If you have a problem with wildlife in your Altoona home, your best option is to hire a company that specializes in Iowa wildlife removal only. This is a specialty business, and regular pest control companies do not use the proper techniques to solve animal problems. I have spent many years reviewing Iowa and Altoona, and I recommend the following:

Southern Iowa Critter Catcher
Cell Phone: 515-204-2864

NOTE: If you have a dog or cat problem, call Polk County Animal Services: 515-286-3333

Southern Iowa Critter Catcher specializes primarily in removing animals from attics of homes and buildings - this includes squirrels in attics, raccoons, and rats or mice in homes. Iowa also has a documented problem with bats in buildings, and Southern Iowa Critter Catcher is specially trained in bat removal. They also perform general wildlife trapping services, such as the capture and removal of skunks or opossums on the property. Call 515-204-2864 to discuss your critter problem and schedule a same-day or next-day appointment. Click here to learn more about what prices we charge in 2024.

When hiring a company to solve your wild animal problem, you want these features:

• Specializes in wildlife removal, not pest control
• Fully Iowa and Polk County licensed and insured
• Works 7 days per week (critters don't take weekends off)
• Performs full building inspections: enters and inspects attic
• Performs exclusion repairs, with guarantee against animal re-entry
• Offers cleanup of biohazardous wildlife waste



Southern Iowa Critter Catcher is a full-service Altoona wildlife removal company. This is very different from a regular Altoona pest control company. The pest control companies spray poison to kill insects. This is not at all similar to wildlife removal. Southern Iowa Critter Catcher performs a full inspection of the home or property, and determines why the animal(s) are there, and if inside a building, how the animals got inside. All animals (including rodents) are trapped and removed, or if possible, removed from the building using special exclusion devices. Once the animals are gone, preventative repairs are essential, and cleanup is sometimes recommended.

Altoona wildlife trapping - it's not as simple as it may seem. It's illegal in Iowa to trap without a license. Trap type is very important and there are many different types, bait is somewhat relevant, trap placement is vital, and there are dozens of small things that are very important to know. Safety is a concern. Then once the animal is trapped, it must be removed and dealt with in the proper manner according to Iowa law. We offer Altoona raccoon removal. Read more about how to get rid of raccoons.

Animals in attics - this is our specialty at Southern Iowa Critter Catcher. Many types of animals like to live in attics. This includes squirrels, raccoons, rats, mice, bats, birds, and even possums. Critters like to go into attics for a safe place to live and raise their young. Removing animals from attics is very complex work, partly because of the presence of baby animals. If you need Altoona squirrel removal, we can remove all the squirrels from your attic, and seal out any future ones. Read more about how to get rid of squirrels.

Rodent control must be done in a very specific way. First off, the most important thing is that all the openings that rats and mice can use to enter a house be sealed. Then all the rodents must be physically trapped and removed. Never, ever use poison! Most Altoona exterminators will just use this lazy poison technique to kill rodents, and it causes more harm than good - dead stinky rats, and it doesn't solve the problem. Call us for correct Altoona rat removal. Read more about how to get rid of rats.

Bat removal is a highly specialized task. Iowa is known to have colonizing bats who often live in buildings. Bats love attics. If not removed, the colony can grow to a very large size over the years. The bat droppings are often corrosive and cause health risks. The same goes for bird droppings on or in buildings. We perform Altoona pigeon removal and bird control. But our specialty is Altoona bat removal. We remove 100% of the bat colony and seal the building so that it's totally bat-proof. Read more about how to get rid of bats.

If you have animals inside a house, no job is complete without proper exclusion repairs. If you simply hire a Altoona trapper who only removes the critters, then the problem will return. You need to hire a Altoona wildlife control company that identifies 100% of the animal entry points into your building, and seals them shut with professional repairs. In addition, in many cases animals have left waste or contamination behind, and you'll want a company that can provide professional cleaning services. Southern Iowa Critter Catcher does both.

The above are just some of the services offered by Southern Iowa Critter Catcher. We also trap and remove animals that destroy lawns, such as moles, or digging animals. Sometimes animals like opossums will live under buildings, steal pet food, raid garbage cans, etc. Read about how to get rid of opossums. Skunks commonly live under sheds or decks, and set up a den. We can trap and remove them without them spraying. Read about how to get rid of skunks. Southern Iowa Critter Catcher also provides dead animal removal in Altoona. If you need help with any other wildlife conflict, from a fox, beaver, groundhog, or any other critter, we can solve it. We also do Altoona snake removal - most of the snakes in Iowa are not venomous, but call us if you want safe removal, or read about how to get rid of snakes in Altoona. And remember, we are a private business, not Polk County Animal Control Services, so if you have a dog or cat problem, call the County at 515-286-3333. Polk County animal services does not handle any wildlife issues.


Southern Iowa Critter Catcher
Cell Phone: 515-204-2864




Altoona Pricing Info

Every wildlife removal situation is different, from the species of animals involved, the location of the animal inside a house or outside, the extent of repairs or cleanup, etc. It's impossible to give one-size-fits-all prices. Examples MIGHT include:

Small Job: For example, a one-stop job to remove an animal in the yard: $100 on up
Medium Job: For example, getting critters out of your house with minor repairs: $300 on up
Large Job: For example, a project involving many service trips and complex work: $500 on up

Give us a phone call now and tell us about your wildlife issue and we will be able to give you a price estimate over the phone. If you're cool with it, we can schedule a same-day or next-day appointment if you like. Our prices are fair, and a good value because we do the job right, the first time.

Altoona Wildlife Tip #1:


What equipment is required to trap Raccoons?

Raccoons are by far the biggest nuisance an animal can be. They are easily found all over the North-America. These masterful animals are extremely versatile and adaptable. The chances that you might find one or a whole family in your shed, attic or yard are pretty high. Raccoons can bully the pets in your house to steal their food. They carry quite a lot of diseases, including the all famous rabies. These animals should not, ever! Be let to live anywhere on your property.

But there are many types of traps available, which one will suit my need? Which one is most effective? All raccoon traps can be effective when used properly. Below are the most common types.

Foot Traps

These traps do hurt the raccoon but still enlist in the humane category. No damage done is fatal. Foot traps as the name suggest trapping the foot of the raccoon strongly rendering the animal unable to run or even move around properly. There are two types available, the long spring trap and the guarded trap.

The long spring traps are small traps that can be put near the animal's access points. They cannot be easily spotted. As soon as the raccoon steps on it, the foot is caught in between. The animal only resorts to slow limping to get away. The guarded traps are even smaller than the spring traps, in the grass they can barely be spotted by the humans planting them.

Body traps

Body traps enter the stage of murderous intent. Wildlife personnel tells to refrain from using body traps for raccoons. These traps are larger than the foot traps and so can be spotted by the raccoons. This increases the chances of the pesky animal ignoring it completely.

Body traps can be put near and on, entry and exit point the raccoon uses. The trap triggers when the raccoon comes inside it and crushes the raccoon's body, may or may not kill it, but still fatal. These traps are difficult to use for people who don't understand how to use it.

Cage Trap

Cage traps are the most common and liked method by the wildlife people. It is also much preferred by people to be used in their house, because who would want to kill! Also called live cage traps, they come in two types, one door, and two-door traps.

Cage traps are metal cages in which the particular animal can fit, and consist of one or two doors. These are usually baited when used. The raccoon enters the cage and triggers the door trapping itself inside. Two-door traps are more efficient than a single door. Raccoons are curious animals and like to check thing out. You can relocate these "adorable" animals after trapping.

Homemade traps

If you don't want to buy any equipment from the market, you can catch raccoons using stuff available in the vicinity of your house. When trapping baby raccoons, just a bucket and gloves are required for the job. The adults are a little harder.

You can make a box from hardboard with opening big enough for the raccoon to enter but not escape. Wire mesh can also be used; it is better because you will be able to see if it worked, rather than lifting the whole thing.



Altoona Wildlife Tip #2:


Iowa Wildlife Information:

Iowa State bird: Eastern goldfinch
State amphibian: North American bullfrog
State fish: Channel catfish

Iowa is a central state in the Midwest, and its location has given it the nickname "America's heartland". Despite being a naturally flat state which used to have plentiful forests, Iowa has given up much of its natural habitats in favor of agriculture. Now, forests only cover 7 percent of the entire state, often in the river valleys only where farming isn't practical or easy. Thirty percent of the state is still grassland, but only 1 percent of that 30 is original prairie land. More than half of the state-at 60 percent-is active farmland. The weather in this region is warm and humid during the summers with cold, snowy winters. Thunderstorms are common on a daily basis in the warm weather.

Unlike other states with grasslands, Iowa no longer has many of the large grazing creatures that loved to live on the plains. Elk and bison have long since been extirpated from the state due to heavy deforestation and land conversion. Only white-tailed deer remain, and these were once wiped off Iowa soil as well. The species was re-introduced and has thrived, but it is still uncommon in some areas.

Despite the lack of large grazers, predators have fared better in Iowa that in other states. For a while, there was thought to be no evidence of mountain lions or gray wolves, but the large cats have been making a comeback. Experts feel there may now be a breeding population in the state. Smaller predators, like bobcats and coyotes, live off the plentiful small animals that live around the countryside. There are plenty of rabbits, prairie dogs, and raccoons to keep the carnivores happy.

An abundance of small animals means an abundance of pest animals, and Iowa is no exception. The state has raccoons, bats, squirrels, mice, rats, and opossums. Spotted skunks are protected by the state, but they can still become pest animals.

Unfortunately, Iowa has lost many of its native animals due to the progressive nature of humans. A number of animals are on the endangered species list including bald eagles, flying squirrels, bats, certain owls, and a number of lizards, insects, fish, and reptiles. While the original agriculture move ousted many of the state's species, Iowa is taking steps to protect the remaining wildlife.

You can always call Southern Iowa Critter Catcher, any time of day, at 515-204-2864, for a price quote for Altoona wildlife control services. I am confident that this is the best choice amongst wildlife removal companies in Altoona, IA.