Wildlife Removal in Denver: Skunks, Hail Damage & Front Range Wildlife

Denver sits at 5,280 feet at the base of the Rocky Mountains, and its wildlife problems reflect that geography. The city gets wildlife pressure from the east — urban-adapted raccoons, skunks, and squirrels from the plains — and from the west, where foothills neighborhoods in Jefferson County border mountain habitat. But the most underappreciated wildlife risk factor in Denver isn't geography. It's hail.

Denver is one of the most hail-prone cities in the United States. A significant hailstorm can damage soffits, fascia, and roof vents across an entire neighborhood simultaneously — creating dozens of new entry points in a single afternoon. Animals that had no way into your home on Monday may have multiple options by Friday.

After any significant hailstorm, a roofline inspection is worth scheduling even if you haven't noticed any wildlife activity. The gap created by a cracked soffit panel or a dented vent cover may not be obvious from the ground, but a squirrel or raccoon will find it within weeks.

Skunks are the most frequent wildlife complaint in the Denver metro area, and the city's housing stock explains why. Denver has a high proportion of older homes — particularly in neighborhoods like Washington Park, Congress Park, Park Hill, and the Highlands — with raised foundations, accessible crawl spaces, and deck gaps that skunks find irresistible. They den under structures, dig for grubs in irrigated lawns (leaving characteristic cone-shaped holes), and spray when threatened or cornered.

Skunk removal requires a different approach than most wildlife removal. Trapping must be done carefully to minimize spray risk, and the den site must be excluded after removal to prevent new skunks from moving in. A skunk that has been denning under a deck for a season has left scent markers that will attract other skunks for years if the entry point isn't properly sealed.

Denver's pre-1960 housing stock — common in the older neighborhoods inside I-25 — has accumulated decades of small vulnerabilities. Deteriorated wood trim, aging mortar, and construction gaps that have widened over time all provide raccoon entry opportunities. The South Platte River corridor and Cherry Creek greenway support large raccoon populations that range freely through adjacent neighborhoods.

Prairie rattlesnakes are found throughout the Denver metro area, particularly in open space areas and neighborhoods bordering undeveloped land. Foothills communities in Jefferson County — Lakewood, Arvada, Golden — face the highest encounter rates. Peak activity runs April through September.

Big brown bats are the most common bat species in Colorado and are frequent attic residents in Denver's older brick neighborhoods. Colorado Parks and Wildlife prohibits exclusion from June 1 through August 15 (maternity season). CPW licensing is required for nuisance bat removal.

Call (800) 319-1556 for a free inspection. We serve the entire Denver metro area.

View our Denver service page for more information.