What do expert mouse proofers do that fly-by-night removal companies do not? They find all the entry points, discover all wild animals living or once living in your home, they trace all current and potential entry points, proof the entire property, and if they’re worth their salt, they provide you with a guarantee. Proofing a house for mice and rats is not a job for a company that owns a few cages, uses bait or traps and leaves big holes in your home allowing for future intrusions. It’s a job that can only be done one way; with the mindset of ensuring mice, and other forms of wildlife can never get in the home again.
In the video below were called out to a home in Brantford because of a raccoon problem and as usual when we showed up at the house, one of our first objectives was to discover all potential and existing entry points related to any kind of animal. We want to make sure the homeowner is aware of what all their potential animal issues can be rather than only assess one issue. For instance, in this case, the homeowner thought she only had a raccoon problem but as it turned out she had another problem. That’s why a full inspection of the home is always in order when we arrive on the scene.
We found more than a raccoon hole
During our initial investigation of the home we found the large raccoon hole at the front of the house which seemed like the main entry point. Looking further around the entire home including the roof, we noticed that the chimney flashing around the chimney was lifted up and damaged – it wasn’t properly secured down anymore. Investigating even further I personally lifted up the flashing and I was able to see much of the wood under the flashing was substantially chewed out. I was able to determine that the chewed out hole was created by mice. You can actually see the wear patterns on the drip edge from the animals coming and going into the eavestrough.
Watch the video below and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about:
When you’ve got one hole in your home created by wildlife, it usually means other animals are getting into that hole too!
Not doing complete and thorough inspections also brings out the potential for another serious but often overlooked issue when it comes to a customer’s view of pest control, and that’s weather damage. It’s just common sense once you really think about it that a hole left unattended on your roof is going to contribute to weather damage in your attic especially during the winter and rainy seasons.
Mice are very smart and are not always ground dwelling animals
It’s important to take note as a home owner that mice aren’t always going to be found in your basement or garage. They’re not 100% ground-dwelling animals. They’re very smart and industrial. In this case, the mice were crawling up a large tree in the backyard and getting on the roof, crawling up the roof-line and then down into the side of the chimney through the damage chimney flashing.
The obvious benefits of thorough inspections
As it stands our visit today was a complete success for the home owner. Rather than simply quoting her on the removal of a raccoon, we found during our inspection anther large hole that was being used by mice.
Now in the end, once our job is complete, she can truly rest assured in the knowledge that her home has been proofed not only from raccoons, but the other forms of wildlife that usually get into an attic.
You need to be aware that the do-it-yourself companies don’t see or look for what the professionals do. If you want true proofing of your home from mice, rats, raccoons, squirrels and bats, you need to work with people who have your entire house in their sights with the objective of making it secure from wildlife for as long as you, or someone who’s bought your house is living there.