Storm Damage & Wildlife: How Summer Weather Creates Entry Points

Summer brings more than sunshine and warm weather—it’s also prime time for thunderstorms, high winds, and heavy rain. While storms may pass quickly, their damage can invite nuisance wildlife to move in unexpectedly.

The usual critters we deal with are opportunistic. If storms compromise parts of your home, they won’t take long to find the weak points. Here’s how summer weather increases the risk of wildlife intrusion and our recommendations.

How Storms Create Entry Points for Wildlife

1. Loose or Damaged Soffits and Fascia

High winds and heavy rains can loosen soffit panels or pull them completely away from the roofline. Squirrels and raccoons love to use these gaps to enter attics and upper crawl spaces.

2. Broken Vents or Missing Covers

Exhaust vents and gable vents can become damaged or lose their protective covers during severe storms. These vents are optimal points of access for birds, bats, and rodents to move in and start nesting.

3. Shingles & Roof Damage

Missing or broken shingles and lifted flashing can create entry points into attics or ceiling spaces. Water damage softens materials over time, making them even more susceptible to exploitation by animals.

4. Fallen Tree Limbs

Storm-damaged trees or overhanging branches can give climbing animals like raccoons and squirrels a direct pathway to your roof. Fallen branches can also damage siding, rooflines, or windows, making your home even more vulnerable.

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After a Storm Passes

After the storm passes, take a few minutes to assess your home for any damage:

• Soffit or fascia boards that appear loose or bent
• Missing or damaged vent covers
• Displaced roof shingles or visible holes
• Tree branches resting on or near the roof
• Water stains in the attic or upper walls
• Signs of wildlife activity, such as droppings, nesting material, or strange noises

Promptly taking action can help protect your home from critters. Scheduling a professional inspection, even for minor damage, can prevent animals from forming entry points. Repair any problem areas, such as holes, broken vents, and loose soffits. Consider adding vent covers and chimney caps for added protection. Trimming overhanging tree branches at least 6–8 feet from your roof can limit easy access for animals that like to climb.

Final Thoughts

Summer storms open the door for uninvited wildlife guests. Acting quickly after a storm can save you from bigger problems. If you’re unsure where to start, we’re here to help with thorough inspections, efficient removal, and custom exclusion solutions to keep animals out, no matter the weather.

Noticed damage after a storm? Contact us for animal removal and exclusion!

Spring Cleaning for Wildlife Prevention: Yard and Home Checklist

Prevent Wildlife from Invading Your Home This Spring

Wildlife activity increases as the weather warms up, and animals begin searching for shelter, food, and nesting spots. Without proper prevention, your property could become a home for raccoons, squirrels, rodents, and birds.

Performing a spring wildlife inspection is essential to keep your property safe. Check out this yard and home checklist to deter nuisance wildlife and prevent damage to your property.

1. Secure Trash and Eliminate Food Sources

Many animals, including raccoons, opossums, and other animals, are drawn to unsecured trash and outdoor food sources. To prevent wildlife from foraging on your property:

✅ Use trash cans with secure, locking lids.
✅ Store garbage bins in a garage or shed until collection day.
✅ Remove pet food, birdseed, and compost from accessible areas.

By eliminating food sources, you reduce the chances of attracting unwanted visitors.

2. Remove Yard Debris and Overgrown Vegetation

Debris provides optimal hiding spots for snakes, rodents, and other animals. Keeping your property well-maintained will deter wildlife from settling in:

✅ Rake leaves and clear brush piles that create nesting areas.
✅ Trim tree branches that overhang or touch your roof, preventing easy access to potential entry points.
✅ Store firewood away from your home and elevate it off the ground.

A clean yard minimizes wildlife shelter options, keeping them at a safe distance from your home.

3. Inspect and Seal Entry Points in Your Home

Even the smallest gaps can become an entryway for rodents, squirrels, and bats. Spring is the perfect time to inspect your home’s exterior and seal potential wildlife access points:

✅ Check soffits, eaves, vents, and gable areas for holes or chew marks.
✅ Contact a professional for custom vent screening and chimney cap installation.
✅ Have professional sealing completed around foundation cracks, utility line gaps, and roof openings.

Proactively wildlife-proofing your home can prevent costly repair and remediation in the future.

4. Protect Your Attic, Basement, and Crawl Spaces

Your attic, basement, and crawl spaces offer warmth and shelter, making them a haven for wildlife. Check these areas for signs of intrusion:

✅ Look for droppings, nesting materials, or unusual noises in your attic.
✅ Inspect insulation and wood structures for chewing or damage.
✅ Ensure attic vents and chimney caps are intact and secure.

A properly sealed home discourages animals from seeking refuge indoors.

5. Eliminate Standing Water and Drainage Issues

Water sources attract mosquitoes, rodents, and larger wildlife seeking hydration. Address these common problem areas:

✅ Clean gutters and downspouts to prevent water buildup.
✅ Fix leaky outdoor faucets and hoses that create puddles.
✅ Empty or refresh birdbaths, pet bowls, and planter trays regularly.

Proper drainage reduces wildlife attraction and helps maintain a healthier outdoor space.

6. Take Action Before Nesting Season Begins

Spring is nesting season for birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other animals. Taking preventive measures early can stop them from settling in unwanted spaces:

✅ Inspect shutters, vents, and under decks for nesting debris.
✅ Ask a professional for help with installing chimney caps and vent covers before animals move in.
✅ If you notice an active nest, contact a professional for removal.

Preventing nests reduces property damage and potential health risks associated with wildlife.

7. Schedule a Professional Wildlife Inspection

As DIY prevention isn’t always effective, some wildlife problems require expert intervention. As a professional wildlife control specialist, we can:

✅ Identify potential entry points you might overlook.
✅ Offer customized exclusion solutions to keep wildlife out for good.
✅ Provide safe removal if animals have already moved in.

A proactive wildlife inspection ensures long-term protection and peace of mind.

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Final Thoughts

Spring cleaning isn’t just about tidying up—it’s about protecting your home from nuisance wildlife before problems arise.

Need help securing your home this spring? Contact us today for expert wildlife removal and exclusion services!

 

Protecting Your Garden from Animals

If you’re gardening, you likely want to know how to protect your garden from animals eating your plants. Here are some tips:

1. Identify the Culprit and Use Deterrents

Knowing what animal is causing the damage is the first step to finding an effective solution. Sprinkling chili powder on your plants can deter animals from eating them. However, this only works for above-ground threats and won’t protect against animals that eat grubs and other underground organisms. Visual deterrents can help keep birds away, and chili powder may deter climbing animals like raccoons, opossums, and squirrels.

2. Install Effective Fencing

Fences can be effective if animals are digging underground. Common garden invaders include groundhogs, moles, skunks, rabbits, squirrels, and mice. For groundhogs, a heavy-gauge wire system around your garden’s perimeter, buried underground, is an effective solution. Moles create extensive burrows and uproot plants while searching for insects like grubs and earthworms. Underground fencing can help prevent their tunneling.

3. Consider Professional Wildlife Removal

When dealing with persistent wildlife intrusions, it might be necessary to call in professionals. Wildlife removal services can help with the humane trapping and relocation of animals that are causing problems in your garden. Our team has over 15 years of experience in wildlife removal. We can thoroughly inspect your property, identify the animals causing issues, and recommend effective solutions. From installing fences and barriers to trapping and relocating animals, we ensure your garden is protected.

4. Implement Long-Term Prevention Strategies

Beyond immediate removal, we offer long-term prevention strategies. This includes advising on points we identify in our inspection like proper garden maintenance, such as securing compost bins, keeping pet food indoors, and removing potential shelters for animals like woodpiles or dense shrubbery.  Knowing the habits and behaviors of animals in your area can help you anticipate and prevent problems before they start.

For effective garden protection, consider these strategies and always aim for the humane removal of animals when necessary. If you need wildlife removal or prevention assistance, contact us for expert help. We are committed to helping you maintain a thriving garden while respecting and protecting the local wildlife.

Winter is a time of year when wildlife behavior changes drastically, often leading to increased interactions between animals and humans. Unfortunately, misconceptions about these behaviors can result in ineffective or even harmful approaches to managing wildlife. Understanding the facts about winter wildlife habits is crucial, especially when it comes to nuisance wildlife removal.

Myth 1: All Wildlife Hibernates in Winter

One of the most common myths is that all animals hibernate during the winter. While some species, like bears and groundhogs, enter a state of hibernation, many others remain active throughout the season. For example, squirrels and raccoons continue to forage for food, often seeking shelter in human structures. This is where the need for effective exclusion techniques becomes essential. Ensuring that entry points are sealed and that potential nesting areas are secured can prevent these animals from taking up residence in your home.

Myth 2: Wildlife Won’t Invade Your Home in Winter

Another widespread misconception is that wildlife won’t enter homes during the colder months. In reality, the opposite is true. The warmth and shelter provided by human structures are highly attractive to animals like mice, bats, and even larger critters like raccoons. Ignoring this fact can lead to significant damage and health risks, making it crucial to address potential entry points before winter sets in.

Myth 3: Wildlife Won’t Cause Damage in Winter

Many people believe that wildlife activity slows down in winter, reducing the risk of property damage. However, animals like woodpeckers can continue to cause harm, even during the colder months. Woodpeckers, for instance, may still engage in drumming on homes, particularly if they find the structure suitable for nesting. Debunking this myth emphasizes the importance of ongoing wildlife management and the need for professional help to mitigate damage before it occurs.

Myth 4: DIY Solutions Are Effective for Winter Wildlife Problems

It’s tempting to rely on DIY solutions for winter wildlife issues, but these methods often fall short. Whether it’s using repellents or setting traps, these approaches can be ineffective and may even exacerbate the problem. For example, improperly set traps can lead to animals suffering or escaping, only to return later. Professional wildlife removal services offer more effective, humane solutions tailored to the specific needs of your property and the type of wildlife involved.

Myth 5: Animals in Winter Aren’t a Health Risk

Finally, there’s a dangerous myth that winter wildlife doesn’t pose a health risk. The truth is that many animals, even in winter, can carry diseases that are transmissible to humans. Bats, for instance, can carry rabies, and rodents are known to spread hantavirus through their droppings. Proper removal and cleanup are vital to ensuring the safety of your household.

Conclusion

Understanding the realities of winter wildlife behavior is crucial for protecting your home and health. Debunking these common myths allows for more effective and humane management of nuisance wildlife. If you’re experiencing wildlife issues this winter, don’t rely on myths or DIY methods—contact us for a safe and effective solution!

Protecting Your Home from Wildlife During Winter Storms

Winter storms bring snow, ice, and often wildlife seeking shelter from the cold. Animals like raccoons, squirrels, mice, and birds may view your home as a safe haven when temperatures drop and food becomes scarce. While they seek survival, their presence can cause damage and create health risks. Here’s how to protect your home from wildlife during extreme winter weather with the help of professionals.

1. Hire Professionals to Seal Entry Points

Sealing entry points is crucial to keeping wildlife out. Animals find and squeeze through even the smallest gaps around windows, doors, vents, and roofs. A professional wildlife exclusion expert can inspect your home’s exterior for potential entry points. They will use materials like aluminum flashing, heavy-duty mesh, and durable caulking to seal gaps, ensuring your home is secure.

2. Professionally Secure Attics and Basements

Attics and basements are common entry points for wildlife. Instead of DIY solutions, hire a professional to install vent covers and repair roof damage. They can also inspect for less obvious vulnerabilities, like cracks in the foundation, providing a thorough solution to keep wildlife out.

3. Protect Your Chimney with Professional Help

Birds, bats, and small mammals may try to enter chimneys during winter storms. A professional can install a chimney cap with a mesh screen, allowing smoke to escape while keeping wildlife out. It’s also important to have regular inspections, especially after storms, to ensure the cap is secure.

4. Keep Your Garage and Sheds Closed and Inspected

Garages and sheds offer easy shelter for wildlife. Close doors, but also have a professional check for gaps or holes. Experts can add weatherstripping and suggest proper storage for pet food and garbage to minimize wildlife attraction.

5. Professional Tree and Shrub Maintenance

Overhanging branches and thick shrubs provide animals with access to roofs and windows. Hiring a professional to trim trees and maintain landscaping will reduce the chances of wildlife reaching your home, and help prevent damage from falling branches during a storm.

6. Manage Snow and Ice Build-Up with Expert Guidance

Snow and ice can create pathways for animals to access your home. A professional can advise on clearing snow buildup near your foundation to prevent wildlife from reaching entry points, as well as fix any vulnerabilities in the exterior exposed by winter conditions.

7. Plan for Wildlife Encounters with Professional Support

Even with precautions, wildlife may seek refuge around your home during a storm. Contact a licensed wildlife removal expert to handle the situation safely and humanely. Avoid handling wildlife yourself to reduce risks for both you and the animal.

Conclusion

Winter storms can push wildlife closer to homes, causing potential risks and damage. By working with professional wildlife removal and exclusion experts, you can secure your home and avoid unwelcome guests. Taking steps like sealing entry points and seeking expert guidance will help keep your home protected all winter. If you face a wildlife issue, remember that professional help is available to ensure the safety of both your family and the animals.