Animals like raccoons, squirrels, rats, mice, skunks, opossums, coyotes, and foxes do not truly hibernate. Some of these animals do need to find a warm place for shelter against the cold winters. When the temperature gets too cold, raccoons and squirrels will stay in their den or nest. Rodents like mice and rats never stop. You cannot expect your home to be safe from nuisance wildlife.
Follow these DIY tips to help keep your home protected from any possible animal infestations.
- Rodents such as mice and rats love setting up their new home in places like your attic. Check for any damaged roof tiles or cracks, making sure to regularly inspect the roof space for any pest activity. To prevent rodent nesting, switch cardboard boxes to plastic and keep the attic clean and clutter-free.
- Animals that can quickly gain access to your roofs such as birds, bats, and squirrels will commonly get inside your home through your chimney. Install a chimney cap that will keep animals out and help prevent secondary pest infestations.
- Just like humans, pests need food to survive. Things like dirty dishes in the sink, food debris on the counters and floors, or contents in the trash can appeal to pests looking for an easy meal. Help keep them away by storing open food in air-tight containers and regularly cleaning your kitchen.
- Pipes and drains. Insects like roaches love moisture and excess water. Check downpipes for leaks and that no obstructions such as fallen leaves are blocking water from free-flowing through drains. Clear any necessary areas and repair any damage you discover.
- Windows and doors. Not only will sealing the cracks around windows and doors help keep the cold air from coming in, which lowers your energy costs, but it also helps to keep rodents and bugs from getting in. Seal any gaps you notice, install bristle strips under doors, and replace worn weather stripping around windows.
- Personal items in your garage such as trash and recycling bins attract pests like mice, rats, roaches, and ants. Make sure your garage is clutter-free, and your trash and recycling bins are regularly sprayed down. Also, placing a galvanized mesh over air vents will help prevent animals from gaining access to your garage.
- Keep grass, shrubs, and tree branches cut to prevent hiding places for animals such as snakes as well as to help keep critters from climbing onto your roof. If you’re using compost, make sure it’s placed at a reasonable distance away from your home, and be mindful to keep firewood off of the ground and away from the fence in your yard. If you leave your garbage bins outside, make sure the lids are tightly sealed, and the garbage bags are not left out in the open. Bringing pet food dishes inside at night will also help keep pests from being attracted to your property.
If you’ve noticed signs of critters around your home, accurately identifying what they could be will help you figure out the proper course of action to get rid of them. Be careful choosing products because you could not only waste your money by purchasing the wrong product, but you can force the pests to hide within the walls only to reappear later on.
Call the Professionals
If you have done what you can to eliminate a pest’s access to the food, water, and shelter your home provides and over-the-counter products are not cutting it, call Critter Control Canada. Our experts have the proper tools and knowledge to help protect your home all year round. We will safely remove any wildlife from your home or property and seal any entry points they may be using. We will also guide you on the things you can do to deter critters from being attracted to your home.
