What’s the Difference Between Animal Control and Pest Control?

When faced with unwanted critters around your home, you might wonder whether to call animal control or pest control. While both deal with nuisance animals, their roles, responsibilities, and methods of handling these situations differ significantly. Understanding the difference can help homeowners choose the right solution for their specific problem.

What Is Animal Control?

Animal control services are typically government-run or offered by local municipalities. Their primary focus is managing issues related to wild or domesticated animals within a community to ensure public safety and animal welfare.

What Do Animal Control Services Handle?

Animal control is called for issues involving:

• Lost or stray pets like dogs and cats
• Biting incidents or aggressive animal behavior
• Wildlife appearing in inappropriate places, such as a raccoon stuck in your attic or snakes on your property
• Animal neglect or abuse cases

Once an animal is captured or removed, animal control officers ensure their safe relocation or may transport them to shelters for further care. They prioritize humane treatment and follow strict regulations when addressing these situations.

When Should You Contact Animal Control?

You should contact animal control if:

• A stray dog is near your home
• You’ve been bitten by a potentially dangerous animal
• You notice abandoned or abused animals requiring immediate assistance
• Wildlife poses a threat to your safety or well-being

Animal control primarily focuses on the ethical handling of animals rather than extermination.

What Is Pest Control?

Pest control services, on the other hand, are private businesses focusing on managing and eliminating infestations of insects, rodents, and other pests that could damage your property, pose health risks, or disrupt daily life.

What Do Pest Control Services Handle?

Pest control deals with:

• Rodents like rats and mice
• Insects such as termites, ants, cockroaches, and wasps
• Unwanted birds in specific cases
• Other nuisance pests that can infest your home or yard

Their methods often involve traps, baits, chemicals, and preventive solutions to remove the infestation and safeguard your property against future pest issues.

When Should You Contact Pest Control?

You should contact pest control if:

• You discover a termite infestation damaging your home
• Rodents, such as mice or rats, have made your attic or kitchen their home
• You encounter recurring issues with ants, cockroaches, or bed bugs
• You want to implement preventative pest management services

Unlike animal control, pest control typically focuses on extermination rather than relocation while maintaining ethical practices in their methods.

Key Differences Between Animal Control and Pest Control

Can Some Situations Overlap?

While animal control and pest control have distinct roles, there are some situations where it’s unclear who to call. For example:

• A raccoon repeatedly returning to your property could be addressed by animal control or a pest control company offering wildlife management services.
• A bat infestation might involve pest control, but state and federal laws protecting bats may require the involvement of local authorities or specialized services.

It’s important to check with your local animal or pest control service to ensure you’re taking the appropriate steps.

Final Thoughts

Knowing when to contact animal control or pest control can save you time, stress, and even money while ensuring that the issue is resolved appropriately. Animal control works best for handling stray pets or wildlife posing a danger to people, while pest control is your go-to for infestations that threaten your home and health.

If you’re dealing with a nuisance in your home, reach out to the appropriate service and take swift action. Your safety—and your property—may depend on it!