When temperatures outside drop, many wild animals begin searching for nooks and crannies they can use for shelter. The attics, vents, and chimneys of people's homes are some of the preferred places skunks, raccoons, squirrels and other creatures may invade. Conducting an inspection can help prevent this problem, homeowners in Atlanta protect your home from animals this winter by following these tips.
These tiny spaces can easily go overlooked by homeowners until they see an animal going in or out. Wildlife are particularly adept at locating these spots that the home's human inhabitants had no knowledge of. Carefully inspecting the residence from foundation to rooftop will help identify any such openings so they can then be remedied.
Fall is the ideal time of year to do an inspection, and it can be combined with other outdoor work such as trimming tree limbs and cleaning gutters. It is very important to make sure that there are no animals already living inside any of these places before they are sealed up, as they will get trapped, die, and decompose if this happens.
One will need the following items for inspecting the home; a ladder, binoculars, a flashlight, and a camera to keep track of all entry points. Starting with the foundation, pay close attention to places where different types of building materials join, vents, window wells, and where cables, wires, and pipes enter the house. Damaged, loose, or rotting places on the roof and siding should be investigated thoroughly.
When inspecting an attic, look around for signs such as droppings and nesting materials, if detected, the next step is to locate the point of entry. Exhaust vents, and where the roof intersects the trim are all common spots. The chimney flue also needs to be checked, and if vacant, an animal-proof chimney cap can be installed.
The repair of small openings can be done using copper mesh, caulking, or expandable foam, but a larger one will at least require nailed-down hardware cloth or preferably a professional restoration. Affixing wire mesh helps prevent re-entry, however one must use a heavier gauge to deter larger creatures such as raccoons.
Other steps homeowners can take to discourage creatures include placing trash in secured containers and put it out in the morning rather than the night before, and covering compost piles, making sure they do not contain meat scraps. Tree branches around the house should be trimmed so they are no less than six feet away from its exterior.
These tiny spaces can easily go overlooked by homeowners until they see an animal going in or out. Wildlife are particularly adept at locating these spots that the home's human inhabitants had no knowledge of. Carefully inspecting the residence from foundation to rooftop will help identify any such openings so they can then be remedied.
Fall is the ideal time of year to do an inspection, and it can be combined with other outdoor work such as trimming tree limbs and cleaning gutters. It is very important to make sure that there are no animals already living inside any of these places before they are sealed up, as they will get trapped, die, and decompose if this happens.
One will need the following items for inspecting the home; a ladder, binoculars, a flashlight, and a camera to keep track of all entry points. Starting with the foundation, pay close attention to places where different types of building materials join, vents, window wells, and where cables, wires, and pipes enter the house. Damaged, loose, or rotting places on the roof and siding should be investigated thoroughly.
When inspecting an attic, look around for signs such as droppings and nesting materials, if detected, the next step is to locate the point of entry. Exhaust vents, and where the roof intersects the trim are all common spots. The chimney flue also needs to be checked, and if vacant, an animal-proof chimney cap can be installed.
The repair of small openings can be done using copper mesh, caulking, or expandable foam, but a larger one will at least require nailed-down hardware cloth or preferably a professional restoration. Affixing wire mesh helps prevent re-entry, however one must use a heavier gauge to deter larger creatures such as raccoons.
Other steps homeowners can take to discourage creatures include placing trash in secured containers and put it out in the morning rather than the night before, and covering compost piles, making sure they do not contain meat scraps. Tree branches around the house should be trimmed so they are no less than six feet away from its exterior.
About the Author:
Dave L. Weglin has taught safe animal control practices for over 20 years. If you are interested in getting the Pest Control Service Company in Decatur and Tucker, GA then he recommends you visit his friend at Crocodile Dave