Winter Wildlife Concerns: Preparing Your Property for Hibernation Season

When winter is on its way, the colder months will bring changes both in nature and in animal behavior. Afterall, winter is hibernation season for many wild animals. If they choose your home as their hideaway, nuisance wildlife can cause a great deal of property damage and put you and your loved ones’ health at risk. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent unwanted guests from moving in for the winter. Here’s how to wildlife-proof your home or business for hibernation season.

Wildlife-Proofing Techniques

There are several actions you can take before winter to guarantee nuisance wildlife stay away during hibernation season. Helpful wildlife removal and prevention techniques include:

• Inspecting the Chimney: Your chimney is one of the most vulnerable entry points in your home. Without the proper wildlife prevention techniques, it’s easy for critters such as squirrels and raccoons to scurry their way down and into your home. Regularly check your chimney flue for wildlife and install a chimney cap to guarantee exclusion.
• Sealing Up Entry Points: If you’ve been putting off home maintenance, now is the time. Inspect your property and look for other potential entry points, such as holes or cracks in your eaves, fascia boards and flashing. Doors and windows can also have gaps that are large enough for nuisance wildlife to squeeze through. Seal off smaller entry points with caulk or foam, and use wire mesh for larger gaps. Replace any worn weather stripping as you see it.
• Cleaning Up Interiors: Keeping your home and garage clean may be the easiest way to deter wildlife from sticking around. Store perishable goods in sealed, rodent-proof containers, and make sure pet food is locked tight. Wipe up countertops and floors, and keep your trash secured tightly in a sealed trash can.
• Trimming the Trees: If your yard contains tall trees, you might want to trim them back. Many nuisance wildlife use tree limbs to jump from branches onto your roof, guaranteeing easy access. Remove any limbs that are within eight feet of your roof, and trim up any shrubs or bushes that touch your home. The less cover wildlife have, the harder it is for them to make their way inside.
• Tidying Up the Yard: Once your foliage is taken care of, it’s time to address the rest of your yard. Remove debris from gutters and spouts and clean up any boards or brick piles. If you store firewood on your property, keep it in a clean, dry space outdoors and away from your home.

The Dangers of DIY Wildlife Removal

If, after you implement the above wildlife-proofing methods, nuisance wildlife still make their way on your property, then you should contact wildlife removal professionals. Attempting to remove wild animals on your own can result in physical harm to you and the animal and risks the spread of diseases. Instead, rely on the effective, safe and humane services from Critter Control® of Pittsburgh.

Year-Round Professional Wildlife Removal Services

Whether you’re looking to remove nuisance wildlife or prevent an infestation from starting, the experienced technicians at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh will quickly and safely remove nuisance pests and invasive wildlife from your property and keep them from returning. Schedule your inspection and receive a free wildlife removal estimate by calling us today at 412-767-4067.