Wildlife is a crucial component of our ecosystem, and each animal deserves its place with us. The situations only become problematic when the wildlife tries to break into our home or invades it, especially when the cooler months hit. During the winter season, animals look for warmth and comfort and come inside uninvited. It doesn’t take any longer for them to start creating a nuisance, damaging the building and wiring, and exposing our loving family and pets to serious diseases.
If that worries you in the corner of your heart and you want to steer away from such stress, you must take every possible precaution to stop them right outside. Before we head onto the much-needed protection measures, let us first know the list of pesky creatures you are expected to find in your neighborhood during different times of the year and the ways they get in there –
- Rodents
These life forms can fit through extremely small openings infloors, walls, and foundation and enter through cracks and holes in them. Gaps in windows, ceilings, and sewer lines are also open invitations for them.
- Squirrels
These pests are clever and make their ways through holes, damaged areas, and gaps in your home by chewing on insulation and electrical wires. A tree limb overlapping your roof is the perfect bridge for them to hop on and enter through uncapped chimneys.
- Birds
Sparrows and European starlings are usual nesters in Canada. They get in your home through wall vents, roof vents or gaps between brick and soffit, blocking your ventilation systems in no time and staining bricks with droppings.
- Raccoons
They can enter through dormer or any architectural bend leading sections of the roof as soffits remain unsecured. Common entry points are soffit vents, gable vents, and other roof vents. Some raccoons are strong enough to rip apart shingles and wooden roof.
- Snakes
These are so sneaky that they get in through any crack or gap possible, whether around doors, sidings, or bricks. They can even get inside large plants and live in there until you poke around.
- Opossums and Armadillos
These are often found in attics, crawl spaces, decks, porches, and tool sheds. They, too, tear apart loose vents and also rip holes in shingles or siding like raccoons to enter your home.
Here is how you can safeguard your home from wildlife –
- Practice proper waste disposal. Remove all sorts of food sources that induce them to come near your residence. Do cover the trash cans.
- Repair and seal holes and cracks in your house, especially near the entry and exit points, even if they seem to be the smallest.
- Examine your home and shut the openings to exhaust fans, soffits, attic vents, and utility pipes. Install chimney caps as well.
- Use weatherstripping for windows and doors. Install door sweeps on front doors.
- Keep firewood stacks and leaves piles at least twenty feet away from your premises.
- Trim the bushes and overhanging trees frequently.
- Call wildlife removal experts.
