Winter Is Coming: Preventing Wildlife Access
Yesterday, we talked about how you can keep your property free of easy food so it doesn’t look like a buffet to the squirrels, mice, and other assorted rodents and wildlife in your neck of the woods, whether you call Wilmington, Delaware or West Chester, Pennsylvania your home. Today, we’re going to talk about some steps you can take to make sure that the local pests don’t get easy access to the warmth, comfort, and safety of your home.
1. Inspect your exterior for cracks and openings. More frequently than we care to imagine, openings between our homes and the outside world can stand wide open for access to anything that can squeeze through. Any openings you find that are 1/2 inch or less in size should be filled and sealed with caulk. Any gaps that are larger than that should be first stuffed with steel wool before being sealed with caulk. These steps should make sure your home doesn’t have easy access points on the exterior. Common places you should look for these access points include:
- The crawl space
- The foundation
- Access holes for cables or piping
2. Inspect your roof. Chimneys should be capped and vents should be covered. As always when on a roof, make sure you exercise safety first, and also be sure not to completely block anything that still requires airflow.
3. Trim branches that hang over your roof. One of the easiest way for an animal to get onto your roof and start digging for entry is from overhanging limbs and branches. Be sure to trim any overhanging branches back to take away this easy access point.
4. Weatherproof your home. Anywhere wind could get in, be it at a window sill or a door jamb, a small animal could potential squirm in, as well. Check for good seal and make any repairs that are necessary.
Taking these steps will help to make sure your home is safely sealed off from unwanted rodent and wildlife access this winter. Absolute Pest Service offers a full suite of exclusion and prevention services like these listed above and more to ensure that your family are the only residents of your home this winter.
