What's the use of removing wildlife from your home if the animal just comes right back? Critter Control of Ann Arbor believes one of the most vital steps of true, long-term wildlife control is prevention. It is much easier to prevent a problem in the first place than to treat it, so even if you don't currently have a wildlife problem, give us a call! Our professionals will make sure your home is protected from wildlife like birds on the roof, raccoons in your attic, and mice in the walls.
Residential Wildlife Prevention in Ann Arbor
At Critter Control of Ann Arbor, there are two main types of prevention methods that we use: habitat modifications and wildlife proofing.
Habitat Modifications
Habitat modification is the act of modifying your environment in order to discourage animals from entering. Here are some of the methods our experts use:
- Identifying and removing access to food and water sources
- Keeping pet food and water dishes inside
- Keeping brush piles and dead trees trimmed and cleaned up
Wildlife Proofing
Exclusion techniques are barriers that can be installed to prevent wildlife animals from being able to enter your home. Exclusion methods may include:
- Sealing entry points
- Placing screens over vents
- Establishing other barriers to intrusion from wildlife
Typical Wildlife Entry Points
- Chimney — If you do not have a chimney cap installed, animals like birds, raccoons, squirrels, mice, and bats can get into your chimney accidentally or intentionally.
- Plumbing Vents—Persistent rodents looking for a warm nesting area can easily chew through plumbing mats and get in through any plumbing stack gaps.
- Roof & Fascia—The area in which your fascia and roof meet (near your drip edge) often presents an easy entry point if not sealed.
- Roof Vents—Making sure your roof vents are covered with strong steel or mesh covers will prevent wildlife from chewing through.
- Oven & Bathroom Exhaust Vents—A number of curious animals, such as insects, squirrels, rodents & opossums, can find themselves in your oven or bathroom exhaust vents. Oftentimes, the animal uses this as a secondary entry point, having already gotten into your home elsewhere.
- Roof & Soffit—Just like a compromised fascia, your soffit can be a weak spot for animals to take advantage of. If the material is decaying, it can easily be chewed through.
- Holes in Siding—A notorious visitor of your home's siding is birds. Woodpeckers, barn swallows, and starlings find a comfortable nest in your siding and are hard to discourage.
- Porch & Deck—Larger critters such as raccoons, opossums, skunks, and squirrels find solace in the isolated and dark area under your porch.
- Trees & Landscaping—Squirrels, raccoons, insects & birds can become a nuisance when they are too close and use your trees to gain access to your home.
Professional Ann Arbor Wildlife Prevention
Professional wildlife prevention is necessary to ensure the safety of wildlife animals and the success of the prevention method. Some things to consider when deciding whether to call a professional include:
- Improperly implemented control techniques that can cause more harm than good.
- Incorrect prevention methods may create a situation where animals learn to avoid traps and baits. Some traps and baits can even push wildlife, like rodents, even deeper into your home.
- Rodents getting stuck inside your walls or creating a mess of droppings that can be difficult to locate and remove.
Avoid horrific odors and further damages by using Critter Control of Ann Arbor's proven prevention methods. Once a wildlife animal has found a nesting area in your home, preventing their return is absolutely necessary. Call Critter Control of Ann Arbor to keep wildlife animals out of your home for good! 734.449.5858