Prepping Homes for Spring - Preventing Against Animals
Spring is on its way – which means animals will be coming out of their winter slumber and young animals will be born. In turn, this means they will be looking for shelter, warmth and food – and they can find all of the above in your home.
Just as it's important to winterize your home for animals seeking refuge from the cold Omaha winter, it's similarly important to animal-proof your home for the spring months. We talked previously about the importance of chimney capping, in order to protect the chimney from nesting animals, birds and rain. Now it's time to animal-proof the rest of your house.
There are three major steps in insuring you have an animal-proof home this spring.
The first step is ridding your house of the animals that currently live there. This should never be done yourself, as animals and the mess they leave behind can carry diseases. Animal removal often consist of more than capturing, but also includes cleanup of food and feces and proper release of the animal, along with prevention of future issues.
Which brings me to step two – eliminate access to your home. While you may think there are no gaping holes through which animals can enter – it certainly doesn't take much space at all. The photo shown here is a hole through which mice were entering an Omaha home. Our Critter Control animal removal specialist removed the animals and repaired the hole. Places to check for holes include the roof and foundation. Also, properly securing vents in the attic and dryer vents will eliminate animal entrance. Often, holes may be difficult to find and many homeowners are not aware of the best prevention techniques – another important reason to call your local, Omaha animal control company.
Step three is also a prevention technique – eliminate the source of food. All animals have a basic survival instinct that centers on finding food. Most homeowners have probably encountered a raccoon problem, for instance. For this, simply using good, sealed garbage cans can make a difference. Other things like compost piles can attract animals onto your property – so getting a compost cover is recommended. Also, pet food for outdoor animals should not be left out. This is an attraction for all kinds of animals – not just stray cats.
Prevention tactics along with thoroughly checking potential places for animal entrances to your home are key to have an animal-proof spring. If you don't feel confident checking these things on your own, feel free to call us. We don't just removal animals when it becomes a problem; at Critter Control, we help you prevent the problem before it starts in an effort to protect wildlife and your family.
