THE CRITTERS
BEAVER
The beaver is the largest rodent in North America, typically weighing 35 – 50lbs, but can reach weights of 85 lbs or more. They can do extensive damage to landowner trees and cause severe flooding where their numbers are left unchecked. Beaver fur prices have dropped dramatically over the past several years and as a result their numbers have grown and they have become one of the more common wildlife nuisance complaints.
BEAVER REMOVAL
Mac’s uses conventional trapping methods for beaver removal. The beavers are euthanized and removed by us. We do not provide exclusion for beavers, as we believe it does not work. Tear down a dam and it will be rebuilt by morning. Bust up a lodge and it’s rebuilt in a few days. Fence around your prize trees and they’ll just find others to cut down. But you as the customer can decide the extent of the work that you wish us to provide. Complete removal of the beaver is required and can take one to several days. Our fees are typically setup fee and per animal fees.
Note: For us to legally trap and remove beaver from your property, you must contact the local DEC office and tell them your beaver problems. If they feel it meets requirements for removal, they will issue you a permit – which you will then need to have us sign as your agents – before we can legally do this work.
Muskrat
The muskrat is a small aquatic rodent averaging about 2.5 lbs. They spend their lives in the water burrowing into banks or building huts from aquatic vegetation such as cattails. They can cause damage to dams, pond embankments, boat docks and houses, and cause serious erosion with their extensive burrowing and prolific breeding. Many folks with ponds see their banks start to fall or erode into the water and weaken the supporting embankment.
MUSKRAT REMOVAL
Conventional trapping methods are used to remove, fees are setup and per animal, or can be quoted as a total job. Fees may be waived during the NYS trapping season dependent upon fur prices.
Raccoon
Raccoons, or the “masked bandit”, is a powerful animal with an uncanny ability to figure things out and make the best of a convenient location to rear it’s young, usually under your porch, in your attic, chimney, garage, or barn. They can also do extensive crop damage and are a rabies vector species and known for passing on raccoon roundworm. Typical weight is 12 to 36 lbs. They are prolific breeders and have few enemies to keep them in check. Trapping and hunting are the only methods and when fur prices are low that ceases to be effective.
RACCOON REMOVAL
Our preferred method of removal is cage traps, but we can use conventional trapping methods and euthanizing if requested. In some cases those methods may have to be used if we have a sick coon, by direction by the DEC or Health Department, or there is no other possible way of removal. Typically the raccoon can be released on your property if exclusion is done immediately, or as NWCO’s we can transfer the animal to a location that will prevent its return to your home. Our fees are typically setup fee, per animal fee, and exclusion fees if required.
SKUNK
Skunks are mainly known for their pungent odor, but can cause damage to lawns by digging for grubs. They only average around 6-8lbs, but their heavily furred tail makes them look much larger. They are docile, but should never be approached. When they burrow under your shed or porch they can be odorous, and they will conflict with your pets once they are set up.
SKUNK REMOVAL
We use cage traps to remove your skunks and use methods to prevent them spraying while we remove. At times disposition of the skunk is at direction of the Health Department or the DEC as they are a rabies vector animal. Fees are setup, per animal fees, and exclusion fees if required.
Squirrel
Gray, Fox, and Flying Squirrels can all pose issues for the landowner. Sometimes its just destroying plants and digging bulbs, other times it is entry into your home through a difficult to find opening. They will rear their young in these areas and there is always the hazard of them chewing your electrical wires once they find their way in. A baseball size opening will work for the gray and fox squirrel, a quarter size opening for the flying squirrel.
SQUIRREL REMOVAL
We use cage traps and at times conventional methods to remove. We will continue to remove until we are assured we have them all then do the exclusion work to prevent re-entry. Fees are setup, per animal, and exclusion fees if required.
Chipmunk
Only weighing around 5 ounces, they can do damage to flowers and seedlings, bulbs, and are known for chewing the tube lines of maple syrup collection systems. Like squirrels, they will find their way into your home if there is opportunity.
CHIPMUNK REMOVAL
We use cage traps and at times conventional methods to remove. We will continue to remove until we are assured we have them all then do the exclusion work to prevent re-entry. Fees are setup, per animal, and exclusion fees if required.
Opossum
OPOSSUM REMOVAL
Same methods that are used for skunk and raccoon. Fees are setup, per animal, and exclusion fees if required.
Woodchuck
WOODCHUCK REMOVAL
We will use cage traps where appropriate or conventional trapping methods if required. Fees are setup, per animal, and exclusion fees if required.
Coyote
Wiley has been getting plenty of press these days due to their conflicts with pets, mainly small dogs and housecats. They can also be rough on calving livestock, fowl, and in some cases have shown an interest in people – but that is infrequent. Those with deer plots and those that manage their land for deer know their pressure on fawns. They also carry Parvo, Distemper, and Mange. They average 35 – 45 lbs, and have strong physical endurance. Even with strong trapping and hunting pressure across the state they seem to be increasing in numbers.
COYOTE REMOVAL
For us to be able to legally trap and remove the coyote it must be causing physical damage to your property or is being a threat to you or your family or pets. Outside of that you will need a special permit from the DEC. Just because you see them at times and don’t like them around does not mean we can legally remove them unless permitted by DEC. However, if it is during the NYS trapping seasons we can remove or help to thin the population on your property for such reasons. This season runs 10/25 through 2/14, and we can certainly work something out on price as we will retain the value of the fur. In some cases there may be no charge, only granted access to your land. Fees are negotiable.
Fox
The sly fox averages 8 to 15 lbs and are fun to see and watch, especially the female with her pups. But when that family is living under your shed or porch they can be a nuisance. Typically if you can wait it out they’ll leave by mid June. But, if you have the fox in the hen house issue or they are damaging property then we can help. They have also been known to take young pigs and lambs.
FOX REMOVAL
They can be difficult to lure into a cage trap and therefore conventional methods may be used if the cage trap fails. Fees are set-up, per animal, and exclusion if required. Fees can be negotiable during the NYS trapping season dependent upon fur prices.
Bat
Bats are a rabies vector animal and are known to harbor other diseases as well. They spread these diseases since they tend to live in large colonies where there is a high likelihood of transmission to each other, and possibly to animals and humans. They can enter your home through an opening the size of your finger.
BAT REMOVAL
If you suspect a bat colony in your home we can inspect and perform removal and exclusion of the bats, and are available to capture and remove a bat in the home if one finds its way in. Please note that any bat found inside the home must be destroyed (as of 2020) due to its connection to the Covid 19 virus, per the NYS DEC and Health Departments. This does not pertain to exclusion of a colony, only the bat that is captured within the home. Fees are a one-time charge.
Mole
Moles are a small mammal actually related to bats, and spend most of their life underground. They burrow through the dirt seeking bugs, grubs and worms and they can eat up to 100% of their body weight doing so. They can be 7 inches in length, and many people have walked out into their yards and wondered what the heck happened with their manicured yards suddenly looking like a road map. With their voracious appetites they can be active, creating many tunnels in their search for food. They can be a challenge for the homeowner trying to trap them or exclude them as active tunnels are difficult to discern.
MOLE REMOVAL
Mac’s can evaluate your mole problem and use traps to remove and/or thin the population. It only takes a few moles to create a mess. We will inspect, then evaluate the active runs, and set traps. Fees are based upon set up and per animal.
Snake
Mac’s is limited to removing a snake found in the home and releasing it outside on your property. We will do exclusion if we can find the source. Fees are a one time charge and exclusion fees if required.
Rats, Mice, Birds
Mac’s does not currently offer this service as it typically requires a pesticide license or special licenses for bird removal.
