.
Never seal a hole while babies are still inside. Bat exclusion waits until pups can fly, usually by mid-August. Around Opelika, most babies are born from about March through June. Mothers look for warm, dry spots like attics and chimneys.
A year of wildlife in Opelika.
- Fall: animals hunt for winter dens. Seal gaps now. - Summer: highs near 92°F in Opelika. Animals roam at night. - Spring: babies are born from about March through June. Don't seal while young are inside. - Winter: mild in Opelika, so animals stay active.
Raccoons.
They tear open vents and roof edges. Heavy thumps at night usually mean a raccoon. 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.
Armadillos.
Armadillos dig small, cone-shaped holes hunting grubs. They're most active at night in warm weather.
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.
- 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. - Recheck: make sure nothing is trying to get back in.
Where animals get in.
- Crawl-space doors and foundation vents. - Uncapped chimneys. - Gaps where the roof meets the wall. - Roof vents and soffit corners. - Under decks, porches and sheds.
If an animal gets inside the house.
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. Call your health department first. Is it a bat, and was someone asleep there?
Droppings and cleanup.
- Wet droppings down, then bag them. - Wear gloves, a mask and old clothes. - Don’t sweep or vacuum droppings dry. - Large attic messes are a job for pros.
Keeping your yard less inviting.
- 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. - Cover: clear brush and wood piles near the house.
Wildlife myths.
- 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. - Lights and radios work: only briefly.
Birds in vents and chimneys.
Wait until the young have flown. Most native birds are protected while nesting. Starlings and sparrows love dryer and bath vents. Chimney swifts nest in chimneys in summer and leave in fall. Then fit a vent cover that still lets air out.
If an animal seems sick.
Keep people and pets inside. Staggering, circling or acting unafraid can mean illness. Don't try to trap or touch it. animal control or your local health department.
Pets and wildlife.
Bring pets in at night. Keep pets' rabies shots up to date. your vet if your pet tangles with a wild animal.
What a wildlife visit looks like.
They set a one-way door or trap. They look for tracks, droppings and torn vents. The tech walks the roofline and the foundation. Cleanup comes last. Later, they come back and seal up.
If a skunk sprays.
- 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. - Under the house: air it out; the smell fades over days.
Babies found alone.
Leave them be and watch from a distance for a day. Baby animals alone are often just waiting for a parent. Call a wildlife rehabilitator. Hurt or clearly orphaned?
Fencing that works.
- Gardens: hardware cloth beats chicken wire. - Climbers: an electric wire near the top stops raccoons. - Diggers: bury wire mesh a foot down, bent outward. - Gates: keep gaps underneath to a couple of inches.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- What will you seal with? - What happens to the animal? - How will you handle babies? - Where is it getting in? - Which animal is it? - Is cleanup included?
What affects the price
- Number of entry points that must be sealed.
- Trip fees for daily trap checks over multiple days.
- Protected bird species requiring seasonal timing.
- Warranty length on exclusion work and sealed points.
- Materials used: steel and hardware cloth over foam.
- Roof height and pitch affecting ladder or lift needs.
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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
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 Opelika
In Opelika's neighborhoods, decks, sheds and trash bins draw animals in. In Alabama, raccoons and bats carry most rabies. About 53 inches of rain a year in Opelika softens fascia and soffits, and soft wood is easy to chew through. Winter lows near 34°F in Opelika slow animals down, but don't stop them.
Local research
Wildlife in Opelika, AL: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wildlife actually live in Alabama, when they are busiest around Opelika, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Nuisance Wildlife species recorded in Alabama
- 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 Opelika
Spring denning, fall baiting. Southeast ORV projects run October; Georgia forbids relocating carnivores.
Based on Opelika’s humid subtropical climate profile.
Alabama regulation 220-2-.27 governs permits to take protected wildlife causing crop damage, property damage or a human safety concern.
Rules that apply in Alabama
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: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; 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
Raccoons wash food not to clean it but to feel it
Questions people ask
How do I get rid of a skunk under my deck?
Wait until it leaves at night. Then close the gap with buried wire mesh.
Are bird nests protected?
Most native bird nests are protected by federal law. Starlings, house sparrows and pigeons aren't.
Can the animal just be relocated?
Ask your provider. Many states, Alabama included in some cases, limit moving trapped animals. Often not.
What is included in attic cleanup?
Removing droppings and soiled insulation, then sanitizing. New insulation goes in if needed.
Does homeowners insurance cover wildlife damage?
Ask your insurer. Gradual chewing often isn't covered. Sometimes, for sudden damage.
Will the state help with nuisance wildlife?
For Opelika 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 Opelika 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 Opelika?
Mostly raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, armadillos and bats.
When are wild animal babies born in Opelika?
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