It’s the start of September, and although we don’t want to admit it, Summer is coming to an end. Soon enough, the leaves will be turning bright shades of red, yellow, orange then eventually dullening into brown crispy sound-makers below our feet. When we see the signs of fall and winter approaching, we start to get ready for colder weather and snow by storing some of our summer item away, changing our tires or buying warmer clothes. Similarly, wildlife go about their own type of routine during this time of year.
During the colder seasons of the year, wildlife, like us, do what we have to do. Depending on the type of animal, they will go about different habits, but all in all, we’re all just getting ready for the cold
Animal Fall/Winter Behavior
Squirrels
- Do not hibernate
- Spend more time indoors
- Eat more to stay warm
- Less time spent foraging
- Stay in groups for warmth
- Stash food away for later in shallow holes
Raccoons
- Raccoons do not hibernate although they stay in their dens for long periods of times using stored body fat
- Seek shelter for colder weather
- Young raccoons born the previous year now will seek their own den
Skunks
- Sleep for longer periods of time
- Will forage for food if necessary
- Do not hibernate
- Block off entrances to den to keep warmth inside
- Burrow in groups for warmth
Some of the damage that wildlife can do to your property during the winter season
For some of us, winter can already be a difficult time. The ground is slushy, the driveway needs shoveling, traffic is slower. Having to deal with a wildlife nuisance doesn’t make it any better. Not conducting any wildlife prevention or removal services can make winter a whole lot more difficult for a couple reasons. Wildlife are animals are going about their seasonal routines for the winter time and your house can be at risk to damages and intrusion due to this.
When wildlife has established shelter on your property for the winter some of the damages that can occur are the following:
- Droppings left around the attic
- Cords and wires ripped
- Insulation torn and scattered
- Nuisance noises of wildlife
- Stains and marks of urine throughout the area
- Air ducts torn
In the winter season, if you have wildlife on your property, due to the weather, wildlife is more inclined to stay indoors and thus spend more time in your attic which is potential for more damages to occur.
What precautions you can take to protect your property
Many wildlife animals seek shelter for the winter before it gets cold. Some things that you can do to protect your property from any winter wildlife issues are the following
- Keep a neat and tidy space. This will help you notice any problems easier and identify any problems
- Store trash and garbage in appropriate bins. Ensure that the bins are secure enough to keep wildlife out
- Consider taking your trash out the morning of trash day instead of the night before. This will eliminate wildlife from spending the evening trying to pry through your garbage unbothered throughout the night
- Inspect the property for any current wildlife damages which can indicate that wildlife already resides on your property (torn soffits, holes or cracks, scratch marks, droppings etc.)
- Inspect the property for any potential entry points from weak areas of the structures.
Doing these things can help you before the colder weather approaches can help you eliminate future winter wildlife problems that may occur. For a more effective, long-term solution, we recommend you calling a professional wildlife control company.
Why you should call a professional for inspection and prevention, now!
Although there are a number of Do-it-Yourself solutions available out there for you to try to prevent and remove wildlife on your own, they may not always be the most effective solution. Calling a professional wildlife control company means having a professional, knowledgeable and experienced wildlife control technician provide you with the best services. At S.O.S Wildlife Control Inc. our technicians are dedicated to solving your winter wildlife problem by conducting thorough inspections. Here we are able to identify current damage as well as potential areas of entry wildlife can get through to. Based on your specific situation, a personalized solution developed in order to best solve the wildlife issue that pertains to you and your property.
If you’re experiencing wildlife control problems in your home or commercial area, call a professional wildlife control company like SOS Wildlife Control. Our technicians having years of experience, conduct humane methods, are honest, reputable and professional. Our services ensure that your problem will be solved, and that your property remains wildlife-free. Call SOS Wildlife Control at 1.800.981.0330 today for all your wildlife control concerns.
