Keep Unwanted Critters Out Of Your Home

Critter Control and companies like it have seen an increase in calls for unwanted pests inside homes.  Officials blame the heat and lack of habitat for the increase.  The critters can range from raccoons and bats to squirrels and rats.

This machine carries away feces nests and bad insulation from out of homes after unwanted critters have taken up residence.  At this home, Critter Control has found a raccoon.  Taking care of this problem can take up to 3 weeks.

Critter Control Field Manager Chris Patterson said, “I would estimate probably four that was in the attic.  We’ve removed two.“

Here crews are doing what’s called “exclusion”.  After getting rid of the raccoons, the homeowners are paying for the removal of any sign the critters were there.  That includes putting in new insulation and sealing holes around the roof.

Patterson said, “On the outside, you’re mainly looking at doing leaf-proof or flashing around whole roof line, just due to the fact once they make a place, they’re going to come back”

But Patterson suggests you may be able to avoid this from happening at all by being a diligent homeowner.  That means not leaving unmonitored pet food outside, trimming back tree limbs away from the house and leaving bird feeders at the store.

Patterson said, “If you can do without the birds, you can eliminate a lot of problems cause not only mice, squirrels, raccoons even and possums they love bird feed.“

Those tips may just save you 45-hundred dollars - that’s what it’s costing this homeowner to get rid of and clean up after raccoons.  Your homeowners insurance will pay for the removal and clean-up of raccoons and bats, but not for rodents, which include squirrels, mice and rats.

Credits: By Linda White - NBC13.com