The short version
Around Silver Spring, 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 Silver Spring 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 March through June. Around Silver Spring, 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
Expect the roof to be checked from a ladder. Roof returns, gable vents, chimney flues, and soffit gaps are where most Silver Spring 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
Exclusion Repairs (Chimney Caps, Vent Screens, Foundation Mesh)
$300–$2,500+ depending on scope
Sealing work often comes with a warranty of a year or more; ask that it cover chimney caps and vent screens, the Silver Spring points most often reopened. Ask what it covers; the repair is the real value.
- Time
- Half a day to two days
- Best for
- Sealing the home after animals are out
One-Way Doors and Eviction
$200–$600
In Silver Spring, 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.
Crawl spaces are a favorite den. Check the vent screens and the access door.Animals around Silver Spring.
Homes from Silver Spring out to Bethesda and Rockville see much the same mix. Groundhogs are common here, and they're behind many holes under sheds in Silver Spring. Around Silver Spring, the most common animals are raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, groundhogs and bats.
Local wildlife conditions in Silver Spring.
Knowing Silver Spring'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 Silver Spring and Maryland 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. Silver Spring sits in a humid subtropical climate, and that sets the pace for wildlife activity here: spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). In Silver Spring, 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 Silver Spring usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first.
Brush, mulch and fallen fruit near the house give animals cover and food. Keep the edges tidy.What’s that noise?
- Heavy thumps at night: raccoons. - 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.
Baby season.
Around Silver Spring, most babies are born from about March 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 Silver Spring.
- Summer: highs near 86°F in Silver Spring. Animals roam at night. - Fall: animals hunt for winter dens. Seal gaps now. - Winter: lows near 27°F in Silver Spring. Animals den up in attics. - Spring: babies are born from about March 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.
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 Silver Spring, 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.
- 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.
Starlings and sparrows love dryer and bath vents. Most native birds are protected while nesting. 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.
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
- Whether young are present and need hand removal.
- Materials used: steel and hardware cloth over foam.
- Roof height and pitch affecting ladder or lift needs.
- Number of animals, since trapping is priced per animal.
- Chimney cap size and whether a flue liner is needed.
- 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. Call if an animal is in the attic, walls or chimney. Babies and droppings need careful handling.
What you can do yourself
Getting an animal out of the house is a pro's job. Never corner or handle one. Secure trash, bring in pet food and trim branches.
Wildlife in Silver Spring
In Silver Spring, animals live comfortably in town, using alleys, storm drains and older buildings. Silver Spring has a humid subtropical climate, and wildlife activity here tends to follow spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). An inspection in Silver Spring that starts outside and works inward usually finds the entry points, moisture, and shelter that matter most before anyone treats. Winter lows near 27°F in Silver Spring send animals into attics and crawl spaces in fall. In Maryland, raccoons and bats carry most rabies.
Local research
Wildlife in Silver Spring, MD: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wildlife actually live in Maryland, when they are busiest around Silver Spring, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Rabies vector species
Raccoon, skunk and fox: released on site (first listed disposition).
Maryland DNRReptile/amphibian release radius
Other wildlife may be moved within the same or adjacent county with written permission.
Maryland DNRNuisance Wildlife species recorded in Maryland
- 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.
- Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) — Furbearer in Illinois; rarely rabid; handled under general nuisance rules.
- Gray fox / red fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus / Vulpes vulpes) — Rabies vector species in MD and PA; Texas bans transport of live foxes.
When wildlife are busiest around Silver Spring
April-August denning; May-July bat blackout. Mid-Atlantic and Southeast NWCO rules require on-site release or euthanasia of vector species.
Based on Silver Spring’s humid subtropical climate profile.
Rules that apply in Maryland
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: Maryland Department of Natural Resources; COMAR 08.03.15 Wildlife Damage Control Operator regulations; 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?
Opossums play dead involuntarily; the response is a fainting reflex
A gray squirrel can rotate its ankles to descend headfirst
Questions people ask
How do I choose a wildlife company?
Look for someone licensed for wildlife work in Maryland. Ask how they handle babies and what they seal with.
What animal is in my attic?
Quick scurrying at dawn: squirrels. Rustling at dusk: bats.
What if there are babies in the attic?
Around Silver Spring, babies are usually born from about March through June. A pro finds them and reunites them with the mother.
Does homeowners insurance cover wildlife damage?
Gradual chewing often isn't covered. Ask your insurer. Sometimes, for sudden damage.
How long does wildlife removal take?
Usually a few days to two weeks, including sealing.
Which animals are most common around Silver Spring?
Mostly raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, groundhogs and bats.
When are wild animal babies born in Silver Spring?
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