In the photo is one of Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control’s wildlife technicians expertly securing a plastic roof vent that was being chewed by squirrels. Plastic roof vents are a common point of entry for squirrels and other animals including, bats, raccoons and birds looking for a home inside an attic. It only takes a bit of chewing for them to get inside and begin to nest.

Successfully keeping unwanted guests out of your home long-term involves identifying and blocking any and all entry points. More often than not wildlife entry points will be found well off the ground. This can make things tricky for homeowners who lack the necessary equipment and experience to safely climb ladders and scale roofs.

As this photo clearly illustrates, some of our customer’s roofs can be both steep and dangerous. That’s why proper ladder safety and fall protection training is so necessary. In this case, our technician is secured to an anchor point at the peak of the roof through the use of a fall restraint system. This allows him to safely perform work and get up and down the roof.

This sort of roof repair is not something your average DIYer is equipped or trained to take on and the results could be catastrophic. Working at heights should never be taken lightly and ought to be left to properly trained professionals.

If you’re suffering from wildlife intrusion you might consider hiring a professional. Here are some of the problems many homeowners run into when they DIY pest control:

Safety

• Those unfamiliar with working on roofs or in attics could be exposing themselves to unnecessary fall hazards.
• Wild animals, especially those with babies, can behave unpredictably when put under stress. It is important to have an understanding of wildlife behaviour and biology to prevent injury to you or the animals involved.
• Animals and their feces can carry dangerous diseases for humans including, rabies, histoplasmosis and raccoon roundworm.

Increased Property Damage

• Wild animals have no regard for your personal property. Homeowners who are unsuccessful in their attempts to rid themselves of unwanted wildlife can end up prolonging the infestation and causing additional property damage.
• Simply patching an animal’s entry point can have disastrous consequences. Animals locked inside a home or locked out from their babies can do tremendous amounts of additional damage to a home.

Never assume that there is only one animal occupying your attic or that the animals have left on their own – even if you go a few days without hearing them.