Solutions to Prevent Uninvited Furry Visitors

Git outta my house or I’ma gonna blast ya – ya flea bitten, long eared, no good varmint!”

Yosemite Sam had it made. If he encountered a “Varmint” he could always “blast em to smithereens!” Despite the fact that the varmint (aka Bugs Bunny) always got the best of him, Sam was able to take offensive action to defend his property – or whatever else that rascally rabbit wanted.

As a homeowner, prevention is the best medicine. Winter is approaching and all manner of “critters” will be looking for the same things you do – food and a warm place to stay. Even in a pristine home, the warmth of the indoors is a tempting lure to creatures who often are looking for a place to create their nursery. You don’t have to be Château Varmint! A few simple fixes will prevent a winter of “the pitter patter of little feet!”

Did you know that a mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime? Any opening larger than that leaves the door wide open for a winter rodent occupation. While you could get a cat, it’s also a good idea to keep those critters from getting in, in the first place.

Look for small openings along the perimeter of your home. Small gaps in boards and siding could be an invitation for a winter sleep over. As long as you are certain that there are no critters already inside you can seal up these gaps.

If you’re not sure, make sure. Separating a mother anything from its offspring is a cruel end for the youngsters, no matter how icky you might think they are. To find out if you have indoor occupants, place a piece of crumpled paper or other light material (cotton balls etc) in the opening and wait overnight. Whatever material you use should be light enough for a small creature to move. Disturbance of the material will indicate extra resident(s). From there you can take proper measures to humanely eradicate the occupiers.

Your gutters, and any gaps in them, or between them, are also an inviting home for some critters. They don’t call them Roof Rats for no reason. To prevent this kind of “occupation” be sure to clear any vegetation or food sources (like bird feeders) from the perimeter of your home and make any needed repairs to your gutter system

Did you know that those lovely vines growing up the side of your home are really a beautiful leafy welcome mat for squirrels and other rodents? If these are a problem in your area, it might make sense to remove the vegetation and make any needed repairs including closing up holes and gaps.

Do you have a doggy or kitty door? These make excellent entrances for raccoons or possums who come inside seeking your pet’s food. Not only are they annoying, they can carry diseases that are dangerous to your pet. Be sure that the pet door is secure at night or that you upgrade to the kind of pet door that has a magnetic release triggered by an ID tag on your pet’s collar.

And then there’s that space under your house. Raccoons and skunks find those especially inviting. There’s nothing more challenging than evicting a mother raccoon. By sealing up any entrances to larger spaces under your home, you can avoid having to call animal or pest control services to help these noisy (and smelly) neighbors move out!

If all that sounds like too much work, we’re here to help! The Fix-It Professionals have experience with preventing – and in some cases helping homeowners deal with the removal of – unwanted guests. Read on for our September “Varmint Prevention Special.”

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