The Top 3 Spots in Your Home Where Wildlife Is Most Likely to Get In

Wild animals know no bounds when it comes to finding a way into your home. From down low to up high, mice, skunks, raccoons, bats, and more all know how to find the best route inside. They’ll go after a variety of entrances, each one with its own advantages. 

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Here are the top three routes animals use to get inside the home.

1. The Roof

Roofs need to be protected from animals looking to slip in or chew their way inside. Vents, whether they’re gable or roof vents, are one option, but soffit intersections and shingles are probable alternatives. 

Plastic and aluminum vents are high enough for squirrels and raccoons to get inside. Apart from the cover, there isn’t much else standing in between them and your home. Inspect vents for chew marks or anything that seems slightly askew. 

Examine your roof-soffit intersection next. This area rarely seals tight because of the way one section of the roof meets another. As the alignment is never dead on, this is a weak area where the opening proves a potential entry point. 

Shingles are another crowd favourite and a welcoming target. Loose or old shingles are easily torn away by gnawing rodents or clever raccoons. Not only do shingles give animals a way inside, they could be the start of potential water damage, increasing your home’s vulnerability to leaks. 

Animals often slide down chimneys hoping to build their nests, but newer chimneys may leave them trapped. Chimneys present a viable option inside as they resemble a hollowed tree, but depending on the material, animals may be unable to exit. It’s important to cap the chimney sooner, rather than later, to keep unwelcome guests out.

2. The Vents

Vents are found all over the home to help air circulate. It also makes them a popular spot for wildlife looking for a way in. 

Weep vents are found between bricks on the home’s exterior. Their openings are meant to allow water behind the bricks a way to escape and air in the crack to dry out. These vents also help maintain the brick’s integrity. For this reason, the opening is never sealed entirely. The downside is that the space is often large enough to allow mice in between. Plastic covers might deter animals, but they often have little effect on curious wildlife. 

Wall exhaust vents are another hot spot, particularly for squirrels and birds. Living here is risky for both parties. A nest not only damages the vent pipe and fan unit, but it’s a potential hazard as air is blocked from escaping. 

Plumbing vents are secured by thin plastic rubber, which is easy for animals to chew through. They’ll tear away at the plastic and create a route inside. The hole surrounding the plumbing pipe is often cut bigger to allow the pipe to run through with the remaining gap closed by the rubber filling. The rubber happens to be a material easy enough for wildlife to bite.

3. The Gaps

Any gap or hole around the home, from the foundation at the bottom to a soffit intersection at the top, is a potential entry point. Cavities in walls may be small, but a small rodent knows how to squeeze its way in. Damaged brick and missing vent covers are all possible entry points.

Homes expand and contract with the changing seasons, often resulting in holes in the home. Over time, these holes may go unnoticed and become more pronounced. Siding foundation, soffits, and fascia are popular areas for cracks that get bigger. Door and window frames with inadequate sealing and openings create more ways inside. Loose rubber stripping surrounding garage or window frames are also potential entrances.

Inspect all nooks and crannies around the home. Animals will find a way in however they can.

Do you need wildlife removal services? Request a quote today!