With temperatures reaching their lowest points outside during the winter months, your home becomes appealing as a new habitat for unwanted residents. No, we’re not talking about your in-laws—we’re talking about a variety of critters that find their way into your attic, chimney and even your basement! From squirrels that are known to take up nesting in insulation, to bats that prefer the warmth of your attic rafters, knowing how to identify a nesting pest, taking care to protect yourself from their invasion and having them properly removed is crucial to maintaining the integrity of your home.
Attic and basements
Let’s start with the obvious spaces: your basement and attic. These places are dark and inviting to pests for a number of reasons and they’re usually the first places that are going to be targeted for humane animal removal in Greenville, SC. In the basement, squirrels and opossum easily nest in old clutter or storage items, creating an environment that’s rife with droppings, as well as any pathogens that the animal might be carrying with it. Critters often get into basements through small windows and other structurally inviting areas and once they’re in, they pose a threat to the entire family. Even a cute squirrel can be a serious health issue, so it’s best to promptly dial up an animal removal specialist to deal with these furry fellows.
Attics are also a problem area because, for the most part, people don’t spend a lot of time in their attics unless they have to. Without frequenting your attic, it’s hard to know whether or not you’ve got an unwanted guest living up there! If you hear scurrying above your head or notice that there seems to be a mild smell coming from above, get on the phone with a service specializing in humane animal removal in Greenville, SC.
Chimneys and fireplaces
Aside from the usual furry suspects, such as rodents and squirrels, bats are another common wintertime intruder. Bats enjoy dark spaces, so your attic is first on the list of habitats for these creatures. Fireplaces and chimneys also serve to house bats quite well, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye out in these areas as well.
The easiest way to tell if you have bats in your fireplace or chimney is to listen carefully for rustling or squeaking in these areas. Generally, there should be no sound coming from your chimney, so any slight sound likely means that there is a bat or two lurking out of sight. Bats can easily come and go from a chimney habitat, so it can be hard to pinpoint if you have a pest problem or not—the simplest thing to do is watch for bats outside of your home and if you spot one or two regularly, consult an animal removal specialist.
Remember, if you suspect bats in your fireplace, discontinue use of your chimney and fireplace until the creatures can be removed. It may seem like a good idea to try and smoke them out, but in reality, you could trap and confuse them, sending them into your home!
As always, don’t attempt to handle nesting creatures by yourself—it will only lead to confrontation and injury! Call A+ Wildlife Control immediately and let the professionals do what they do best!