Animals in the Attic?

Uninvited rascals under your roof?

Ever notice that some homes have a rectangular or triangular vent on the side of house just under the roof line? Those vents allow for the hot air to escape the unfinished attic.

The vents are also a popular entrance for all sorts of outdoor critters. (Squirrels and raccoons are probably the most likely uninvited guests.)

The animals chew/claw holes in the vent material and make themselves at home. YUCK! They build wonderful nests for their young and commute to the great outdoors for most every need…uhh and no they are not “house trained”.

If you hear something scratching around in your attic (or smell something), look for a local expert in animal removal to trap them. (Just not a good idea to try and jump from support to support in your unfinished attic trying to catch a possibly rabid animal with fleas. Also, you could fall through to the floor below and make a new attic unattractive entrance/exit .)

Have an appointment to replace your gable vent with something that is less likely to be breeched by a critter.

They do multiply, so it is really not wise just to put it off.

A critter aside – My neighbor thought it was not a big deal to allow field mice to live in her home.
Really, she did! 

They finally decided it was not a good idea when every time they turned around they saw a mouse scurry across the floor.

Instead of paying an expert, they laid traps around the home. I was amused watching them take turns removing the successful traps AND snapping their fingers when they set the traps.-Can you imagine what is behind the walls or in other hidden areas of their home?

I can laugh about it!