Wildlife Removal in Long Island and Queens: Raccoons, Squirrels, and More

Wildlife Intrusions Are Common Across Long Island and Queens

Long Island's mix of mature trees, wooded preserves, suburban neighborhoods, and parkland creates abundant habitat for wildlife. As development continues across Nassau and Suffolk counties, and as urban green spaces in Queens attract growing wildlife populations, the number of wildlife intrusions into homes and businesses rises every year.

Whether it's a raccoon in your Smithtown attic, squirrels nesting in your Hempstead soffit, or a skunk under your deck in Forest Hills, Quest Pest Control provides humane, professional wildlife removal across our entire service area.

Common Wildlife Intruders in Our Region

Raccoons are highly intelligent, adaptable, and one of the most frequent attic intruders across Long Island. A female raccoon will tear open soffit vents, rip back roof flashing, and create an entry point through virtually any weak point in your roof structure to access the warm, dry attic space — perfect for raising a litter of 3–5 kits in March through May. Raccoon feces can harbor Baylisascaris, a dangerous roundworm, making professional cleanup essential. Common in wooded Nassau County neighborhoods, North Shore Suffolk County communities like Huntington and Cold Spring Harbor, and parkway-adjacent Queens neighborhoods.

Gray Squirrels are year-round attic nuisances throughout the region. They enter through gaps in fascia boards, gnawed roof vents, and uncapped chimney flues. Once inside, squirrels build nests from insulation, chew electrical wiring (a fire hazard), and produce 2–3 litters per year. In suburban neighborhoods from Massapequa to Bayside, squirrel intrusions are among the most common wildlife calls we receive.

Eastern Gray Squirrels vs. Flying Squirrels — Flying squirrels are nocturnal and often mistaken for other pests. If you hear sounds in your attic only at night, flying squirrels are a likely culprit. They're common in wooded areas of Suffolk County.

Skunks den under decks, stoops, porches, and in crawl spaces throughout Long Island and Queens. They rarely spray unless cornered or threatened, but the proximity to your living space is a concern — and skunk odor can penetrate inside your home. Skunks are most active March through October.

Opossums are harmless but unwelcome under decks and in crawl spaces. They're North America's only marsupial and generally non-aggressive, but their presence can attract other predators.

Bats are protected species in New York but a significant concern for homeowners. A single little brown bat (the most common Long Island species) can eat 1,000 mosquitoes per hour — but a colony in your attic creates health hazards from accumulated guano (histoplasmosis risk) and the potential for rabies exposure. Bat exclusion — not extermination — is the legal and ethical approach. We install one-way exclusion devices during approved exclusion seasons.

The Importance of Exclusion Over Trapping Alone

Trapping a raccoon or squirrel without sealing the entry point is a temporary fix. New animals will find the same gap within weeks. Professional wildlife removal includes:

1. Thorough inspection — identifying all entry points, not just the obvious ones

2. Humane trapping — live trapping and relocation in compliance with NYS DEC regulations

3. Entry point sealing — professional-grade repairs using galvanized steel mesh, hardware cloth, and heavy-gauge flashing that animals cannot re-open

4. Cleanup and sanitization — removal of nesting material and feces, sanitization of contaminated areas

Quest Pest Control provides wildlife removal and exclusion services throughout Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Queens. If you're searching for wildlife removal near me on Long Island or in Queens, contact us for a fast response.