Similar in a way to humans, wild animals get cold during the winter months and seek refuge. Often, these wild animals will seek shelter in homes because they not only provide warmth, but they also offer a source of food and water.
To prevent wildlife from taking up residence in your home in the coming months, follow these precautionary steps.
Close up or repair any access points.
Some wild animals, such as mice and rats, can enter your home through the smallest of gaps. This includes attics, vents, chimneys, and crawl spaces, as well as cracks and holes in walls or foundations.
The best way to secure these openings is by placing screens over vents and crawl spaces or installing chimneys caps. This will prevent wildlife from entering without interfering with the overall function of the appliances or openings.
Minor cracks or holes can be sealed with caulk or spackle.
Do not leave food or trash near your home.
In the winter, when food is scarce, wild animals will eat anything and everything they can find. That being said, leaving food or trash near you home is essentially the same thing as a welcome invitation.
Deter these hungry creatures by tightly securing your trash can lids and washing the containers regularly to avoid waste and smell buildup. If possible, do not put trash bags into your trash cans until the night before or morning of trash pickup. This will limit the amount of time that the animal has to track down the food source.
If you have fruit trees or gardens located on your property, be sure to promptly remove all fallen fruit or ripe vegetables. Doing so will make it harder for animals to find food, and ultimately, deter them away from your home.
Clean up debris and plant life.
In the early weeks of winter, many homeowners leave their windows and doors open for some fresh, cool air. Tree branches and shrubs can give animals direct access to your home, and ultimately, into these windows and doors.
To prevent a wildlife infestation, trim all tree branches at least six feet from the house and prune shrubs to keep them at least one foot from the house.
Additionally, all debris should be cleaned up or moved at least twenty feet away from the house. Smaller creatures love to hide out in debris, especially in piles of leaves and wood.
Have A Wildlife Problem? Call the Experts at Shumaker Animal Control
If you think you have a wildlife problem on your property, call the experts at Shumaker Animal Control to deal with the problem for you. Our experienced team will take care of the problem in a timely manner, ensuring that your home and pets are not in any danger.
At Shumaker Animal Control, we are a family-owned business who cares about the safety of you and your family but also about the well-being of the animals themselves. All of our trapping and control methods are humane, as we never try to hurt the angry or scared animal.
Call us at 443-854-8072, visit our website or fill out our contact form for more information.