When homeowners in the greater Kansas City metro area discover critters in their attics, basements, or walls, immediate and professional action is required to ensure the safety of the property and its inhabitants. Cridder Ridder stands as the region's premier provider in fixing complex human-wildlife conflicts. As a locally owned and operated business, Cridder Ridder possesses an deep understanding of the local ecosystem and the specific wildlife issues that impact Missouri and Kansas homeowners.
Whether you are dealing with the nighttime scratching of raccoons or the sudden appearance of rodents in the kitchen, our team delivers solutions. Our fully trained technicians are not just exterminators; they are wildlife management professionals dedicated to bringing back the safety of your home through nuisance wildlife removal, pest control, and comprehensive exclusion strategies.
Why Cridder Ridder stands out: Local Knowledge Combined with Expert Service
Understanding the local area is essential for effective pest control. National chains often apply generic solutions to specific regional problems. However, the wildlife behaviors in Overland Park, Lenexa, and Olathe are dictated by the specific climate, vegetation, and layout of the Midwest.
Understanding the Kansas City Environment
The Kansas City metro area provides a unique environment where city living meets dense woodland. This mix often leads to conflicts between people and animals. Animals such as raccoons, squirrels, and bats have learned to thrive in suburban environments, often finding our homes to be better than their natural habitats.
At Cridder Ridder, we analyze the property as a whole. We do not simply set traps; we investigate the "why" and "how" of the infestation. Our deep roots in the community mean we treat every client like a neighbor. We service a wide area, including Shawnee, Leawood, Prairie Village, Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, and Independence, MO, ensuring that top-tier pest management is accessible across the entire metro.
Why We Hire Fully Trained Specialists
Successful animal removal takes more than just basic equipment. It requires a deep knowledge of biology, construction, and safety protocols. Our staff undergoes strict training to handle KC wildlife & pest issues. This guarantees that when we perform bat control or rodent prevention, it is done in compliance with state regulations and with the utmost regard for the safety of your family and pets.
Complete Raccoon Removal Services
Raccoons are among the most damaging animals in the Midwest region. These intelligent and dexterous animals can cause significant financial loss in a very short period. Raccoon removal is a cornerstone of our service offering.
Spotting a Raccoon Problem
Raccoons are typically nocturnal, but their presence is hard to miss. Homeowners often report heavy thumping noises in the attic, torn soffits, or damaged roof vents. Raccoons are powerful enough to rip open shingles to gain entry. Once inside, they crush insulation, rendering it ineffective, and use the space as a latrine.
Health Dangers Caused by Raccoons
Beyond the physical damage, raccoons pose severe health risks. Their feces can contain raccoon roundworm, the eggs of which are resilient and hazardous to humans if inhaled or ingested. Additionally, raccoons are known vectors for rabies and distemper. Cridder Ridder employs specialized trapping techniques to remove these animals safely, avoiding direct contact and reducing stress to the animal.
Cleanup and Prevention
Removing the animal is only half the battle. If the entry point is not sealed, another raccoon will simply take the previous one's place. We provide complete exclusion services, using industrial-strength steel mesh and construction-grade materials to seal entry points, ensuring your home remains raccoon-free.
Expert Bat Control and Exclusion Services
Bat control is a niche field within the pest management industry. Unlike rodents, bats cannot be trapped and relocated easily; they must be excluded. Bats are federally protected in many instances, and their removal is subject to rigid seasonal restrictions ("blackout periods") to save flightless pups.
Risks Associated with Bat Droppings
While bats are beneficial to the environment due to their consumption of insects, they do not belong in your attic. The buildup of bat droppings, known as guano, is a major biohazard. As guano decomposes, it releases spores that can cause histoplasmosis, a dangerous respiratory disease.
How We Remove Bats
Cridder Ridder utilizes a "one-way door" system for bat removal. We find the main entry points—often ridges, vents, or gaps in the fascia—and install devices that allow bats to exit the structure to feed at night but block them from returning. Once the colony has been fully evacuated, we permanently seal the structure. This humane approach ensures the colony survives while your home is reclaimed.
Rodent Prevention: Mice and Rat Management
The presence of mice or rats is perhaps the most common pest issue in Kansas City. Because they breed so fast, two rodents can turn into a huge infestation quickly. Rodent prevention requires a plan that goes beyond just putting down traps.
Inspecting and Sealing Your Home
A mouse can squeeze through a dime-sized hole. Our technicians conduct a inch-by-inch inspection of your foundation, siding, and roofline. We identify the "highway" rodents are using to enter your home. By sealing these gaps with rodent-proof materials, we stop the influx of pests.
Sanitation and Population Control
Effective rodent control also involves identifying attractants. We counsel homeowners on sanitation practices that limit food sources for rodents. Combined with targeted trapping and baiting stations, Cridder Ridder eliminates the current population and fortifies the home against future invasions.
Squirrel Removal: Protecting Your Structural Integrity
Squirrels may look harmless, but they are members of the rodent family, meaning their teeth never stop growing. To keep their teeth filed down, they gnaw on hard surfaces—including your roof trusses and power lines.
Risk of Fire
The biggest risk with squirrels is that they can cause electrical fires. When squirrels chew through the protective coating of electrical wires in an attic, they create a significant fire hazard. Squirrel removal is therefore a matter of urgency.
Trapping and Relocation
Squirrels are often diurnal (daytime active). We utilize repeating traps and one-way exclusion doors to remove squirrels from attics. We prioritize the removal of the whole family, especially during nesting seasons in spring and fall, to ensure no young are left behind in walls or eaves.
General Pest Treatments: Bugs and Spiders
While we specialize in vertebrates, Cridder Ridder is a full-service pest control company. We provide strong solutions for the creepy-crawlies that invade living spaces.
Controlling Spiders and Ants
From the recluse spiders common in Missouri basements to the trails of ants in the kitchen, our general pest treatments create a barrier around your home. We use EPA-approved products that are potent against pests but safe for your family when used according to label directions.
Year-Round Pest Services
Different pests appear at different times of the year. Spring brings ants and stinging insects; fall brings spiders and rodents seeking warmth. Our ongoing service plans ensure that your home is protected all year long, addressing the specific pests active in each season.
Carcass Removal and Deodorization
The smell of a decomposing animal inside a house is terrible. If a critter has died in your walls or crawlspace, we remove it quickly and discreetly.
Locating the Source
Finding a dead animal inside walls is tough. Our technicians are skilled to identify the location of the animal, often reducing the need for invasive cutting into drywall.
Decontamination and Odor Control
After removal, we sanitize the spot to kill bacteria and parasites like fleas. We also apply commercial-grade deodorizers to eliminate the biological odors, rather than simply masking them.
Service Areas: Proudly Serving the KC Metro
Cridder Ridder is dedicated to the communities we serve. Our coverage area covers the heart of the metro and the surrounding suburbs.
Serving Johnson County
We have a solid reputation in Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa, Shawnee, Olathe, and Prairie Village. The mature trees and established neighborhoods in these areas are beautiful, but they also support high populations of wildlife that frequently conflict with homeowners.
Serving the Missouri Side
Our technicians are equally active in Kansas City, MO, Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, and Independence. We understand the diverse housing stock in these areas, from historic homes with stone foundations to modern builds, and how each presents different problems for pest exclusion.
Why We Are the Best Choice
Choosing a pest control provider is a decision based on trust. You are inviting technicians into your private sanctuary.
1. Local and Family Operated
We aren't a big national chain. When you call us, you are speaking to a community member who cares about your satisfaction and local standing.
2. Fully Trained Technicians
We invest heavily in the education of our staff. Wildlife laws change, and pest control technologies evolve. We stay at the forefront of the industry to deliver the best service possible.
3. Complete Fixes
We solve the root problem, not just the symptoms. By focusing on exclusion and prevention, we provide permanent results rather than band-aid solutions.
4. Humane Treatment
We care about the wildlife we manage. Our goal is to evict them from human structures where they don't belong and release them to the wild if laws allow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding Wildlife Removal
How do I know if I have animals in my attic?
Look for scratching sounds, ceiling stains, bad smells, or holes on the outside of your house.
Can you remove bats at any time?
Bats are often protected by law. During the breeding season (typically late spring to late summer), bats cannot be removed if flightless pups are present. Cridder Ridder adheres strictly to these regulations to avoid harming the bat population while planning for exclusion once the season allows.
Does homeowners insurance cover wildlife damage?
This varies by policy. While the removal of the animal is rarely covered, the repair of the damage caused (insulation, drywall, roof repair) is sometimes covered. We recommend checking with your insurance agent. We can provide reports of the damage found.
How does wildlife removal differ from pest control?
Pest control usually means bugs and spiders. Wildlife removal deals with animals like mammals and birds. Cridder Ridder is equipped to handle both, providing a "one-stop" solution for your home.
Get in Touch with Cridder Ridder
Don't let animals take over your house. If you suspect an infestation of raccoons, bats, squirrels, or general pests, contact the experts who know Kansas City best.
Cridder Ridder is ready to help you with prompt, professional, and effective service. Whether you are in Overland Park, Blue Springs, or anywhere in between, we are your local resource for wildlife management.
Contact Information:
Cridder Ridder 5001 E 110th St, Kansas City, MO 64137 (913) 851-2176 https://www.cridderridder.com/