805-308-9663 We run a professional wildlife removal business operating in Goleta, California. We service the whole Santa Barbara County metropolitan area, and do much of our work in Goleta. We are a full-service Goleta animal trapping and removal company. We specialize in wildlife only, and are not like a regular Goleta pest control company or Goleta exterminator. We use humane methods to solve wild animal problems in California. We solve the root of the problem, by performing home repairs to keep animals out, and preventative measures in addition to critter trapping and removal. We offer a variety of services, from animal damage repair to waste cleanup, dead animal removal and odor control, and more. We handle several nuisance wildlife species, including squirrels, raccoons, snakes, skunks, and opossums. We also perform bat removal and bird control services, and rodent control, including poison-free mouse and rat removal. Give us a call any time at 805-308-9663 to discuss your Goleta animal control issue, and to schedule a fast appointment.



Goleta wildlife control tip of the month: What is the best bait to trap a wild animal?

If you have a Goleta animal control rodent problem already, you are unlikely to have to use a spectacular bait. The animal has probably already been attracted to your garbage, pet food, bird seed or nectar, so tempting it with something a bit tastier in a nearby vicinity will often do the trick. Find the animal's trail or entry point if you can, or set your trap near what you suspect is luring the animal in the first place. Depending on the animal, certain household staples will do just fine for bait.

In the Goleta pest control case of rodents like mice or rats, many people automatically associate cheese with an obvious form of bait. The problem with cheese is that if you are using a mouse or rat trap, many rodents have adapted to understand the danger of these contraptions and are capable of removing the cheese with no issue. For this reason, peanut butter is one of the most effective lures.

For one, peanut butter is full of protein and sugar and is a favorite staple in most scavenging Goleta wildlife removal animals' diets. Many people put peanut butter on pinecones, roll them in birdseed, and hang them from trees to even attract birds to their yards. Peanut butter is a universally effective bait both in its irresistibly nutrient and sugar-dense content, but also because it is sticky. If you have the unfortunate task of having to set out mouse traps, mice can't run off with the peanut butter like they can the cheese. Its texture makes peanut butter one of the most effective baits.

That being said, other household baits include anything protein rich and not highly spiced. Bacon, or other salted cheap meats will help to attract rats or possums, and you can get creative with nesting materials, though this is less likely to attract the animal by smell and is more likely to aid them in nesting under, near, or around your house.

If you wish to go the professional route, there are other baits you can use to lure wild animals into traps. Hormone emitters send out signals to activate the mating instincts of certain critters only to lure them into a trap. You can use pesticide pellets, but the results are uncontrollable and sometimes widely devastating. For instance, putting rat poison around a house can sometimes also attract domestic pets and presents a danger to children who might be playing in the area. If you use pesticide pellets, the poisoned animals may die in a place that is not immediately accessible and the rotting corpse will stink up your house for up to two weeks until it has decomposed.

A more widespread issue with Goleta animal trapping pesticides is the environmental factor. Poisoned animals can inadvertently poison animals higher on the food chain, thus disrupting the ecosystem of your immediate environment. If you live in a place that rains a lot, pesticides can get washed into unintended places like your local water supply.

Short of using hormone transmitters or simple peanut butter as Goleta exterminator bait, you can call your local animal control expert for advice.

To learn more about our Goleta pest animal removal services, visit the Santa Barbara County animal trapping and removal home page or give us a call at 805-308-9663.