Varment Guard

What Varment Guard does

Varment Guard Wildlife Services is a regional wildlife control and removal company founded in 1983 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Since 2018, it has operated as the dedicated wildlife services division of Plunkett's Pest Control, a third-generation family-owned pest management firm founded in 1915 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company provides humane wildlife removal, trapping, exclusion, repellent application, cleanup, odor control, and attic restoration services to residential homeowners and commercial properties across the Midwest, covering Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois.

Its service portfolio spans core wildlife removal (bats, squirrels, raccoons, birds, skunks, snakes, groundhogs, opossums, tunneling animals, aquatic rodents, and large animals), specialty attic cleaning and restoration featuring T.A.P. (Thermal, Acoustical, Pest Control) borate-infused insulation, and certified installation of RidgeGuard and XclusionPro roof protection systems. The company's proprietary methods emphasize humane treatment through its Varment Guardian program, supported by a credentialed workforce in which 87% of wildlife services professionals hold an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Management.

Varment Guard generates revenue through per-visit and per-package professional service fees (e.g., $497 for a seven-trip squirrel trapping package with a 30-day service assurance; $130-$600 for snake removal visits), with free estimates and a 5-year guarantee on exclusion work. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via a 800-number, an online service request and scheduling platform, and dispatch of licensed local technicians. The commercial segment serves facilities including airports, stadiums, and multi-housing properties, while residential homeowners represent the primary customer base. Geographic expansion has been driven by an active acquisition program, with Plunkett's completing four regional wildlife operator acquisitions between August 2021 and July 2022.

Name

Varment Guard

Legal name

Varment Guard Wildlife Services

Website

https://varmentguard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Varment Guard Wildlife Services provides humane wildlife removal, exclusion, and attic restoration for residential and commercial customers across the Midwest, operating as the wildlife division of Plunkett's Pest Control since 2018.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Control and Removal Services

NAICS

Exterminating and Pest Control Services (561710)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Control & Exclusion (IMAIAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Proofing & Entry Point Sealing (Exclusion Work) (HSAMAMAL), Bird Trapping, Removal & Relocation (Where Permitted) (HSAMAGAF), Gopher & Mole Trapping/Removal (HSAMAMAG)

Keywords

• Wildlife removal services
• Wildlife exclusion and prevention
• Humane animal control
• Attic restoration services
• Commercial bird control

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Wildlife Control Services: Varment Guard generates revenue through service fees for wildlife removal, trapping, exclusion, repellent, and cleanup services for residential and commercial properties. Services are priced per visit or service package.
2. Attic Cleaning & Restoration: Provides attic cleanup, contamination removal, insulation remediation, and T.A.P. insulation installation services as part of post-wildlife infestation restoration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Varment Guard Wildlife Services provides humane wildlife removal, trapping, exclusion, repellent, and cleanup services for residential and commercial customers across the Midwest United States. The company inspects properties, removes nuisance wildlife (bats, squirrels, raccoons, birds, skunks, snakes, groundhogs, opossums, and large animals), seals entry points, and restores contaminated spaces including attic insulation replacement with proprietary T.A.P. insulation. It also delivers commercial bird control and facility-scale wildlife management for venues such as airports and stadiums.

Product overview

Varment Guard Wildlife Services is a wildlife removal and control company offering a comprehensive suite of services for residential and commercial properties. Their core offerings include Wildlife Removal & Trapping, Wildlife Exclusion & Prevention, Wildlife Repellent, and Cleanup Service & Odor Control. They specialize in handling various wildlife types including bats, squirrels, raccoons, birds, skunks, snakes, groundhogs, opossums, and large animals. Additional services include Attic Cleaning & Restoration (featuring T.A.P. Insulation), while General Pest Control is delivered through their parent company Plunkett's Pest Control. The Varment Guardian program represents their commitment to humane wildlife control practices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Varment Guardian: A program focused on humane wildlife control and removal services, emphasizing ethical treatment of animals during wildlife management.

Products and services

• Wildlife Removal & Trapping Initial property inspection and assessment of wildlife presence followed by humane trapping and removal of animals from residential or commercial properties for homeowners and businesses needing nuisance wildlife resolution.
• Wildlife Exclusion & Prevention Sealing of entry points and installation of barriers to prevent wildlife from accessing buildings and structures, designed for homeowners and businesses seeking long-term prevention backed by an industry-leading 5-year guarantee.
• Wildlife Repellent Application of natural and unnatural animal deterrents to discourage wildlife from inhabiting residential or commercial properties as a complement to removal and exclusion work.
• Cleanup Service & Odor Control Safe removal of animal waste, contaminated insulation, and odor elimination services performed after wildlife removal for homeowners and businesses needing post-infestation remediation.
• Attic Cleaning & Restoration Services Full attic remediation including contaminated insulation removal, antimicrobial sealing, and re-insulation services for homeowners and businesses needing restoration of attics damaged by wildlife, with installation of proprietary T.A.P. (Thermal, Acoustical, Pest Control) insulation.
• T.A.P. Insulation Borate-infused insulation product installed during attic restoration that enhances energy efficiency while providing built-in pest control, sold/installed as part of remediation services.
• Commercial Wildlife Control Comprehensive wildlife management solutions for businesses, including nuisance wildlife removal, pest bird control, and facility-specific exclusion at commercial buildings, airports, stadiums, and industrial sites.
• Commercial Bird Control Bird control services designed to safely remove and prevent nuisance bird problems at commercial properties using innovative strategies that gently relocate birds while minimizing harm and disruption.
• RidgeGuard and XclusionPro Roof Protection System Installation Certified installation of RidgeGuard and XclusionPro systems that protect against animal entry at the roof ridge, eliminating the need for tear-offs of ridge vents or ridge caps for residential and commercial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Industry-leading 5-year guarantee on exclusion work
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Beast Wildlife SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2022Beast Wildlife Solutions, a Twin Cities-based wildlife company providing full-service nuisance wildlife control and removal, was acquired by Plunkett's Pest Control and merged with Varment Guard Wildlife Services. This acquisition expanded Varment Guard's service capabilities for nuisance wildlife in Wisconsin and Minnesota. All personnel, including office staff, transitioned to roles at Plunkett's.
• Animal Control Specialists LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2022Animal Control Specialists LLC, founded in New Franklin, Ohio in 2013 by Robert Winters, was acquired by Plunkett's Pest Control. The company served Summit, Stark, Medina, Wayne, and Portage counties in Ohio. Owner Rob Winters and technicians joined the Ohio wildlife team.
• Langman's Wildlife & Pest ControlcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2021Langman's Wildlife & Pest Control based in Terre Haute, Indiana was acquired by Plunkett's Pest Control. Founded in the 1960s by Wayne Langman, the company provided complete pest solutions including removal of pests, repair of animal damage, and wildlife waste clean-up services to 500+ clients in Indiana and Eastern Illinois.
• Illiana Wildlife & Pest ControlcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2021Illiana Wildlife & Pest Control based in Valparaiso, Indiana was acquired by Plunkett's Pest Control. The company provided full-service residential and commercial wildlife and pest services throughout northwest Indiana and Eastern Illinois, serving 1,200+ clients. Three wildlife techs and one pest tech joined the team.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Terminix: National pest and wildlife management brand offering residential and commercial wildlife removal alongside general pest control — a broad incumbent that competes for the same homeowner wallet share.
• Western Exterminator (Rentokil): Rentokil-owned pest and wildlife services provider with residential exclusion and commercial wildlife management capabilities — comparable multi-state operator targeting similar customers.
• Arrow Exterminators: Multi-state pest and wildlife services provider in the Southeast and Midwest — comparable in residential/commercial mix and full-service pest-plus-wildlife positioning.
• Orkin: Largest U.S. pest control operator (Rollins) with growing wildlife service lines and multi-state geographic coverage — competes for commercial wildlife contracts and residential exclusion work.
• Plunkett's Pest Control: Varment Guard's parent company (founded 1915) providing general pest control across 22 states with 70,000+ clients — overlaps in pest/wildlife services and shares the same customer base.

Direct peers

• Critter Control: National wildlife removal and exclusion franchise offering direct-to-consumer trapping, exclusion, and cleanup services across the U.S. — the closest direct competitor in service scope, customer base, and delivery model.
• Trutech Wildlife Service: Specialized wildlife removal and exclusion operator (Rollins subsidiary) serving residential and commercial customers with the same trapping/exclusion/cleanup service mix as Varment Guard.

Regional players

• Hawx Pest Control: Fast-growing regional pest and wildlife control operator concentrated in the Western and Midwestern U.S. — comparable in service mix and direct-to-consumer model, though with limited Midwest overlap today.

Emerging players

• Aptive Environmental: Tech-enabled residential pest control brand expanding into wildlife services — overlaps in customer acquisition model and homeowner segment, though currently lighter in wildlife specialization.
• Mosquito Joe (Neighborly): Outdoor pest control franchise under Neighborly offering residential exclusion and deterrent services adjacent to Varment Guard's repellent and tunneling-animal lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/varmentguard
• Facebookfacebook.com/VarmentGuard
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/varment-guard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Varment Guard