VA Animal Control

Raccoons pick their winter den weeks before the first cold snap — and they're touring properties right now.

Chimneys, attics, crawlspaces, and the space under a deck all get inspected. A raccoon can pull back a roof vent, tear a soffit panel, or drop straight down an uncapped flue. Once she's settled in, you're not dealing with a visitor: you're dealing with contaminated insulation, damaged ductwork, and a den site she'll try to return to next year.

Humane removal now costs a fraction of a spring attic restoration.

Heard heavy movement overhead after dark, or found your trash lids flipped two nights running? That's scouting, not a coincidence. Have you had your chimney capped?

540-307-2566 | BEDRWildlifeRemoval.com

That scratching above the bedroom ceiling in September isn't the same squirrel that raided your bird feeder in July.

Fall flips a switch. Squirrels stop foraging for the day and start shopping for a winter
address — and a warm attic with insulation already installed beats a tree cavity every time.

They test soffit seams, gable vents, roof-line gaps and fascia boards, and a hole the size of a golf ball is all the invitation they need.

One squirrel becomes a nest. A nest becomes chewed wiring, shredded insulation and a spring litter.

Walk your roof line this month and look up at the soffits and vents. Notice anything chewed, stained or slightly open? That's the door they're already knocking on.

540-307-2566 | BEDRWildlifeRemoval.com

DON’T LET THEM MOVE BACK IN.

Once a bird nest is confirmed inactive and can legally be removed, the job should not stop there.

Old nesting material, droppings, and an uncovered opening may invite birds to return next season.

Professional service may include:

✅ Removing the inactive nest
✅ Cleaning and sanitizing the area
✅ Restoring proper airflow
✅ Installing a wildlife-resistant cover

Remove it. Clean it. Protect the opening.

📞 703-343-9383
🌐 BEDRWildlifeRemoval.com

WHAT’S BLOCKING YOUR VENT?

A bird nest inside a dryer, bathroom, or kitchen exhaust vent can restrict airflow and create more than an annoying noise.

Watch for these signs:

🐦 Birds repeatedly flying to the vent
🐦 Chirping or scratching inside the wall
🐦 Twigs near the vent opening
🐦 Weak airflow from the connected fan or dryer

BEDR Wildlife Removal can inspect the nest, remove it when legally permitted, clean the affected area, and install a protective cover.

📞 703-343-9383
🌐 BEDRWildlifeRemoval.com

Active or Abandoned? Look Before You Remove.

Late summer does not automatically mean a bird nest is empty. Before removing one, watch for adult birds returning, chirping chicks, eggs, or fresh nesting material.

Active nests may be protected by federal law. The safest choice is to have the nest inspected before disturbing it. In most situations, removal must wait until the eggs have hatched and the young birds have left. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Not sure whether a nest is still active? Let BEDR take a look.

📞 703-343-9383
🌐 BEDRWildlifeRemoval.com

🦫 What’s Digging Around Your Deck, Shed, or Foundation?

If you’re noticing fresh dirt piles, large holes, or digging near your deck, shed, porch, or foundation, a groundhog may be the culprit.

Late summer is a busy time for groundhogs in Northern Virginia. They spend a lot of time feeding and maintaining burrows, and those burrows can end up surprisingly close to homes and outdoor structures.

Groundhog activity can lead to:

* Large holes and tunnels around your yard
* Undermining near sheds, decks, and porches
* Damage to gardens and landscaping
* Uneven or weakened ground around structures

The biggest mistake? Ignoring the hole because you haven’t seen the animal.

Groundhogs may come and go throughout the day, and the burrow can be much larger underground than it looks from the surface.

If you’re seeing signs of digging around your property, BEDR Wildlife Removal can inspect the area, identify the animal, and recommend the right next step.

📞 703-343-9383
🌐 BEDRWildlifeRemoval.com

Serving homeowners throughout Northern Virginia.

🦇 Why You’re Seeing More Bat Activity Around Your Home Right Now

Have you noticed bats flying around your home at dusk or more activity near your roofline lately?

There’s a reason.

Late summer is an active time for bats in Northern Virginia. Young bats are becoming more active, and colonies that have been using attics, soffits, vents, and other protected spaces may be much easier to notice now.

You might see bats:

* Flying from the same area of your roof each evening
* Entering or leaving small gaps near vents or soffits
* Circling your home around dusk
* Occasionally finding their way into the living area

Here’s the important part: **don’t simply seal the opening.**

Virginia DWR notes that bats may still have young present from May through August, so exclusion has to be handled carefully. The best long-term solution is to identify where they are entering and determine the right time and method to exclude them without trapping bats inside.

If you suspect bats are using your attic or roofline, BEDR Wildlife Removal can inspect the property, identify entry points, and help determine the right next step.

📞 703-343-9383
🌐 BEDRWildlifeRemoval.com

Serving homeowners throughout Northern Virginia.

🐿️ How Did Wildlife Get Into Your Attic?

Most animals don’t just “wander” into an attic. They find a weak spot and take advantage of it.

In Northern Virginia, squirrels, raccoons, bats, and other wildlife commonly get in through:

* Damaged soffits or fascia
* Loose or uncovered vents
* Gaps along the roofline
* Openings around chimneys
* Areas already weakened by weather or age

Removing the animal is only part of the job.

If the entry point stays open, another animal may move right back in.

At BEDR Wildlife Removal, we look for how the animal got inside, address the wildlife problem, and help identify areas that may need exclusion or repair.

Hearing scratching, movement, or unusual noises above your ceiling?

📞 (703) 343-9383
🌐 BEDRWildlifeRemoval.com

Serving homeowners throughout Northern Virginia.

🐍 Seeing More Snakes Around Your Home This Summer?

Summer is a common time for homeowners in Northern Virginia to notice snakes around yards, gardens, sheds, wood piles, foundations, and other outdoor spaces.

Snakes are often drawn to properties that offer:
• Tall grass and overgrown areas
• Woodpiles, debris, and ground cover
• Rodents and other food sources
• Cool, shaded places to hide

While not every snake sighting means there is a serious problem, repeated activity around your home should not be ignored.

Do not try to handle a snake yourself.

BEDR Wildlife Removal provides professional snake inspection and removal services throughout Northern Virginia. We can help identify problem areas around your property and address nuisance wildlife concerns safely.

📞 (703) 343-9383
🌐 BEDRWildlifeRemoval.com

🦫 What’s digging under your shed? It could be a groundhog.

Groundhogs are very active during the summer in Northern Virginia. They often dig under sheds, decks, porches, fences, and other structures to create burrows.

What starts as one hole can quickly turn into a bigger problem:
• Large burrows
• Damage to structures
• Trip hazards in the yard
• Ongoing digging around your property

If you’ve noticed fresh dirt, a hole near a structure, or signs of burrowing activity, it’s a good time to have it checked before the problem gets worse.

BEDR Wildlife Removal provides professional groundhog inspection and removal services throughout Northern Virginia.

📞 (703) 343-9383
🌐 BEDRWildlifeRemoval.com