Wildlife Removal in Allen County, Indiana

Last Updated: August 2026

If you have a raccoon, squirrel, bat or other wild animal in or around your home in Allen County, the right contact depends on the situation. Indiana DNR handles wildlife regulations and sick or injured wildlife guidance, while nuisance animals on private property may require a licensed wildlife-control professional.

Quick Answer

For questions about wildlife laws, injured wildlife or nuisance wildlife, start with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife
Phone: 317-232-4200

Indiana DNR Nuisance Wildlife Information

For an animal inside your attic, chimney, walls or other part of your home, you may need a licensed wildlife-control operator.

What Kind of Wildlife Problem Do You Have?

Common nuisance-wildlife problems in Allen County include:

Raccoons in attics or chimneys
Squirrels in attics
Bats inside homes
Skunks under decks or sheds
Groundhogs digging near structures
Opossums around homes
Rabbits damaging gardens
Coyotes near residential areas
Injured or sick wildlife

The safest solution depends on the species and where the animal is located.

Wildlife Inside Your Home

If a wild animal is living in your:

Attic
Chimney
Crawlspace
Walls
Garage
Shed

don’t immediately seal the opening.

There may be young animals trapped inside, especially during spring and summer.

A wildlife-control professional can identify how the animal entered, remove or exclude it appropriately and help determine when the opening can safely be sealed.

Finding a Wildlife-Control Professional

Indiana DNR licenses individuals who provide nuisance-wildlife control services.

When hiring someone, ask:

Whether they’re properly licensed
What species they handle
Whether they inspect for young animals
How the animal will be removed
Whether entry points will be sealed
Whether repairs are included
What the total cost is likely to be

Indiana DNR Wildlife Control Information

Bats in the House

A bat inside a living area deserves special attention.

If a bat is found in a room with:

A sleeping person
A young child
Someone who may not know whether contact occurred
A person who cannot reliably report a bite or contact

don’t simply release the bat before getting guidance.

Because bat bites can be extremely small, possible rabies exposure may need to be evaluated.

Avoid touching the bat with bare hands and keep people and pets away from it.

Indiana Department of Health Rabies Information

Raccoons

Raccoons commonly seek shelter in:

Attics
Chimneys
Crawlspaces
Sheds
Under decks

If a raccoon is living inside a structure, especially during spring or early summer, assume babies may be present until you know otherwise.

Removing the adult and sealing the opening without checking can leave young animals trapped inside.

Squirrels in the Attic

Squirrels can enter through surprisingly small openings around roofs, soffits and vents.

Signs may include:

Scratching or running noises
Sounds during daylight hours
Chewed openings
Nesting material
Damage around rooflines

A wildlife professional can determine where they’re entering and whether young squirrels are present before exclusion.

Skunks

If a skunk is under a porch, deck or shed, avoid cornering or frightening it.

Keep pets away and remove food sources such as:

Outdoor pet food
Open trash
Fallen fruit
Accessible compost
Birdseed on the ground

Once the animal is gone, access beneath structures can often be blocked to discourage another animal from moving in.

Coyotes

Coyotes are present throughout Indiana and can occasionally be seen in developed areas.

If coyotes are visiting your property:

Don’t feed them.
Bring pet food indoors.
Secure garbage.
Supervise small pets outside.
Keep dogs leashed.
Don’t intentionally approach wildlife.

Seeing a coyote doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be removed.

Indiana DNR – Living With Wildlife

Sick or Injured Wildlife

Don’t handle sick or injured wildlife with your bare hands.

Signs of a potentially sick animal can include:

Unusual aggression
Difficulty walking
Circling or stumbling
Paralysis
Excessive drooling
Unusual lack of fear of people

Keep children and pets away.

For wildlife guidance, contact Indiana DNR.

Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife: 317-232-4200

Wildlife Rehabilitators

Wild animals that are truly injured or orphaned may need help from a permitted wildlife rehabilitator.

Indiana DNR maintains information on permitted wildlife rehabilitators and what to do when you find injured or orphaned wildlife.

Find Indiana Wildlife Rehabilitator Information

Call before transporting an animal. Not every rehabilitator handles every species or has space available.

Found a Baby Wild Animal?

Don’t assume a baby animal is abandoned just because its mother isn’t nearby.

Many wild animals leave their young alone for long periods while feeding.

This is particularly common with:

Deer
Rabbits
Some birds

Unless the animal is visibly injured or you know the mother is dead, it may be best to leave it where it is and observe from a distance.

What to Do With Orphaned or Injured Wildlife

What About Snakes?

Most Indiana snakes are harmless and play an important role in controlling rodents.

If you see a snake outdoors, the safest option is usually to leave it alone and give it space.

If a snake is inside your home or in a location where it creates a safety concern, contact an appropriate wildlife-control professional.

Wildlife & Pets

Keep dogs and cats away from wild animals.

Wildlife can:

Bite or scratch
Carry parasites
Transmit diseases
Seriously injure pets when cornered

If your pet is bitten or scratched by wildlife, contact your veterinarian promptly and have your pet’s rabies vaccination information available.

Find Local Vets in Allen County

Prevent Wildlife From Coming Back

After the animal is safely gone:

Seal entry points.
Repair damaged vents and soffits.
Install chimney caps.
Secure garbage cans.
Don’t leave pet food outside.
Clean up spilled birdseed.
Close access beneath decks and sheds.
Trim branches providing easy roof access.

Don’t seal an opening until you’re certain no animals are still inside.

Animal Control or Wildlife Removal?

Domestic animals, such as stray or aggressive dogs, are generally handled through local animal control.

Allen County Animal Control

Wild animals are generally handled through Indiana DNR guidance, wildlife rehabilitators or licensed nuisance-wildlife professionals.

Knowing the difference can save you several phone calls.

Local Tip

If an animal is living inside your house, don’t just trap the animal and patch the hole.

The better approach is to find how it got inside, determine whether babies are present, remove or exclude the animals appropriately and then seal the entry point. Otherwise, the problem may return—or you could accidentally trap animals inside.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who removes wildlife in Allen County?

Nuisance wildlife on private property may need to be handled by a licensed wildlife-control professional. Indiana DNR provides guidance on nuisance wildlife and applicable regulations.

Does Allen County Animal Control remove raccoons and squirrels?

Local animal control primarily handles domestic-animal issues. For ordinary nuisance wildlife, start with Indiana DNR guidance or a wildlife-control professional.

What should I do if there’s a bat in my house?

Keep people and pets away and don’t touch the bat with bare hands. If there’s any possibility that a person was exposed while sleeping or couldn’t reliably report contact, don’t release the bat until you’ve received appropriate guidance about possible rabies exposure.

Can I move an injured wild animal myself?

Contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitator or Indiana DNR first. Handling or possessing wildlife can be regulated, and an injured animal may bite or scratch.

What should I do if I find a baby wild animal?

Unless it’s injured or clearly orphaned, leave it alone and observe from a distance. The parent may simply be away temporarily.

Official Resources