Pest Exterminators in Carteret, NJ

A Carteret homeowner in Middlesex County contacted Cowleys pest control division to handle what she believed was a mouse problem in her attic. She had never actually seen any rodents. However, she had heard noises coming from up above, and had found droppings throughout the attic. So, there was definitely a wildlife infestation of some sort. The issue was the type of pest since different wildlife are handled in different ways.

Upon inspection, I observed a serious problem that required immediate resolution — there was a tremendous amount of damage to the electrical wiring, which is a serious fire hazard. A good percentage of fires are caused by damage from rodents. Why? All rodents must constantly gnaw in order to “shave down” their ever-growing teeth, and they will chew virtually anything, including electrical wires. Also, the animals bring in leaves and other nesting materials that can be ignited from wires stripped of their insulation. I informed the homeowner that an electrician needed to repair this damaged wiring immediately.

After a full interior and exterior inspection, I concluded that she has or had a rodent infestation in her attic But it wasn’t mice! Rather, the troublemakers were one or more squirrels. How could I know without actually observing the wildlife? Just like a picture is worth a thousand words, so are animal droppings. Animal droppings are distinctive. For example, a house mouse makes droppings in the shape of pellets that, to me, look like a seed. Their brown or black deposits are small,anywhere from 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, and one or both ends tapered (pointed). Squirrel deposits are not only a bit larger, about 3/8 inches, and they are cylindrical with round edges. Also, they have a light color, either light brown or a rusty/reddish color. For those experienced in rodent dropping identification, squirrel droppings have a distinct smell and appearance. 

Cowleys operates a specialized nuisance wildlife division dedicated to safely trapping and relocating squirrels, raccoons, bats, skunks, and other invading wildlife. We also find the access points and set up exclusions to prevent re-infestations. Also, because animal droppings are a biohazard, we perform sanitation and deodorization services. 

I immediately arranged for one of our wildlife technicians to inspect this homeowner’s attic to determine whether there was an active infestation that required trapping. Also, the technician would be able to determine how the squirrels were gaining access to the attic in order to make the appropriate exclusions. Finally, the attic needed to be sanitized and deodorized to remove the pungent smells. As mentioned, an electrician was also needed to replace the destroyed wiring.