Wild animals are all about survival of the fittest, and it doesn’t matter to them where they find food and shelter, even if it’s indoors. In fact, having a safe shelter from the heat, cold, or rain outside, along with a steady food supply, makes your home an incredibly attractive option for wildlife. As with any house guests who overstay their welcome, however, those animals shouldn’t make themselves too comfortable. This helpful information can explain why wildlife looks for food inside your house, and what you can do to stop these invaders before you need to contact Milwaukee animal services.

Coming to Dinner

What kinds of animals are most likely to venture indoors for a little snack? Most of them are the usual suspects that shouldn’t come as a surprise to homeowners. Rodents, especially mice and rats, are typical household pests that are happy to make themselves comfortable in your home. Another common home invader is the raccoon, who likely not only wants a free meal or two but is also looking for a good place to have a family. Bats may choose to set up housekeeping in attics or inside walls, the same spots that squirrels find attractive.

Less likely inside but happy to stake a claim on your home’s exterior are birds and skunks. These animals can still cause damage if left to their own devices. Your single-family home can get crowded with all these uninvited creatures making a mess of things.

Storehouse

Your home is like a grocery store to those critters who scour for food most of their waking hours. Outside, you may have garbage cans, bird feeders, or a garden that can act as a buffet to scavengers who may not have a steady source for food. Inside, however, it’s not just your food that draws these animals in.

Sure, leaving crumbs on the floor or open containers in your pantry makes for easy meals, but these creatures may be looking for the insects and spiders that also enjoy what the interior of your home has to offer. A constant supply of insects, supplemented by the leftovers you tossed in the trash, can be a feast for hungry wildlife that must work hard to find enough to eat, especially when it’s cold outside.

No Vacancy

Fortunately, there are ways to make your home less hospitable to animals to prevent them from making themselves comfortable without endangering them. This may sound too good to be true, but with a dedication to home maintenance and a little common sense, you can turn away those hungry critters before they settle in.

The easiest place to start is outside. Ensure your trash cans are locked and keep yard debris away from your house. Trim branches that hang over the roof, and if you have crawl space or a porch, you can set up screens under them to keep larger critters from those areas.

Next, inspect around your home, from windows frames to pet doors to gutters, looking for gnaw marks, damaged wires, or nesting materials. It doesn’t take a big space for squirrels, rats, or mice to gain entry, so you want to keep a lookout for any signs of animal invasion.

Inside your home, head down to the basement or up to the attic, those dark areas without a lot of foot traffic that can be attractive to unwanted animals. Look for animal droppings, urine odor, or any other indication that critters have moved in.

Call the Professionals!

Checking all the nooks and crannies around your home may be a job best left to professionals. Contact Skedaddle Humane Animal Control if you suspect you have a problem with wildlife. We have convenient locations on both sides of the border to serve you.