Silver Bullet Pest ControlStraight answers from Silver Bullet Pest Control, a licensed exterminator based in Garfield, NJ, serving Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties. Call or text 973-510-2585. Hablamos español.
Featured on Telemundo 47 • EPA Pesticide Safety Certified • 4.9 Stars on Google • NJ License 90568B
Text a photo of what you're seeing and we'll tell you what it is and what to do.
Birds, mice and squirrels get into dryer vents because the flap sticks open and the duct is warm. The fix is a pest-proof dryer vent cover with a sturdy louvered or spring-loaded flap and a guard that keeps animals out while still letting lint blow free. Don't cover a dryer vent with fine wire mesh: lint clogs it and creates a fire risk. Silver Bullet Pest Control can clear and guard vents: 973-510-2585.
A blocked dryer vent is a fire hazard. If you see nesting material, stop using the dryer until the vent is cleared.
| Cover type | Keeps out | Safe for lint? |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap plastic louvered vent | Little; louvers break and stick open | Yes, but fails fast |
| Fine wire mesh over the vent | Animals | No: lint clogs it and blocks airflow |
| Heavy-duty pest guard with wide openings | Birds, squirrels | Yes, when sized for dryer vents |
| Spring-loaded or gravity flap vent (metal) | Birds, mice, squirrels | Yes |
| Pest guard plus regular lint cleaning | Best overall | Yes |
The three situations behind most of these calls in North Jersey:
We get squirrels out with one-way doors and seal the roofline so they can't chew back in. Exclusion, not relocation.
Raccoons tear their way in and do real damage. We remove them from the house and close the opening with heavy-duty materials.
Ground animals cause foundation and yard problems. We find where they live and block access so they move on.
First we make sure no animal or nest is inside the duct, and with birds, that there are no eggs or chicks to deal with. We remove the nesting material, check the duct for damage, then install a durable vent cover designed for dryers so animals can't get in and lint still blows out. While we're there, we check other vents (bathroom fans, kitchen exhaust, attic vents), since birds and squirrels use those too. See wildlife removal.
Keep tree limbs about 6 to 8 feet from the roof so squirrels can't jump on.
Use cans with tight lids and bungee cords. Raccoons learn trash night fast.
A sturdy chimney cap keeps out raccoons, squirrels and birds.
Look for chewed soffit corners, loose vents and gaps at roof returns each spring and fall.
Tell us what you're seeing and where. A photo often lets us identify the pest right away. We answer 24/7 for emergencies.
A licensed tech finds the source: where the pest lives, how it gets in and what draws it.
We use the right method for the pest, placed where it works and kept away from kids and pets.
We close entry points and tell you what to change so the problem doesn't come back.
Call or text 973-510-2585 for the fastest answer, or tell us what's going on and we'll get back to you quickly.
🔒 Your info stays private · Hablamos español.
Not fine mesh. Lint clogs it and blocks airflow, which is a fire risk. Use a vent cover designed for dryers.
The duct is warm and sheltered, and broken flaps leave it open.
Yes, especially if the flap is broken or missing.
Yes. It blocks airflow and can cause the dryer to overheat. Stop using the dryer until it's cleared.
A sturdy metal flap or pest guard made for dryers that lets lint out and keeps animals out.
Yes. We clear the vent, check for eggs or young, and install a proper guard.
Yes. We show you the openings, and photos when possible, so you know exactly what was sealed.
Not when it's done right. We use one-way doors and check for babies first so nothing is sealed in.
They chew wiring, tear insulation and leave droppings and urine. Raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm, so their droppings need careful cleanup.
Yes. Squirrels gnaw constantly, and chewed wiring in an attic is a real fire risk, which is one reason to act quickly.
It depends on how many entry points there are, the roof height and whether repairs are needed. Estimates are free: call or text 973-510-2585.
Call or text a photo to 973-510-2585.
Based in Garfield, we serve these towns and the rest of Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties.
Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B
