How Much to Charge for Wildlife Removal
Wildlife removal is priced in parts: an inspection fee of $100–$250, trap setup around $75–$150 plus $50–$100 per required trap check, per-animal removal of $75–$300 depending on species, and exclusion work at $15–$40 per linear foot. Attic restoration — insulation removal, sanitizing, and replacement — commonly runs $2–$7 per square foot and is often the largest line on the job.
The working rates
- Inspection — $100–$250, credited if they proceed
- Trap setup — $75–$150
- Trap checks — $50–$100 each, at legally required intervals
- Per-animal removal — $75–$300 by species
- Exclusion — $15–$40 per linear foot
- Attic restoration — $2–$7 per square foot
- Dead animal removal — $150–$400
What moves the number
- Species — squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and bats are four different jobs
- Access — a two-story soffit is ladder work; a crawlspace is worse
- Extent of entry — one hole or a roofline that failed everywhere
- Legal constraints — protected species and mandated exclusion seasons
- Contamination — attic restoration scales with square footage
- Duration — a raccoon with kits is a multi-week engagement
Sell exclusion, not just removal
Trapping without sealing is a service the customer will need again. That’s not great for them, and over a season it’s worse for your reputation than a higher price ever was.
Quote the exclusion with photos of the entry points and let the pictures do the selling.
Build the warranty into the price
Every exclusion job carries some chance of a callback, so price a small reserve into your per-foot rate instead of treating callbacks as a surprise cost. Bound the warranty to the specific points you sealed and that reserve actually holds up.
Don’t quote bats like squirrels
Bats are legally protected in most jurisdictions, with seasonal exclusion windows and one-way device requirements. It’s specialized work with real compliance exposure — price it as a project, not a call-out, and turn it down entirely if you’re not equipped for it.
Frequently asked questions
Should I charge for the inspection?
Yes, $100–$250, credited against the work if they proceed. A proper inspection is ladder work, an attic entry, and a full exterior walk — and it's what produces the exclusion quote, which is the profitable half. Free inspections attract diagnosis shoppers.
Why is exclusion more profitable than trapping?
Because trapping is capped by the number of animals and the days involved, while exclusion is measurable construction work priced by the foot — and it's what actually solves the problem. Operators who only trap are selling a temporary result at a lower price.
How do bats change the pricing?
Substantially. Bats are protected in most states with legally mandated exclusion windows, require one-way devices rather than trapping, and often involve large sealed areas. Price bat work as a specialized exclusion project, and never quote it like a squirrel job.
How do I price a warranty I can honor?
Bound it to the specific entry points you sealed and photographed, for a stated term, and build a small reserve into the exclusion price. An unbounded 'no animals' warranty on a building you don't control is free future labor with no funding behind it.