One of the things that you should consider is that during the winter months, your warm attic is the ideal spot for wildlife. This means that you may be unwittingly entertaining guests this season. Wild animals can cause damage to your property, health problems, and unnecessary panic, and it starts from figuring out ordering an inspection. This article will share issues that may require an inspection as well as ways you can perform a DIY, which professional services if you require, how the professional inspection goes as well as how you can prevent wildlife invasion in the future.
Signs You May Need a Winter Wildlife Home Inspection
Central Florida has a large amount of wildlife, and if you’re a homeowner, the last thing you want to deal with is unwanted animal guests. With that said, there are some animals that tend to be more troublesome during winter. If you’re worried about your home being used as a shelter by wildlife, then consider taking these suggestions into account, it will not only help prevent your home from being damaged but would save you money in the long run. Here’s what to look for.
Unusual Noises in Walls or Attic
Squeaking, scratching or scuttling sounds are a sign of wildlife intruding your home. Hiding within your walls or attics will be raccoons, mice, and other such rodents. During the day, Squirrels tend to move around a lot, causing similar sounds. Consider keeping track of where and when such animals make these sounds, because they’ll assist you in figuring out what kind of wildlife is nesting in your house. Remember going deaf to these sounds would only worsen the situation if you’re facing an infestation, the damages would increase substantially.
Droppings or Urine Stains
Marks are a clear indicator of presence of an animal and so is animal waste. Inspection in basements, crawl spaces and attics for feces that varies with the type of animal such as cylindrical and small of a rat or raccoon that is larger and similar to dog’s droppings is necessary. Some ceilings and wall may exhibit orange stains which are the result of animal urine being left unattended. Animal urine can cause persistent smells and health risks.
Damaged Entry Points
Examine wall holes, door gaps, and broken vents. Wild animals tend to chew or scratch their way inside a house through weak areas like vents, eaves, and soffits. These parts should be regularly checked in order to help you spot weak points before animals exploit them. Repairing these points in a timely way can save you money later.
Chewed Wires or Insulation
Wires that have been chewed away, insulation that has been torn about, or nests that have been constructed, signify that animals have made their dash in your house which specifically includes rodents. Chewing wires is a practice that rodents adopt so their teeth do not over grow and this presents them, and their homes, with fire threats. Once wires are snagged, it not only renders your house and electrical appliances inefficient, comparatively, but also acts as a homes or insulation of sorts for animals. Whilst searing or artificial devices can be used to identify wretched wiring or snagged insulation, this technique is still time consuming. If these areas are checked time and again, the probability of energy loss and the start of a fire can greatly be reduced.
Unpleasant Odors
Animal droppings or a decayed animal inside the walls or roof space can emit odor that is potent and disgusting. Such smells can even attract other pests such as flies and beetles. If any stench seems to be not going away then it is important to identify the cause so as to minimize the risk of spread and more infestations. Such things can be removed and even the smell can be gotten rid of in a safe manner. Cleansing such a mess might be a larger issue if you ignore the smells now.If you notice any of these signs, take quick action to address the issue to protect your home and health.
Intervene and take action to protect your property as well as your health from these signs.
DIY Tips for Inspecting Your Home for Winter Wildlife
Professional inspections are extensive but there are things you can do to self-examine for potential wildlife issues. Here are a couple guesses that help you to self-narrate or chief please ensure to do a basic checkup for:
Inspect Your Roof and Chimney
Animal like squirrels or raccoons usually use the roof to access your house. Check all areas that might be difficult to access using binoculars. Ensure there are in fact chimney caps to prevent access. Evidence of nesting material or growth markings left by claws indicate regular animal activity in the region.
Examine the Foundation
Areas around the foundation occasionally have leaks, holes and openings that should not be under such situations. Mice can also enter your house through dime-sized holes, always search for common entry points such as where pipes and utility enter your house. Sealing such openings can work as a proactive measure to prevent the animal from entering your house. The structure also regularly releases or damages leaks that can help protect wildlife from moderation.
Inspect Vents and Screens
Examine trim rot, screen rot or any other rot around exhaust points and vents. Missing or broken screens provide an easy entry for animals. Inspect other vents such as may be around the dryer, attic or even crawl space for destruction or movements made by animals such as claw or even fur marks. Modifying or replacing these screens may help mitigate further invasions.
Check for Signs of Chewing
Examine wood, wires and even plastic substances looking out for chew marks. Animals, especially rodents do gnaw in order to maintain their teeth’s sharpness. Check baseboards, furniture and other hairpieces in the black attic or basement for any signs of chewing. Chewed up wires are dangerous, as they are a fire hazard. It is critical to take care of chewed wires ASAP. Prompt repairs on these damages can help maintain the security and efficiency of your property.
Look for Droppings and Tracks
Track and droppings of the animal are some of the major indicators of an animal infestation. Examine the basement and attic, as well as the garage. Use a torch to scan dark areas or sprinkle flour over the area of suspected movement to see if there are tracks. The type of action that would be taken based on the animal is determined by the type of droppings or tracks it leaves behind. Removing and cleaning a construction debris can be made easier with early detection.
Doing a walkthrough yourself can help you in spotting issues from the start, but contacting a professional can also prove useful in solving the problem completely.
When to Call Professionals
If the situation calls for animal control, then we highly recommend that you involve Wildout Animal and Pest Removal, as we are best suited to deal with such situations. Here are times when we advise contacting us:
Persistent Noises Without a Source
If you are hearing muffled sounds of scratching and thumping and are unable to identify the source, then you will need our assistance as we utilize specialized equipment including thermal cameras and borescopes, all these tools allow us to locate hidden animals and their entry points. This prevents us from missing out on any offenders.
Extensive Property Damage
Once an animal intrusion has caused untamed destruction along the lines of wires being chewed away or insulation material being damaged then you will need to contact us. Our animal control specialists conduct a thorough evaluation of the area which seems to notice the different facets of destruction and they create strategies that focus on the current damage and restrain from any further challenges.
Presence of Dangerous Wildlife
Most times, when we see venomous snakes or raccoons in our house we tend to confront them, This is a bad idea, as animal control specialists are highly trained professionals who have the right skill set for such scenarios. Attempting to remove the warded off animals can put you in a life threatening mess.
Health Concerns
Animal excrement, urine and nests can be fatal to your family, and wildlife professionals dress up in protective equipment and have sanitizers to clean the problematic areas, thereby reducing the chances of spinning diseases like hantavirus and salmonella.
Multiple Entry Points
Securing your home can be challenging when animals have made multiple points of access. To address this, professionals seal all the entry points of your home with strong materials. This overall strategy keeps animals away from your home.
However, consulting a professional at the start can help you save time and allow you to remedy the situation faster.
What a Typical Professional Home Inspection Includes
A wildlife professional assessment is in depth, and the entire property will be checked. Expect to see the following components in such evaluation:
Initial Assessment
The eye witness’s first signs of the wild animal will become the starting point. Once a professional figures out that there were certain noises heard or some animal was seen or smelled, a proper plan is devised to further aid in solving the issue.
Exterior Inspection
The boundaries of your residence will be checked for any unobtrusive entrances. These locations include the roof, foundation, vents, soffits, eaves, as well as other outside areas, including the tracks and burrows in your yard used by the wild animals.
Interior Inspection
Professional inspections include searching in various places such as attics, crawl spaces in basements, etched within the walls looking for animal feces, and nests made from various materials. They also inspect for damaged structures, and they use infrared cameras to locate animals hidden in your property and other tools.
Species Identification
It is pertinent to know the type of animal to formulate the removal and prevention techniques. Experts examine indicators, for instance droppings or tracks to verify the species.
Detailed Report
After the inspection, you will receive a full report with the results of the examination. This includes photos of the entries, temperatures of damage and what would need to be done as a follow up.
Removal Plan
Such species and such numbers call for an effective removal strategy. Experts draw up a removal strategy that meets your removal needs. This usually includes trapping (including cage traps) or exclusion of the animal. A licensed professional does not disregard any wildlife laws during the removal procedure of the animals.
Prevention Strategies
Experts block access points, provide deterrents and maintenance schedule to ensure protection of premises against animals. They also suggest zone alterations to reduce animals from visiting your house.
Engaging a Professional to Inspect and taking these steps in conjunction can protect a dwelling from animals for an extended period.
How to Prevent Future Wildlife Intrusions
Your residence or business could always face a wildlife problem, to solve these issues; prevention needs to be your priority. To safeguard yourself and your business, you can use the following methods.
Seal Entry Points
Look for cracks and holes around your house and plug them using strong materials such as metal mesh and/or concrete. Pay particular attention to the gaps around doors, windows, and utility lines. Addressing entry points at an early stage can prevent wildlife from accessing your house. Repairing these regions assist in long-term protection.
Keep Your Yard Clean
Clear dead leaves and branches, rake up leaf piles and make sure the grass is neatly cut. These measures are effective in reducing the appeal of your property to wildlife. Keeping your garden neat also decreases the chances of animals looking for shelter within your home. These are easy steps you can take to guarantee that one of the approaches to your house will not attract animals.
Secure Trash and Food Sources
Invest in wildlife proof garbage bins and places where pet food is to be kept indoors. Also pick up any rotten fruit or bird seeds that may encourage animals to come to your property. One of the best ways to curb wildlife infestation is to limit their access to food. Regularly cleaning trash areas may assist in preventing further complications.
Install Barriers
One can install barriers such as vents and chimney caps. These will restrict access to animals attempting to use these locations as a means of entry. Barriers will also augment the protection of installations already in place. Professional materials tend to give the best results.
Schedule Regular Inspections
Regular inspection by experts can find possible weaknesses and deal with them before animals or other types of wildlife become a nuisance. It also is time and cost effective. Experts can also give specific recommendations to keep a house free from wildlife.
By following these steps, you greatly decrease the risk of future animal invasions.
Why Choose Wildout Animal and Pest Removal
Wildout Animal and Pest Removal is a professional company that consists of experts who do wildlife inspections and removals. The team utilizes all the humane approaches and prioritizes customer safety and satisfaction. This is the reason why homeowners rely on us:
Comprehensive Inspections
We visit your premises and assess if there are any sightings of wildlife and or risk factors for them. The whole process is comprehensive with no detail being skipped and this is most effective. They include a look both inside and outside the property.
Experienced Team
We have been working with all kinds of wildlife in Central Florida for many years now. We can deal with an infestation of a certain species of creature no matter what it is. This is crucial as it ensures there are safe and lasting results to your home.
Humane Solutions that Prioritize Safety
We see animal removal and entry sealing as a humane exercise and such a strategy cares for both the animal and the owner. Our core values guide our practices very well with respect to the ethical considerations and others that guide our removal approaches.
Preventative Programs
No one wishes for wildlife to move into their home so preventive measures can be taken which may involve rigorous inspection, use of repellents and exclusion strategies specific to your building’s design. Such a proactive strategy further ensures that there are no wildlife around during all seasons of the year.
Customer Satisfaction
All we aim to achieve is peace of mind for our customers. We offer amazing services like there’s an assurance of not only having the work done well but also receiving a formation of the work carried out by the employees in intricate detail. We simply put have it all as stated, friendly and reliable services with us from initiation to curtailing of the work.
Choosing Wildout Animal and Pest Removal will deliver a stress-free life and a wildlife-free home.
Protect Your Home from Critters This Winter
Winter wildlife checks help identify challenges, but that’s not their only aim. They serve to bolster the safety and warmth of your home. Apart from saving you money from shocking repair bills, it can help to ensure your loved ones and family members are healthy. Be it figuring out where animals could possibly get in or solving a persistent problem, Wildout Animal and Pest Removal has you covered. Contact us now if you want to set up a winter wildlife inspection for your property. Let us team up to protect your property and keep it free from wildlife for the whole winter season.
Contact Us:
Wildout Animal and Pest Removal
Lakeland
863-315-WILD (315-9453)
Orlando
407-465-WILD (465-9453)
Tampa
813-WILDOUT (945-3688)
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