Skip to Content

Have Wildlife In Your Attic, Read This!

Animals need warmth and shelter to survive. This usually means living in trees, caves, or under tunnels in the wild. However, some animals have learned to take advantage of man-made structures – for example, the attic.

The attic is a great living spot for wildlife because of the additional warmth it provides – thanks to the insulation. It also provides safety against predators, making it a great spot for wild animals to raise their young.

For most homeowners, the first sign of an infestation is usually the hearing of movement within the roof. You might even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the animal going in and out of your roof. Handling a wildlife infestation in your attic can be challenging. If you’d like to employ professional help, visit virginiaprofessionalwildliferemovalservices.com for more information.

So if you have wildlife in your attic, what should you do about it?

Step 1: Carry out a full inspection.

Wild animals usually take advantage of holes in the roof to gain entrance into the attic. Strong animals like raccoons can even break in through vulnerable spots around the shingles to gain access. Smaller animals like mice can get in through holes as small as the diameter of a pen.

That’s why it’s very important to scrutinize the attic and entire property. That way, you know precisely how the nuisance wildlife is getting in.

Step 2: Wildlife Removal

After all entry holes have been identified, it is time to deal with infestation head-on. There are several strategies for removing wildlife from the attic. This usually depends on the type of animal involved as well as surrounding circumstances. Here are some of the most common methods.

  • Exclusion

Exclusion involves sealing all the potential entry holes except one. In this last hole, an exclusion device is installed. Once the animal leaves through the device, it is unable to get back in. The final hole can then be sealed.

The major problem with exclusion is that it risks separating mothers from their babies. For instance, if a mother raccoon is excluded, her kits will be trapped inside your attic and will eventually die.

That’s why it’s important to ensure there are no baby animals in your attic before exclusion.

  • Trapping

Trapping is another effective method for removing wildlife from the attic. Snap traps are ideal for dealing with rats and mice.

But live traps are preferred when dealing with larger animals like raccoons or opossums. Live traps are handy when you have baby animals in your attic. You can pick up the babies and use them as bait to lure their mother into the trap. The animals can then be relocated to at least 10 miles from your location.

Trapping requires an adept understanding of animal behavior. That’s why it’s prudent to involve the experts. Check out virginiaprofessionalwildliferemovalservices.com to get access to the best trapping professionals.

Family of squirrels nesting in house roof attic.

Step 3 – Cleaning and Decontamination

Nuisance wildlife in the attic leave lots of mess – from torn insulation to chewed wires to droppings and urine. These wastes are breeding grounds for bacteria and diseases. That’s why it’s important to decontaminate the entire attic space.

All solid waste should be disposed of in a plastic bag. Make sure you put on your gloves to avoid direct contact with animal waste. An enzyme-based decontaminate should be used for cleaning the attic as it will help kill all the harmful bacteria.

Step 4 – Repairs

Nuisance wildlife in the attic is very destructive. Animals like raccoons and rodents will tear insulation, chew wires, and destroy pipes. A torn insulation reduces your home’s heating efficiency. Torn wires expose your home to a fire hazard. Damaged wood weakens the structural integrity of your building. To preserve the overall integrity of your house, you need to carry out all the necessary repairs.

Step 5 – Put Preventive Measures in Place

Now that you’ve resolved the problem, you have to ensure the problem doesn’t reoccur.

Here are some tips to bear in mind

  • Cut off tree branches overhanging your roof.
  • Seal up all potential entry holes to your building.
  • Do not provide nuisance wildlife with easy access to food on your property.
  • Eliminate potential hiding spots on your property.
  • Apply repellents.
error: Content is protected !!