The short version
Wildlife problems in Wyoming are driven by cold. With typical winter lows near 11 degrees, raccoons, skunks and bats stop tolerating the outdoors and start testing every gap in a heated building. The fix is always the same order: identify the animal, get it out without sealing anything inside, then close the opening with metal so the next one cannot repeat the trick.
- Spring and fall are peak seasons for wildlife intrusions in Wyoming.
- Attics and chimneys are the most common entry points.
- Humane exclusion is the only permanent solution.
- Costs range from $250–$600 for removal to $1,000+ for full exclusion.
- State regulations protect many species; DIY removal may be illegal.
For Wyoming homeowners, property managers, and landlords who are dealing with or want to prevent nuisance wildlife. Whether you’re in Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, or a rural ranch, the principles are the same—but the species and regulations may differ. If you’ve heard scratching in the walls, found droppings in the attic, or noticed damage to your home’s exterior, this is your resource.
What to look for
Squirrels round it out, chewing entries at gable ends and fascia joints, especially where mature trees in older town neighborhoods reach the roof. They need almost nothing in the way of an opening, which matters in dry country where wood does not rot so much as shrink and pull away from fasteners. Bats use warm attics and wall voids in summer and can also overwinter in a building's protected spaces. Decks, sheds, porch steps and any slab edge that frost has already lifted give them a starting point, and they will widen a small void into a den over a few nights. Skunks work underneath rather than above. They are strong enough to defeat most casual repairs and smart enough to try the same building twice. Raccoons are the heavy hitters near towns and river corridors, pulling at soffit returns and roof vents once nights turn hard. The cast here is small and predictable.
- 1Scratching, scurrying, or thumping sounds in the attic or walls, especially at dawn and dusk.
- 2Droppings (scat) in the attic, near entry points, or on the ground along the foundation.
- 3Gnaw marks on wood, wires, or plastic; shredded insulation or ductwork.
- 4Strong, musty odors from urine or feces, especially with raccoons or skunks.
- 5Visible damage to soffits, fascia, roof vents, or chimney caps.
- 6Tracks or trails in dirt or snow leading to a crawlspace or under a deck.
- 7Dead animals or foul smells from a trapped animal in a wall or chimney.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Structural damage: Animals gnaw through wood, drywall, and electrical wiring, increasing fire risk.
- Health hazards: Droppings and urine can spread histoplasmosis (bats), leptospirosis (raccoons), and hantavirus (rodents).
- Secondary infestations: Untreated wildlife attract fleas, ticks, and mites that can invade your home.
- Higher costs: A simple exclusion job can turn into a $2,500+ restoration if damage worsens.
- Legal trouble: Wyoming law restricts how and when you can remove certain species; trapping without a license may be illegal.
Treatment options and typical costs
Inspection with written exclusion plan
Quoted after inspection
A full exterior and attic inspection produces a list of openings by location, the material for each, and a method for getting the animals out first. This is the step people skip and the one that determines whether the problem returns next fall. Ask for the list in writing rather than a verbal summary.
- Time
- One visit, usually an hour or two
- Best for
- Any first time attic or crawlspace intrusion
One way doors and permanent sealing
Quoted after inspection
Doors go on the active openings so animals leave to feed and cannot return, and everything else is closed with heavy mesh and flashing. The doors come off on a return visit and the last hole gets closed. This works on raccoons, squirrels and skunks with the same basic logic.
- Time
- Several days to two weeks
- Best for
- Active entries with no dependent young inside
Trapping at the entry point
Quoted after inspection
Cage traps are placed where the animal already travels. Ask how often traps are checked, what the company does with the animal, and whether that answer changes for a skunk. Vague answers about releasing animals somewhere far away are worth pressing on before work begins.
- Time
- Three to seven days
- Best for
- An animal that will not use a one way door, or a female with a litter
Attic cleanup and re-insulation
Quoted after inspection
Contaminated material is bagged and hauled out, surfaces are treated, and new insulation is blown in to depth. In a climate this cold the insulation part is not cosmetic, so ask what R value goes back in and whether the price includes bringing the attic up to current depth.
- Time
- One to two days
- Best for
- Attics used through a full winter or longer
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.Understanding Wyoming Wildlife Laws and Protected Species.
Always verify that your service provider carries the required licenses and liability insurance. Attempting DIY removal without understanding local regulations can result in fines. Professional wildlife control operators are licensed by the state and trained to handle all species legally. Opossums are not native to Wyoming but have been introduced; they are not protected but still require humane treatment. Bats are protected; it is illegal to kill them or exclude them during maternity season (May 1–July 31) in most areas. Many common nuisance species, like raccoons and skunks, are classified as furbearers and may be trapped only during specific seasons or with a permit. Wyoming’s wildlife is managed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
wildlife activity by season.
Scheduling before the busy stretch, rather than after it, tends to mean faster service and a more accurate quote, and a local provider can point out the conditions that matter most in Wyoming. In Wyoming, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure usually turns up the conditions that are letting them in. The most useful first step in Wyoming is to note where you have seen wildlife and when they appear, because that timeline is what lets a provider focus on the right area instead of treating the whole property.
Walk the foundation with a flashlight. Gaps at ground level let animals under the house.The Science of Humane Exclusion: Why Trapping Alone Fails.
In Wyoming’s climate, where animals desperately seek warmth in winter, exclusion is the only sustainable solution. This method is more effective than trapping because it removes entire families (including young that might be hidden) and prevents future intrusions. After a few days, the doors are removed and the hole is permanently sealed. One-way doors are placed over entry points; animals push out but cannot push back in. Humane exclusion uses a combination of one-way doors, eviction fluids (for raccoons), and physical sealing to ensure animals leave and cannot return. Wildlife operates on the principle of the 'vacuum effect': if you remove an animal without sealing the entry point, another will soon move in to claim the territory. In reality, trapping is only half the job. Many homeowners assume that trapping and removing an animal solves the problem.
Common Entry Points and How to Inspect Them.
A thorough inspection takes 30–60 minutes and is offered free by our company. Professionals use ladders and inspection cameras to find hidden entries. Listen for scratching at dawn and dusk. Use a flashlight at night to look for light shining through gaps. Also check: gaps where utility lines enter the house, loose or missing weatherstripping under doors, and rotted wood around windows. The most common entry points are: roof vents (plastic or metal covers that can be pried open), soffit intersections (especially where rooflines change angle), chimney crowns (unprotected tops), and crawlspace vents (often missing screens). Freeze-thaw cycles can loosen siding and create gaps. Wyoming homes face unique challenges due to extreme weather.
Health Risks from Wildlife Intrusion: What You Need to Know.
Instead, call a professional for safe cleanup and disinfection. If you find droppings, do not sweep or vacuum—this aerosolizes pathogens. These parasites can bite humans and pets, spreading diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Additionally, wildlife often bring fleas, ticks, and mites into your home. Squirrels and rodents can carry hantavirus, which is transmitted through urine and droppings. Skunk spray, while not toxic, can cause nausea and temporary blindness if it gets in eyes. Bat guano (droppings) can harbor histoplasma capsulatum, a fungus that causes histoplasmosis, a lung infection. Raccoon droppings can contain raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris), which is dangerous to humans, especially children. Wildlife in your home is more than a nuisance—it’s a health hazard.
Seasonal Wildlife Behavior in Wyoming: When to Act.
A professional can advise the best time for your specific situation. Timing matters: exclusion must be done before maternity season for bats, and trapping is most effective in early spring before young are born. If you hear noises in winter, it likely means an established infestation. Winter (December–March) is quieter, but animals already inside remain active. Bats enter hibernation in late fall, so fall exclusion is critical to prevent them from overwintering. Fall (September–November) is a second peak: animals that failed to find natural dens try to get into homes before snow. By summer (July–August), young are growing and become noisy—homeowners often first notice sounds then. This is peak time for raccoons and squirrels to enter attics. In spring (April–June), pregnant females seek safe, warm dens. Wyoming’s wildlife patterns are driven by harsh winters and short summers.
What affects the price
- Species: Raccoons and bats typically cost more to remove than squirrels or opossums.
- Infestation size: A single animal is cheaper than a colony.
- Location: Attic access is easier than wall voids or crawlspaces, affecting labor time.
- Damage: Significant repair needs (insulation, wiring, drywall) increase costs.
- Time of year: Spring and fall are busiest, sometimes with premium pricing.
- Local regulations: Some Wyoming counties require specific permits or methods.
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What is the most common wildlife issue you face in Wyoming?
When to call for help
Bring in a company when the noise is inside a wall rather than the open attic, when you suspect young are present in spring, when a skunk is denned under an occupied structure, or when the entry is on a steep or icy roof. Winter roof work in this state is genuinely dangerous and not worth a Saturday attempt. Get medical advice the same day if a bat was in a room with someone sleeping, with a young child, or with anyone unable to say clearly whether contact happened. The bite can be too small to feel, and a bat that is captured rather than released can usually be tested, which settles the question fast.
What you can do yourself
In a dry, cold climate an animal shut in a wall does not decompose quickly, and the resulting job involves drywall, insulation and a smell that follows the heating season around the house. One mistake outranks all others: sealing a hole while something is still inside. A trap bought at a farm store catches whatever walks in, which in this state often means the animal you least wanted to be holding. Skunks are a rabies carrier and a spray risk, raccoons are strong and defensive around young, and bats carry both legal protection and a real health question. The removal half usually is not. Screening vents with quarter inch hardware cloth, capping the chimney, skirting a deck, trimming branches back from the roof and sealing gaps at the eave line are all within reach of a homeowner with a ladder and a drill. The prevention half is honest do it yourself territory.
Where you live matters
The state’s long, cold season means animals that breach your home in fall will stay until spring, causing months of damage. Regardless of location, all Wyoming homeowners should prioritize exclusion before winter. Elevation also plays a role: homes at higher elevations (above 6,000 feet) are more likely to have bat colonies due to cooler attic temperatures that mimic caves. The mountainous regions near Jackson and Cody see occasional black bear intrusions, though these are less frequent and require specialized handling. In the central and western parts of the state—Casper, Riverton, Rock Springs—skunks and bats are more common, drawn to crawlspaces and outbuildings. In the southeastern corner, around Cheyenne and Laramie, raccoons and squirrels are the top nuisance animals, thanks to urban green spaces and older homes with accessible attics. Wyoming’s wildlife control needs vary by region.
Simple ways to keep wildlife away
- Cap the chimney with a screened stainless cap, since raccoons treat an open flue as a den entrance.
- Skirt decks and sheds with hardware cloth buried and bent outward to defeat skunk digging.
- Replace shrunken trim boards and gap filled fascia rather than caulking joints that keep moving.
- Screen every gable, soffit and foundation vent with metal mesh instead of fiberglass screen.
- Trim limbs several feet back from the roof line in older neighborhoods with mature trees.
- Store feed, seed and pet food in metal containers inside a closed building through winter.
- Grade and backfill where frost has pulled soil away from foundations and slab edges.
- Do the exterior walk in late summer, well before the cold push starts in earnest.
Ask which animal it is, how babies will be handled, and whether sealing and cleanup are included.Did you know?
Opossums are largely immune to most snake venom and eat thousands of ticks per season, making them beneficial in small numbers.
Squirrels plant thousands of trees a year by forgetting where they bury nuts, contributing to forest regeneration.
Raccoons have extremely dexterous front paws with four to five times more sensory receptors than human hands, allowing them to open latches and jars.
Questions people ask
What does wildlife control cost in Wyoming?
Typical removal costs $250–$600 per animal. Full exclusion and repair ranges from $800 to $2,500, depending on the extent of damage and number of entry points.
Can I remove wildlife myself in Wyoming?
It depends on the species. Raccoons and skunks are furbearers and may only be trapped in season with a license. Bats are protected year-round. Most homeowners lack the equipment and knowledge to do it safely and legally. We recommend hiring a licensed professional.
How do I know if I have bats in my attic?
Signs include small piles of guano (droppings) that resemble mouse droppings but crumble easily, a strong ammonia smell, and squeaking or scratching sounds at dusk and dawn. Bats exit at dusk; if you see them flying out, you have a colony.
What should I do if I find a baby squirrel or raccoon?
Do not touch it. The mother is likely nearby and will retrieve it. If the animal is injured or the mother does not return within 24 hours, call a wildlife rehabilitator. In Wyoming, contact the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for a list of permitted rehabilitators.
How long does wildlife exclusion take?
Exclusion itself takes 1–3 days of hands-on work. However, the process of evicting animals using one-way doors usually takes 1–2 weeks to ensure all animals have left. A follow-up visit seals the final entry points.
Does homeowners insurance cover wildlife damage?
Most standard policies do not cover damage from pests or wildlife. Some may cover sudden damage (e.g., a raccoon tearing through a roof), but gradual damage from nesting is typically excluded. Check your policy and consider adding a rider if you live in a high-risk area.
What do homeowners actually do about wildlife in the yard?
In Wyoming, nuisance wildlife is usually removed by trapping, then the entry points are sealed so the next animal cannot move into the same spot. In Wyoming, 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.
Sources (16)
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