How much does wildlife removal cost in Virginia?

Wildlife removal in Virginia is priced job by job, and the homeowner pays for it. The bill depends on what animal it is, the time of year, how many ways in need sealing, how many visits trapping takes, and whether the quote includes cleanup and repairs. The way to know your price is a written quote, ideally three, that lists each of those parts separately.

Who pays

In Virginia, wildlife belongs to all citizens of the Commonwealth, and when removal is wanted, it is up to the homeowner to seek help and pay for it.^[1] Local animal control agencies may take nuisance wildlife calls at the discretion of local government, but most only have the staff for dogs and cats.^[1]

Advice is a phone call away. Fairfax County's wildlife page notes that the Virginia Wildlife Conflict Helpline, run by the Department of Wildlife Resources and USDA Wildlife Services, is toll-free at (855) 571-9003, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.^[2] A call can tell you whether you need a professional at all.

What the price is made of

Most wildlife jobs are several services bundled together. A quote should say which ones it covers:

• Inspection. Identifying the animal and finding every entry point. Some companies charge for it, some credit it against the job.
• Removal. One-way exits, live traps, or both, plus the visits to check them.
• Exclusion repairs. Sealing gaps, screening vents, capping the chimney, replacing chewed soffit or fascia.
• Cleanup. Removing droppings, nesting and soiled insulation, and sanitizing.
• Follow-up. A return visit, and any warranty on the sealed openings.

Visits drive a lot of the labour. Traps must be visited once each day and every animal caught removed.^[4] A permit holder can hold a live animal no more than 48 hours after it leaves the trap, transport included.^[3] So a trapping job usually means a daily trip until the animals are caught, and that adds up. Exclusion takes time too: one-way bat exits typically stay up 5 to 7 nights in warmer weather and longer in cold or bad weather.^[5]

What pushes the price up

Bats. DWR's permit conditions bar excluding or removing bats from May 1 to August 15, the maternity season, unless no young bats are present or there is a threat to human health or safety.^[3] A summer bat call may become an inspection now and an exclusion in late summer or fall. Bat-proofing also means sealing small gaps: the health department's guidance is to seal exits larger than a quarter-inch by half-inch once the bats are gone.^[5]

Young animals. In Fairfax County, raccoon young are born in April and May and often den with their mother through the first winter.^[6] Finding and removing a litter takes more time than a single adult.

Many entry points, high up. A house with gaps at several rooflines costs more to seal than one hole in a crawl space vent, and work at the roof edge needs ladders, lifts and roof-safe crews.

Heavy droppings. The Virginia Department of Health says an area with bird or bat droppings should be cleaned by a company that specializes in removal of hazardous waste.^[7] Where insulation is soaked or a latrine has built up, cleanup becomes a large part of the job.

Chemicals. Pesticide work is licensed separately. A Virginia pesticide business license is required for anyone who, for pay, applies or recommends pesticides, and it requires a certificate of insurance and a certified applicator on staff.^[8]

What a cheap quote may leave out

A low number often means trapping with no sealing, so the next animal walks in through the same hole. It may also skip the search for young, or the cleanup. Ask what happens to the animal. As a general rule, it is illegal in Virginia to trap and relocate an animal to another area.^[9] The permit allows release off site only for nuisance squirrels trapped where firearms cannot be lawfully discharged, on other property with that landowner's permission, and for snakes under set conditions.^[3] A company that promises to let a raccoon go in the woods is not following the rules.

Insurance is another quiet difference. DWR recommends that permit holders carry adequate liability insurance.^[3] Ask each company for proof of its coverage before work starts.

Getting quotes you can compare

The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation advises getting at least three written bids based on the same specifications, not automatically taking the lowest, and being wary of any bid substantially lower than the others.^[10] Its rule of thumb for a deposit is no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less.^[10] For more on deposits, read how much deposit a contractor can ask for in Virginia.

Ask each company to break its quote into inspection, removal, repairs, cleanup and warranty, with the number of visits included and the price of extra ones. Ask what the warranty covers if an animal gets back in, and for how long.

When to call a licensed pro

Call a permitted wildlife control operator once you know an animal is inside the house, and get the repairs done by someone licensed for them. Virginia's definition of a contractor covers repair or improvement of a building, including cleanup of contaminants, and a Class C licence covers single jobs over $1,000 but less than $30,000.^[11] Residential contracting needs a legible written contract, signed by both sides before work starts or payment is taken.^[12] You can check a contractor's licence before you sign.

To see what the work involves, read how wildlife removal companies get animals out of an attic. Browse wildlife removal businesses, find pest control businesses in Blacksburg, or read more pest control answers.

Describe your wildlife problem once and local businesses can send written quotes you can compare.