The short version
Around Santa Fe, 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 Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe, the usual animals are raccoons, squirrels, skunks, pack rats, rock squirrels, javelina 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
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
Humane Live Trapping and Removal
$150–$500 per animal, plus trip fees
Trapping is used when a door won't work. Ask how many visits are included.
- Time
- Several days to two weeks
- Best for
- Animals already inside or denning under structures
One-Way Doors and Eviction
$200–$600
Timing matters in Santa Fe: eviction doors are not used during birthing season if young are present, because the mother leaves and the babies cannot. A provider should confirm no litter is inside before installing one.
- Time
- 3–7 days
- Best for
- Squirrels, raccoons, and birds using a single main entry
Exclusion Repairs (Chimney Caps, Vent Screens, Foundation Mesh)
$300–$2,500+ depending on scope
Chimney caps are the single most common exclusion repair in Santa Fe: an uncapped flue is an open invitation to raccoons, squirrels, and chimney swifts. A stainless spark-screen cap solves it in an hour.
- 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 Santa Fe.
Around Santa Fe, the most common animals are raccoons, squirrels, skunks, pack rats, rock squirrels, javelina and bats. In the desert around Santa Fe, pack rats and rock squirrels are as common as raccoons.
Local wildlife conditions in Santa Fe.
Knowing Santa Fe'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 Santa Fe and New Mexico 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. Santa Fe sits in a semi-arid climate, and that sets the pace for wildlife activity here: spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). In Santa Fe, 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 Santa Fe usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first.
Walk the foundation with a flashlight. Gaps at ground level let animals under the house.What’s that noise?
- Heavy thumps at night: raccoons. - Rustling at dusk at the roof edge: bats. - A strong smell under the deck: skunks. - Quick scurrying at dawn and dusk: squirrels.
Baby season.
Around Santa Fe, 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 Santa Fe.
- Summer: highs near 87°F in Santa Fe. Animals roam at night. - Fall: animals hunt for winter dens. Seal gaps now. - Winter: lows near 18°F in Santa Fe. Animals den up in attics. - Spring: babies are born from about April through June. Don't seal while young are inside.
Raccoons.
Never handle one. Heavy thumps at night usually mean a raccoon. They tear open vents and roof edges.
Rock squirrels and ground squirrels.
Rock squirrels dig under patios and walls. Some climb into attics and block walls.
Skunks.
Skunks den under decks, sheds and porches. A strong smell after dark is the giveaway.
Pack rats.
Pack rats build big stick nests in yards and engine bays. Clear brush piles and check parked cars.
Javelina.
Javelina root through gardens and trash at dusk. Don't feed them, and keep dogs away from them.
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.
- 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. - Identify: figure out which animal it is.
Where animals get in.
- Gaps where the roof meets the wall. - Uncapped chimneys. - Crawl-space doors and foundation vents. - Under decks, porches and sheds. - Roof vents and soffit corners.
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.
- Wear gloves, a mask and old clothes. - Wet droppings down, then bag them. - Large attic messes are a job for pros. - Don’t sweep or vacuum droppings dry.
Keeping your yard less inviting.
- 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. - Trash: locking lids, or keep bins in the garage.
Wildlife myths.
- 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. - Out in daylight means rabid: not always; mothers forage by day.
Birds in vents and chimneys.
Wait until the young have flown. Then fit a vent cover that still lets air out. Starlings and sparrows love dryer and bath vents. Most native birds are protected while nesting.
If an animal seems sick.
animal control or your local health department. Don't try to trap or touch it. Staggering, circling or acting unafraid can mean illness. Keep people and pets inside.
Pets and wildlife.
your vet if your pet tangles with a wild animal. Keep pets' rabies shots up to date. Bring pets in at night.
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.
- 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. - People and pets: wash with peroxide, baking soda and dish soap.
Babies found alone.
Hurt or clearly orphaned? Call a wildlife rehabilitator. Baby animals alone are often just waiting for a parent. Leave them be and watch from a distance for a day.
Fencing that works.
- Climbers: an electric wire near the top stops raccoons. - Gardens: hardware cloth beats chicken wire. - Gates: keep gaps underneath to a couple of inches. - Diggers: bury wire mesh a foot down, bent outward.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- Where is it getting in? - How will you handle babies? - What happens to the animal? - What will you seal with? - Is cleanup included? - Which animal is it?
What affects the price
- Chimney cap size and whether a flue liner is needed.
- Length of deck or shed perimeter needing buried mesh.
- Protected bird species requiring seasonal timing.
- Number of animals, since trapping is priced per animal.
- Presence of a raccoon latrine requiring special cleanup.
- Square feet of insulation removed and replaced.
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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
Never corner or handle one. Secure trash, bring in pet food and trim branches. Getting an animal out of the house is a pro's job.
Wildlife in Santa Fe
In New Mexico, foxes, skunks and bats carry most rabies cases. In Santa Fe, animals live comfortably in town, using alleys, storm drains and older buildings. Winter lows near 18°F in Santa Fe send animals into attics and crawl spaces in fall. With only about 14 inches of rain a year in Santa Fe, animals go looking for water near homes.
Local research
Wildlife in Santa Fe, NM: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wildlife actually live in New Mexico, when they are busiest around Santa Fe, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
When wildlife are busiest around Santa Fe
April skunk peak, October bat peak. Texas 2024 monthly peaks were driven by skunks in April and bats in October.
Based on Santa Fe’s semi-arid 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?
Starlings were introduced to North America in 1890 in Central Park
A raccoon's mask likely reduces glare and improves night vision
Questions people ask
What if there are babies in the attic?
Around Santa Fe, babies are usually born from about April through June. A pro finds them and reunites them with the mother.
Can the animal just be relocated?
Many states, New Mexico included in some cases, limit moving trapped animals. Ask your provider. Often not.
Does homeowners insurance cover wildlife damage?
Gradual chewing often isn't covered. Ask your insurer. Sometimes, for sudden damage.
Are bird nests protected?
Most native bird nests are protected by federal law. Starlings, house sparrows and pigeons aren't.
What season is worst for wildlife problems?
Spring babies and fall den-hunting are busiest around Santa Fe.
Which animals are most common around Santa Fe?
Mostly raccoons, squirrels, skunks, pack rats, rock squirrels, javelina and bats.
When are wild animal babies born in Santa Fe?
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