When a homeowner hears scratching in the attic or discovers signs of wildlife behind the walls, panic and frustration often come first. The instinct is to focus on the immediate problem: What animal is this? How quickly can someone remove it?

But at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, we know that safe removal is only the first step. The true lasting solution—and the foundation of our 35+ years as industry leaders—is professional wildlife exclusion.

Exclusion is the process of identifying how animals entered the home and sealing those points with wildlife-proof materials so they can’t return. While it may sound simple, exclusion is one of the most technical and skilled aspects of humane wildlife control. Without it, the process becomes a revolving door: animals leave, animals return, and homeowners end up paying for the same problem over and over.

At Skedaddle, exclusion isn’t an afterthought. It’s the heart of our service and the reason our customers stay wildlife-free long after the job is done.

Skedaddle’s Exclusion Process

Once animals are removed humanely using our hands-on methods—often with warming boxes and species-specific baby reunification techniques—our technicians focus on the permanent fix: making sure wildlife can’t return.

Skedaddle’s exclusion process includes:

• A full-home inspection from rooftop to foundation
  
• Identification of all entry points, including hidden vulnerabilities
  
• Installation of industrial-grade wildlife-resistant materials that animals can not chew through or pull open.
  
• Repairs and reinforcement of weak or damaged areas
  
• Restoration of contaminated insulation when needed
  

Our materials and techniques are the result of more than three decades of innovation. These aren’t hardware-store fixes—they’re tested solutions designed to withstand chewing, clawing, weathering, and repeated wildlife attempts.

This small step in appearance is massive in impact. Proper exclusion protects the home long-term, prevents recurring infestations, and ensures animals remain safely outdoors.

How Our Process Gets to the Root of the Problem

After working in this field for decades, our team knows just how determined animals can be. A raccoon mother won’t abandon her den easily, and a mouse colony with a food source will continue to return. Even after removal, animals use scent trails, memory, and survival instincts to attempt re-entry—often through the exact same spot.

This is why Skedaddle prioritizes exclusion: removing the animal doesn’t eliminate the opportunity that attracted it. Only a complete, secure seal can do that.

As Founder & CEO Bill Dowd explains: “Exclusion has always been the backbone of Skedaddle’s approach. Anyone can remove an animal, but protecting a home so wildlife can’t return—that’s where real expertise comes in. Our mission has always been to provide humane, permanent solutions that keep families and wildlife safe.”

How We Know Removing the Animal Isn’t Enough

For more than 35 years, we’ve learned that simply removing the animal is never enough. Time and time again, our team has seen homeowners run into the same issue: an animal leaves, but without proper exclusion, another one eventually finds its way back in. That’s why Skedaddle’s entire approach is built on long-term solutions, not quick fixes.

As Bill Dowd often shares, “Very early in the company, I removed a raccoon from an attic and thought the job was done. A week later, the homeowner called saying the noise was back — same spot, same raccoon. That’s when it hit me: unless we fix the entry point and secure the home, we’re not actually solving anything. That experience shaped Skedaddle. From that day forward, exclusion became the foundation of everything we do.”

Three decades of experience have proven this over and over again. Humane removal starts the process — but exclusion is what truly protects the home, the family, and the wildlife.

Why Our Exclusion Saves You Money Long-Term

Many homeowners try DIY barriers or quick repairs before calling a professional. Most of these attempts fail—and often quickly. Wildlife that wants back in will keep trying until it succeeds, usually causing more damage than before.

Skedaddle’s professional exclusion is a long-term investment that saves homeowners thousands in attic damage, chewed wiring, contaminated insulation, repeated service calls, and structural repairs. 

Skedaddle Creates a Long-Term Solution, Not a Temporary Fix

The true power of our exclusion process is its permanence. With the right repairs in place, homeowners don’t have to fear repeat infestations.

Skedaddle’s lifetime guarantee reinforces this. We stand behind our work, returning to the property to inspect or repair any exclusion points if needed. When we protect a home, we protect it for as long as the homeowner lives there.

Exclusion transforms a vulnerable structure into a wildlife-resistant one. It brings homeowners peace of mind and allows animals to continue their lives safely in the wild—without conflict.

At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, humane removal is important, but exclusion is what brings long-lasting results. It’s why we’ve led the industry for over 35 years, why customers trust us, and why wildlife is able to move on without distress.