Animal removal in Riverview, FL
Riverview keeps building toward the Alafia River and the scrub past Boyette Road, and the animals that lived there move into the closest shelter. Critter Guys handles humane animal removal for Riverview homes and seals the openings they used.
- Firm quote before work starts
- Humane, FWC-compliant methods
- Prevention comes first
Schedule a Riverview inspection
Tell us what you are hearing or seeing. We will get back to you, set up a visit and give you a straight answer on what it takes.
- Firm quote before any work starts
- Call, text or email, your pick
- Licensed and insured in Florida
Quick answer. Critter Guys provides animal removal in Riverview, FL for raccoons, squirrels, rats, bats, opossums, armadillos and snakes. We inspect the house top to bottom, remove animals humanely under FWC rules, seal every entry point and clean up what they left behind. It starts with an inspection. Call or text (321) 203-6963 or email critterguyswildlife@gmail.com to set one up anywhere in Riverview, from the river neighborhoods to the newer communities off Big Bend Road.
Why animal removal is a common call in Riverview
Riverview has grown fast. Neighborhoods that were pasture or pine woods not long ago now back up to the Alafia River, Bell Creek and the scrub running toward Balm. Each new street pushes the tree line back, and the raccoons, opossums, rats and squirrels that lived there go looking for a dry, quiet space. Often that’s a soffit or an attic.
The first sign is usually small. Scratching over the bedroom ceiling around sunset. A trash can tipped over three nights running. A smell from an AC return nobody can place. It means something found a gap, and the sooner we find it, the smaller the fix tends to be.
Animals we handle around Riverview
Raccoons, gray squirrels, roof rats, Norway rats, mice, bats, opossums, armadillos and snakes, plus bees, wasps and yellow jackets that move into walls or eaves. If you aren’t sure what you’re hearing, that’s fine. Figuring it out is part of the inspection. Critter Guys is based in Fern Park, north of Orlando, and our Central Florida wildlife removal service reaches all the way across to Tampa Bay.
Living between the Alafia River and Balm Boyette
Riverview is unincorporated Hillsborough County, sitting south of Brandon with I-75 along its west side and FishHawk to the east. The Alafia River cuts across the north end on its way to Hillsborough Bay, and the original settlement grew up on its banks near US 301. Head south and east and you reach Bell Creek Nature Preserve and, about five miles out, the Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve.
That mix shapes what we run into. Homes along the river and creek corridors get raccoons and opossums that work the banks at night. Communities like Panther Trace and South Fork have retention ponds tucked between the rows of houses, which draws snakes and gives raccoons a drink between neighborhoods. Sandy lawns near the preserve edges are prime digging ground for armadillos. And in the tighter subdivisions, roof rats travel house to house along fence rails, power lines and palm fronds.
Riverview at a glance
- Unincorporated Hillsborough County
- Alafia River crosses the north end
- Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve to the southeast
- Bordered by I-75 and FishHawk
What Riverview homeowners notice first
Different animals leave different clues. Here’s what tends to tip people off, and what it usually points to.
Thumping at dusk
Heavy movement that starts as the sun goes down is classic raccoon. Lighter, quicker scratching early in the morning leans toward squirrels.
Skittering after midnight
Fast, light running along the ceiling or inside a wall in the dead of night usually means roof rats. Our Riverview rat removal page covers how we deal with them.
Chirping from the soffit in spring
A high, chattering sound from one corner of the roof line is often a litter of raccoon kits. Mom heads out after dark and is back by morning.
Torn-up sod by morning
Small cone-shaped holes and flipped patches of St. Augustine are armadillo work. Burrows next to the slab or pool deck deserve a closer look.
Droppings along the garage wall
Rodent droppings by the water heater or under the sink point to an entry low on the house.
A smell you can’t place
A heavy, sweet odor from a wall or ceiling often means an animal died inside. That calls for removal and sanitizing before the heat makes it worse.
Wildlife services for Riverview homes
Raccoon Removal in Riverview
Raccoons denning in soffits and attics near the Alafia, removed humanely with mothers and kits kept together.
Squirrel Removal in Riverview
Gray squirrels chewing roof returns and vents on Riverview homes, cleared out with one-way doors and sealed tight.
Bat Removal in Riverview
Bat exclusion from tile roofs and fascia gaps, scheduled outside the April 15 to August 14 maternity season.
Rat Removal in Riverview
Roof rats in attics and garages, handled with trapping, outdoor bait station boxes and sealed entry gaps.
Wildlife Exclusion in Riverview
Sealing the vents, soffit corners and AC chases that newer Riverview subdivisions tend to leave open.
Attic Cleanup & Remediation in Riverview
Removing droppings and soiled insulation, then sanitizing so odors and scent trails don’t draw animals back.
Handling it yourself vs. calling in wildlife control
Plenty of people try a hardware store trap first. Here’s where that tends to fall short.
| The DIY route | How Critter Guys does it |
|---|---|
| Trap set where the animal was spotted | Trap or one-way door placed on the actual entry |
| Kits or pups can get left in the attic | We work to get mom and her young out together |
| The hole stays open afterward | Entry points sealed and reinforced |
| Unclear on the relocation rules | All work done under FWC rules |
| Guessing whether a snake is venomous | Snakes identified and removed safely |
From first call to a sealed house
Every property is a little different, but most Riverview jobs follow this order.
Roof-to-attic inspection
We walk the roof line, soffits, vents, the AC line chase, garage door corners and foundation, then check the attic. You see what we see.
A clear plan
We tell you which animal it is, how it’s getting in and what we recommend, prevention first. You have the quote before anything starts.
Humane removal
Depending on the animal, that means live traps, one-way doors or careful hand removal. Learn how this plays out with raccoons in Riverview attics.
Seal and repair
We close the openings and fix the damage, from chewed fascia to torn vent screens. Our exclusion work in Riverview goes over the details.
Clean and sanitize
Droppings, nesting material and scent trails get removed and disinfected so the next animal isn’t drawn to the same spot.
Reviews from homeowners around Riverview
4.9
141 reviews on Google
★★★★★
Called Critter Guys through a recommendation from my sister in Lakeland after we saw a squirrel peaking out from a hole above the garage at my mother’s home in Riverview. My sister had the same issue at her Lakeland home. We got an appointment for the Riverview house right away and Craig came out to do an assessment and estimate. The price was reasonable and Craig was very professional and friendly. He quickly assessed the issue and found 4 holes in the roof. He set up traps and came back a few days later. During that waiting time one of the traps in the attic caught a mouse. So, when he came back, he sealed off 3 of the holes and set up a one-way trap in the 4th hole to draw out any remaining critters. He’ll come back in 2 weeks to close off the remaining hole. He also gave us a 30 day warranty if anything else happens. So far we haven’t seen or heard anything else. I’m very happy with the service received and would highly recommend this company.
Pramela IttoopGoogle review
★★★★★
Omygoodness I never thought I would have to meet Craig but I did! And he was amazing! He immediately answered the phone, told me what he could do / when he would arrive and followed through with what he said. He was prompt, courteous and put me at ease! God willing I will never need him again but if I do I will not hesitate to call him!
Amina AhmedGoogle review
★★★★★
Craig from Critter Guys was wonderful! Very responsive with great communication. We had a rat issue he came right out the next day to access the problem. If you have a critter concern look no further Critter Guys is awesome!
Christine FerkileGoogle review
Read every review on Google or see more Critter Guys reviews
Early calls cost less
An open roof vent in February is a small repair. In April, that same vent might have a raccoon family behind it. Get it looked at while the fix is still simple.
On the job
Other towns we cover near Riverview
We also work in the neighboring Tampa Bay communities, from Brandon just to the north out to Plant City.
Animal removal in Riverview: common questions
Still wondering about something? Call or text (321) 203-6963.
How much does animal removal cost in Riverview?
The quote depends on the animal, how many there are, how they’re getting in and how much sealing and cleanup the house needs. A single rat entry on a one-story home is a very different job from a raccoon family in a two-story attic. You get the quote before any work starts.
Do you remove snakes from Riverview yards and garages?
Yes. Homes near ponds, the river and the preserves see their share of snakes, and most of them are harmless. Florida does have six venomous species, including the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, so if you can’t identify it, keep your distance and let us handle it.
Can I trap the raccoon myself and let it go by the river?
We don’t recommend it. Trapping and relocating wildlife in Florida falls under FWC rules, and a trapped mother often leaves kits behind in the attic. You’d also still have the open hole that let her in, which we seal once she’s out.
What should I do if a raccoon is in my Riverview garage right now?
Keep people and pets away and leave the garage door open so it has a way out. Most raccoons in a garage are after food and will leave once it’s dark. If it doesn’t, or you think it’s living in the attic above, call or text us.
Do you work with HOAs and property managers in Riverview?
Yes. Along with single-family homes, we take on work for HOAs, townhome communities, property managers and businesses. Townhome rows are worth inspecting as a group, since an animal in one unit’s attic can sometimes travel to the next.
Is there a wildlife season in Riverview?
Wildlife here is active all year, though spring gets busy because raccoons and squirrels are raising young. Storm season brings its own spike when wind lifts shingles or tears soffit screens. The best time to call is when you first notice something.
Get your Riverview home checked
Text or call (321) 203-6963 and we’ll come out to Riverview and take a look. You’ll see what’s getting in and how we’d close it off.