Winter Animal Problems
Winter is coming to the Chicagoland area. As it does every year, it is going to drop in temperature, and snow across the land. Animals in the area are looking for places to live and hunker down during the winter months in order to escape the cold air. Here are some ways that wildlife can find ways into your home and what you should look for this time of year. If you think you are being invaded by an animal call a wildlife removal service immediately! Do not attempt to remove the animal yourself; you could be placing yourself and your family’s life in danger!
Raccoons
Raccoons are the peskiest creatures that could be affecting your home during the winter months. Raccoons will damage your roof or soffits in order to get into your attic to find shelter from the elements during the winter. While in your attic these creatures can chew through electric wires, damage insulation, destroy items stored there, and use your attic as a bathroom.
Raccoons will take advantage of any hole in order to get into your home. Even a small roof opening can give them the ability to tear a bigger hole to gain access to your attic. Raccoons can also get into your chimney. They can then find access to the main floors of your home through the open flue. If you are hearing scratching noises in your home, random rustling sounds in your attic or scuffling up your chimney call a local animal removal specialist in your area. Raccoons can be dangerous, especially a female raccoon protecting her young. Do not try to remove a raccoon by yourself!
Squirrels
Squirrels do not hibernate, so they actively seek shelter during the winter. When squirrels are jumping from tree to tree looking for acorns and other nuts, this will allow them to have access to your roof and chimney. Because of their small size, and impressive chewing skills. There a couple of things you can do during the winter that can make it harder for a squirrel to get inside your home:
- Identify All Problems– By sealing up all the openings you’re; preventing animals from getting inside and also potential water leaks on home.
- Replace Damaged and Rotten Wood – If there is any rotting or soft wood on your home, it makes it easier to get in. You can repair those areas which will make it more difficult for an animal to chew their way inside.
- Screen Your Vents – You can screen your chimney, bathroom fan, stove vents, peak vents, and other access vents outside with a wire mesh screen. This is one of the best ways to protect yourself from all animals invading your house this winter.
- Tree Trimming – Cut your tree limbs back 12 to 15 feet from the house which can prevent squirrels jumping onto your home or on your roof.
Opossums
Opossums can be nasty creatures, especially when they are threatened or protecting their babies. Opossums don’t have much fur, and what they do have, does not protect them well against the colder elements in Illinois. They are susceptible to frostbite on their tails, ears, and toes. This means that they need to build a den in order to brave the cold winter months. There are a few places that these dens will be located:
- Shed and garages
- Debris piles on your property
- Holes dug by other animals in your lawn
- Underneath a deck, patio, or stoop
- Abandoned appliances and vehicles
Since opossums are nocturnal, they usually stay in their den all day. However, they are always moving around. They might have more than one den in an area. That is why sometimes it is hard to tell if an opossum is occupying a den. You might hear sounds at night, but they might go away and come back periodically depending on when the opossum moves. Do not try and remove an opossum by yourself; they can be extremely aggressive since their only two main methods of defense are showing their teeth and playing dead. Rely on an animal removal service in your area in order to ensure that you can remove the opossum safely from your home.
Animal Trackers Wildlife is your local animal removal specialist company started by two guys who grew up in the Northwestern Suburbs of Illinois. They have been safely removing animals from homes for over 17 years. They are always ready to help protect you and your family from invading wildlife during the winter. Call us today and let us help you now!