If you’re planning to head south for the winter and leave your home behind for a few weeks or months, you need a strategy to keep your home safe and secure. A vacant home could potentially attract unwanted wildlife guests in the cold winter months. Squirrels can sometimes take advantage of this type of situation and get inside a home that is unoccupied.

If squirrels get inside, they can leave devastating damage to your home, such as chewed wires, damage to furniture and holes in the drywall. Before leaving your home for the winter, consider working with Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, the squirrel removal Madison experts. Here are some ways you can keep your home safe from unwelcome wildlife visitors.

Close Up Any Access Points to Your Home

Before going out of town, you need to ensure there are no easy access points into your home from the outside. Animals like squirrels are experts at finding even the smallest of access points that allow them to come inside.

Start by checking the attic and the roof. The vents on the attic and roof openings should be secured with screens or closed off. Additionally, cap the chimney, dryer vents and stove vents before going away for an extended period of time. Homeowners should also inspect their property and seal up any cracks or gaps along windows or doorways, under the deck and beneath the foundation of the home.

Remove Potential Sources of Food  

Another way to deter any critters from making your house their home this winter is to take away any potential food sources. In the winter, animals like squirrels may be attracted to certain scents and materials due to the lack of available food in their natural habitat.

Make sure any trash, composting and recycling containers are removed and stored inside. Trash bags should not be left outside when you’re not occupying the home. Additionally, be sure to clean up any spilled trash or composting materials to keep the smells from attracting animals.

Next, remove any bird feeders or stored pet food from your property. If you have fruit trees, scan the ground for fallen fruit on your property and remove it. Some wildlife creatures may also be attracted to other non-food items, such as grass seed.  Ensure bags of grass seed and other landscaping materials are kept secure and not left outside.

Trim Trees and Bushes Around Your Property

It’s also important to keep the trees and other greenery from making it easier for animals to access different points of your home. Trees and bushes that are on your property should be trimmed, and dead branches and leaves should be picked up and bagged.

If your home has a firewood storage area, make sure any wood piles are not anywhere close to the structure of your home. Wildlife may make nests in wood piles, so it’s best to store firewood at least 30 feet from your home or shed area.

Squirrel Removal in Madison

Making sure your home is secure before going away on a long vacation or wintering somewhere sunny is much easier if you follow the helpful advice of the professionals at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control. Before leaving your property unattended for a long period of time, you can get our team to inspect your home and give you more advice to keep the wildlife out.

Homeowners who don’t take steps to secure their homes during the winter may come back to a costly, nasty surprise. Returning to a home infiltrated by a family of squirrels is not something you should worry about. Instead, leave it up to the experts to give you peace of mind.

At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, we provide expertise about the region’s wildlife and effective removal and deterrent strategies to keep properties safe and secure. Find out more about our strategies by contacting us today.