There’s nothing quite as frustrating as realizing that uninvited wildlife has made their way into your home. Whether it’s raccoons in the attic, squirrels in the soffits, or bats in the chimney, dealing with wildlife requires more than a quick DIY fix. 

For residents needing support with wildlife removal in Grimsby, knowing the right steps—and the mistakes to avoid—can save you time, money, and stress. To help, we’re sharing three essential tips to improve your wildlife proofing efforts and explaining why humane removal is the best approach.

Protecting Your Home From Animals: Why Wildlife Proofing Matters

Wildlife, like us, seeks shelter, warmth, and safety. Your home, unfortunately, can be the perfect nesting spot for raccoons, birds, mice, bats, and squirrels. Once they find a way in, they’re not eager to leave. Closing up entry points without removing the animals first can lead to an even bigger problem. Imagine a mother squirrel separated from her babies chewing through your walls to get back inside, or worse, abandoned young in your attic.

This is why wildlife proofing is essential. Done right, it keeps animals out while ensuring they can leave without harm. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, our expertise in wildlife removal in Grimsby means we’re equipped to handle these situations with care—both for your home and the animals. Below, we’ll guide you through some common wildlife-proofing mistakes and what you can do to avoid them.

Tip #1: Don’t Jump the Gun on Repairs

One of the biggest mistakes people make is rushing to seal up entry points as soon as they spot wildlife in their homes. While your first instinct might be to immediately repair the access area, this can do more harm than good. Here’s why:

• Wildlife isn’t always visible. You might spot a single raccoon, but chances are there’s a family hiding in your attic or walls—especially in spring and summer when animals are raising their young.
• Separating mothers from babies causes major issues. Mothers will do anything to return to their young, including tearing apart your roof, siding, or vents. If they’re unable to access their babies, you might end up with a bigger problem—dead animals inside your home. This creates unpleasant smells, pests, and damage that’s even harder to repair.

Before sealing any entry points, always ensure the animals have left. At Skedaddle, we use one-way doors designed to allow animals to leave safely but prevent them from coming back in. This method is not only humane but also highly effective, especially for species like squirrels, raccoons, and bats that are determined to return to a known nesting spot.

When to Call the Professionals

If you’re unsure whether wildlife has left your home, or you’ve noticed signs like droppings, unusual noises, or damage to your exterior, it’s time to contact professionals. Our team in Grimsby specializes in identifying the presence of wildlife and ensuring that no animals remain before sealing access points.

Tip #2: Be Thorough and Diligent

Another common mistake is underestimating the number of entry points wildlife might be using to access your home. You might think sealing up one hole will solve the problem, but animals are resourceful—they’ll find other ways in.

Common Entry Points

Animals can squeeze through surprisingly small spaces, so it’s crucial to thoroughly inspect your home. Some areas to pay special attention to include:

• Roof vents and soffits: These are common hotspots for birds and bats.
• Weep vents: Mice can easily slip through these small gaps in brick exteriors.
• Gaps between building materials: Watch for spaces where siding meets foundations or roofs.
• Door and window frames: Even slight gaps can be entry points for squirrels or other small animals.

A tip to remember as fall approaches is that wildlife becomes even more motivated to find warm shelters for the winter. Regular inspections of your home’s exterior can save you grief in the long run.

At Skedaddle, we do more than just plug holes. Our team conducts detailed inspections of your property to find every potential entry point, ensuring no stone is left unturned. By combining this approach with our one-way doors, we provide a long-term solution that keeps wildlife out for good.

Tip #3: Use the Right Materials

It’s tempting to reach for quick-fix items like expanding foam or plastic mesh when repairing entry points, but these materials are no match for wildlife. Animals like raccoons and squirrels are extremely tenacious—they can chew through soft or thin materials in no time. And once they’ve found their way in before, they’ll return to the same spot over and over again.

What to Use Instead

To keep wildlife from re-entering your home, it’s critical to use sturdy materials. We recommend:

• Heavy-gauge wire screen: Ideal for covering vents and larger openings. It’s strong enough to resist chewing or clawing.
• Silicone sealant: Perfect for sealing small cracks and gaps that mice might exploit.

At Skedaddle, we take repairs a step further by permanently securing entry points with durable materials, ensuring animals can’t get back in after they’ve been safely removed. And because animals often mark entry points with scent, we clean and sanitize those areas to discourage future attempts.

Trust the Experts in Humane Wildlife Removal

Trying to handle wildlife removal and proofing on your own can be overwhelming. Between ensuring all animals have left, finding every entry point, and using materials strong enough to withstand determined wildlife, the process requires a lot of time and expertise.

That’s where Skedaddle comes in. For over three decades, we’ve been helping homeowners with wildlife removal in Grimsby and beyond. Our team doesn’t rely on harmful traps or relocation. Instead, we focus on humane removal solutions like one-way doors, which allow animals to exit safely but block their return. Once we’re confident your home is wildlife-free, we complete permanent repairs, giving you peace of mind for years to come.

Removing All Types of Wildlife

From smaller rodents like mice to larger animals like raccoons, we’ve handled it all. Our Grimsby wildlife removal services cover a wide range of species, including:

• Raccoons: Common attic visitors capable of significant destruction if left unchecked.
• Birds: Known for nesting in vents and chimneys, often leaving behind droppings and debris.
• Bats: A protected species that requires extra care and precision during removal.
• Mice: Tiny but destructive, especially when chewing on wiring or insulation.
• Squirrels: Energetic and persistent, they often target roofs and soffits for nesting.
• Skunks: When it comes to skunks, their presence can be especially concerning due to their defensive spray.

Protecting Your Home And Keeping Wildlife Safe

Wildlife proofing isn’t just about convenience—it’s about protecting your home and keeping wildlife safe. By avoiding common mistakes like sealing entry points too soon, neglecting thorough inspections, and using inadequate materials, you can significantly improve your efforts. But sometimes, it’s best to leave the job to the experts.

If you’re dealing with wildlife in your home, don’t hesitate to call Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control. With decades of experience, innovative one-way door solutions, and a commitment to strong, long-term repairs, we take the stress out of wildlife removal while keeping animals safe. Contact us today for professional wildlife removal in Grimsby and reclaim your home!

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