Now that we’ve finally seen the end of winter (at least we hope) it’s a good time to do an inspection of your home. This past winter was particularly rough in terms of the amount of snow that fell and there’s a good chance that squirrels, raccoons and other pesky critters took refuge in your attic or basement. By doing a thorough inspection of your home, both from the inside and the outside, you can spot where animals may have gotten in and if any are still lurking about.
Start in the attic and work your way down. Be careful when doing an inspection. Though squirrels, bats and skunks are small, each has the capability to bite, scratch and claw and this can lead to some unpleasant wounds and in some cases rabies.
Wear protective clothing and a sturdy pair of work gloves. You may also want to consider steel toe work boots, a respirator mask, a hat and safety glasses. Just in case, carry a bat or broom to defend against a hidden animal that suddenly lunges out and attacks.
Work your way down to the basement and check the walls, floors and ceiling for cracks and small openings that can be used as an entrance to your home. Make note of these spots and plan to have each area properly sealed so it can’t be used again.
Like the attic, a basement is a very popular place for small animals. When you inspect the basement make sure you have plenty of light. Poking around dark rooms can stir up a pack of squirrels or skunks and this can lead to a chaotic situation. If you have reservations about certain rooms in your home don’t hesitate to call an animal control specialist.
When checking the home from the outside, pay close attention to the gutters, roof, siding and foundation for places animals can get in. Vents, HVAC ducts and windows are all possible entrances to a home so inspect each area carefully and look for signs that an animal has been using it.
The sooner you inspect your home, the better. If you wait until summer many of these critters will have already begun breeding and this will create a very messy problem in your home.
