The short version
Around Urbandale, 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 Urbandale dealing with wild animals around the house.
What to look for
Around Urbandale, 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 Urbandale because a mother with young changes the whole plan. Sealing a raccoon out while her kits remain inside in Urbandale 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
Exclusion Repairs (Chimney Caps, Vent Screens, Foundation Mesh)
$300–$2,500+ depending on scope
Exclusion is the part of an Urbandale 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 Urbandale animals out for years.
- Time
- Half a day to two days
- Best for
- Sealing the home after animals are out
Attic Cleanup, Sanitation, and Follow-Up
$500–$3,000+ depending on insulation removed
A follow-up visit a few weeks after exclusion is standard practice in Urbandale. Each sealed spot is checked for new damage.
- Time
- 1–2 days
- Best for
- Soiled insulation, droppings, odors, and re-checks
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 Urbandale.
Homes from Urbandale out to West Des Moines and Des Moines see much the same mix. Groundhogs are common here, and they're behind many holes under sheds in Urbandale. Around Urbandale, the most common animals are raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, groundhogs and bats.
Local wildlife conditions in Urbandale.
An inspection in Urbandale usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Urbandale'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 Urbandale and Iowa 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. Urbandale sits in a humid continental climate, and that sets the pace for wildlife activity here: spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). For Urbandale 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.
Brush, mulch and fallen fruit near the house give animals cover and food. Keep the edges tidy.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. - A big burrow beside the shed: groundhogs.
Baby season.
Never seal a hole while babies are still inside. Bat exclusion waits until pups can fly, usually by mid-August. Around Urbandale, most babies are born from about April through June. Mothers look for warm, dry spots like attics and chimneys.
A year of wildlife in Urbandale.
- Fall: animals hunt for winter dens. Seal gaps now. - Summer: highs near 85°F in Urbandale. Animals roam at night. - Spring: babies are born from about April through June. Don't seal while young are inside. - Winter: lows near 14°F in Urbandale. Animals den up in attics.
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.
Groundhogs.
Groundhogs dig big burrows beside sheds, decks and foundations. Around Urbandale, 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.
- 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
- Length of deck or shed perimeter needing buried mesh.
- Number of entry points that must be sealed.
- Number of animals, since trapping is priced per animal.
- Square feet of insulation removed and replaced.
- Warranty length on exclusion work and sealed points.
- Follow-up visits included in the quoted price.
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What worries you most about wildlife?
When to call for help
Babies and droppings need careful handling. right away if one acts sick or aggressive. 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 Urbandale
An inspection in Urbandale that starts outside and works inward usually finds the entry points, moisture, and shelter that matter most before anyone treats. Urbandale has a humid continental climate, and wildlife activity here tends to follow spring denning and fall (animals seek winter shelter). In Urbandale's neighborhoods, decks, sheds and trash bins draw animals in. In Iowa, skunks and bats carry most rabies. Winter lows near 14°F in Urbandale send animals into attics and crawl spaces in fall.
Local research
Wildlife in Urbandale, IA: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wildlife actually live in Iowa, when they are busiest around Urbandale, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
When wildlife are busiest around Urbandale
Fall/winter den-seeking; June-July bat blackout. Upper Midwest: bats and skunks are the reservoirs; raccoon rabies absent.
Based on Urbandale’s humid 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?
A raccoon's mask likely reduces glare and improves night vision
A gray squirrel can rotate its ankles to descend headfirst
Questions people ask
What animal is in my attic?
Quick scurrying at dawn: squirrels. Rustling at dusk: bats.
Can the animal just be relocated?
Ask your provider. Many states, Iowa included in some cases, limit moving trapped animals. Often not.
Does homeowners insurance cover wildlife damage?
Ask your insurer. Gradual chewing often isn't covered. Sometimes, for sudden damage.
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.
Will the animals come back?
Others will try. Sealing every gap with metal is what keeps them out.
Can my neighbor feeding wildlife cause problems at my house?
For Urbandale 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 Urbandale 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 Urbandale?
Mostly raccoons, squirrels, opossums, skunks, groundhogs and bats.
When are wild animal babies born in Urbandale?
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