Wildlife Entry Points: Soffit

Wildlife find soffit vents to be one of the perfect entry points to your home. Read on to know what repairs and additions you can do to your soffit to prevent entry of wildlife animals.

During winter, wild animals tend to find places to hole up where the temperature is more bearable. Unfortunately, attics and ceilings seem to be the perfect spot for these animals to spend the season in. They become your uninvited house guests. The cold season is long enough for you to bear these animals, especially when they start mating and breeding. They become annoying and they disrupt your regular home life. Damage to property almost always comes with the invasion of these furry friends. Preventing these wildlife animals from entering your home is your best bet.

Some animals such as squirrels and raccoons tend to gnaw on your house’s exterior features. They create entry points where there are weak spots on the wall. Even small holes are potential entry points because these furry animals are able to squeeze through even the smallest of spaces. Other entry points include soffit, attic vents and chimneys. Given that there are a lot of possible entry points around your home, take the time to inspect all sides of your walls, as well as all vents and chimneys. Note all repairs that need to be done. Before working on the repairs, make sure that there are no more animals living in your attic or between walls. If you close and repair entry points when there are still animals co-habiting with you, the potential problems are larger. They can cause damages to your walls, insulation and wiring that may cause a fire later on.

Inspect all soffit vents around your house. The soffit is that part of your exterior that is similar to ceiling of your interior. Soffits refer to the underside of the extended roof. Soffit vent covers are available in most hardware stores. You can buy and install these yourself by screwing the covers to the soffit board. For added protection, you can staple cloth or wire screen (available in hardware stores, the ones that are half an inch (1.3cm) that you can easily attach to the vent covers. Just make sure also that your vents are secure in place. Some animals are able to loosen the vents and screens when poorly attached.

When in doubt about your DIY skills (or lack of), call for professionalhelp because they know what and how things should be done to keep those animals out of your property.

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Wildlife Entry Points: Chimneys

Wildlife usually invade homes by passing through chimneys. Protect your house from these animals by repairing and/or modifying your chimney.

You hear noises from your attic and wonder what that could be, until you realize that a mother squirrel probably gave birth to a bunch of babies in the middle of the night. There is a little party going on inside your house and they are not even invited! It can get really frustrating when you find out that other wild animals, not only squirrels, have invaded your house. Worse than living in your attic, these animals can potentially cause damage to your property.

You are not alone in this problem. During the colder months, wild animals tend to move to warmer places where it is more comfortable and sheltered. These animals may find attics to be the perfect cozy spot they can stay in for extended periods of time. Do not be surprised then if they actually mate and breed during that period.

They gain access to your house in many different ways. Some animals look for weak spots on your exterior walls and create holes as entry points. Some holes are small enough that you would probably think it is irrelevant, but note these animals are capable of squeezing themselves in, regardless of the entry size. Vents, soffits and attics when left uncovered give access to these animals, too.

Chimneys are the usual entry points going to your attic. Make sure that you have chimney covers installed. A regular steel screen can do the trick. Screens are available in hardware stores and you can attach them using a staple gun. If your chimney is too large for steel screens, consider installing chimney caps. Make sure the cap is the right size because ventilation is important when to avoid chimney fires. For added protection against animals, steel screens may be attached on the sides of the chimney cap. Whatever you decide to use, secure it properly and guarantee proper air flow.

You can perform these safety measures on your own to prevent entry of animals into your home. But when you are already have a wildlife infestation, consider calling for help from animal control experts because they know better ways to get rid of your unwanted visitors.

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Wildlife Entry Points: Roof and Fascia

Common entry points for wildlife are your home’s roof and fascia. Learn how to properly seal and prevent any wildlife from entering these areas.

As much as we try to keep our home clean and our rooms tidy, sometimes, a wake-up call in the form of an unwanted house guest can threaten even the most immaculate of settings. But don’t stress out too much. Keeping wildlife out can be hassle-free if you know the right steps to take to prevent those seemingly cute and cuddly creatures from entering your home. It all starts with prevention.

Assessing your home and surrounding areas is the first step in wildlife-proofing. Common entry points include intersections in your roof and soffits, and spaces or cracks in the fascia. Animals can gain access through these points and make their way into your attic. This area is where a portion of the overhang meets the lower section of the roof – for instance between the garage roof and the main roof of the house. Raccoons are the most common wildlife culprit that enters this area of the home.

Repair any cracks or rotted or broken areas in the fascia or roof using a 16 to 19 gauge welded wire mesh (1 inch x 1 inch or half inch by half inch). This is available in most hardware stores. Mid-October is the best time to work on roof repairs as most wildlife babies are already moving about and are easier to move out of temporary dens they may have made in your home. But do be aware that winter may also be migration time for some animals that might choose to seek shelter your home to escape the winter cold. Before starting your repairs, make sure there are no existing occupants in your attic. Closing up this entry point before removing wildlife from your attic may lead to even more issues.

Consult a professional if you’re not sure of how to go about wildlife-proofing your home. This will ensure it is done properly and can prevent further damage from happening.

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Wildlife Entry Points: Decks and Porches

Common entry points for wildlife are your home’s deck and porch. Learn tips on how you can keep them out for good.

Sometimes, despite our best efforts in keeping our home tidy and making sure everything is in order, the occasional unwanted house guest still manages to get in. Small wildlife like raccoons, mice, squirrels, and skunks, find our home too desirable to pass up. With a bountiful supply

of food and warm and cozy nooks and crannies to take shelter in, it’s no wonder our furry little friends want in. Although keeping them out of our homes will require time and money, prevention is key when it comes to wildlife control, and it is still a lot cheaper than dealing with a full-blown infestation..

Common entry points for wildlife are decks and porches. Since these are usually close to the ground and often have small openings, they will be easily accessible for small wildlife. Preventive measures include setting up exclusion barriers, such as taking steps to block any holes and cracks that can serve as an entry point to wildlife.

View your home or deck/porch area through the eyes of a squirrel (or similar animal), then

critter-proof your home accordingly. But before you start, check to see if any wildlife has already

entered your space. If you close entry points prematurely, you could be trapping an animal

inside which could cause them to suffer and die with no means of escape. If you aren’t sure if

there are any animals inside, place a sheet of paper or cloth at the entry point and check back

in a few days to see if it’s been moved. If it has, contact a professional humane wildlife removal

service so they can assist you. If the sheet hasn’t been moved, you can use wood lattice to cover

the perimeter of the opening beneath your deck or porch, or use trench screening to keep

wildlife out.

Regardless of the season, make sure your home is properly wildlife proofed and should you have

an infestation problem, removal of the animals should be done humanely and without harming the environment.

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