Small Nuisance Pests Can Damage A Home

Wildlife animals can be cute and cuddly. Many households have at least one household member that is an animal. Whether that animal has feathers, fur or scales, those animals have a place inside your home. It's one thing to allow an animal to become a household pet; however, it's different when an unwanted animal starts residing in your home without your permission.

Animals can be sneaky little creatures. Raccoons only need a 4-inch hole to gain access

into your attic or building. If the hole is not 4-inch, they can tear their way into the building with their human like hands if they sense that area is what they want. Preventive measures that should be taken is to go around your home or building to ensure there are no holes in the siding, soffit, and roof areas. Raccoons love to reside in the attic space of a building. Once they take residence, they will tear up any insulation to use as nesting and to leave their droppings. Raccoon droppings can be toxic to breathe which can cause health issues if it is inhaled for an extended period of time. These nuisance pests can also tear up any duct work, wires, and personal items stored.

Squirrels are very much like raccoons; however, they only need a golf ball size hole to gain access. If the hole is not that small, they will chew their way into the building. Just like raccoons, squirrels like to reside in the attic space as well. These pests can tear up insulation, duct work, wires, and any personal items stored within that area.

Birds will build their nests in the corner of your gutters which can clog them up so water will not be able to drain correctly. The droppings from birds are very acidic which can eat

away at certain roof materials to cause them to leak. Birds can build their nests in your chimney or even the vents on the home. The most popular is the dryer vent. The heat from the dryer keeps their laid eggs warm; however, the nests are very flammable which can cause a house fire. Chimneys that have bird's nest built inside them can cause carbon monoxide to back up inside your home and without the proper ventilation systems could be life threatening.

Bats find shelter in the attics of homes. They don't ask for permission before moving in and they don't mind making a mess while they are there. They can enter the home by the smallest opening to the attic, 3/8 of an inch. Bat guano produces a lot of ammonia gas, which is poisonous, and can make you sick if you inhale it for an extended length of time. The more guano that continues to collect from the bats, the more gas is produced. When it comes to cleaning up the guano, there is a proper way to do it, by leaving it to a licensed professional.

Mice can squeeze through a hole the size of a nickel and rats the size of half a quarter. They also can gain access into a building by using an old plumbing pipe. Once mice are inside the building, they multiply quickly and before you know it you will have generations of mice living with you.

Skunks will wonder onto your property as if you invited them. They can make a den under porches or sheds. In order to ensure they cannot get under a structure, a preventive measure to use is to screen lattice and place around the structure.

Groundhogs are different. These animals dig their way onto your property. They can dig

as 5 feet below the soil and 45 feet in length with as many as 5-7 tunnels. The holes of groundhogs are about 9-inches wide and there is a pile of dirt at the entrance. They can dig their tunnels under fences, porches, sheds or even the foundation of your home. The preventive measure used against groundhogs are a dig defense which is wire placed down under the soil which goes around a structure. Also screened lattice around the structure will help any animal from being able to get under there.

If you have seen evidence of a nuisance pest taking residence inside your home or would like to be proactive to take measures against these animals, give Elite Wildlife Removal a call at 804-867-7184. Our friendly staff will be more than happy to work with you regarding any of your wildlife needs.