‘Twas the night before Christmas, but all through the house, unfortunately, some creatures were stirring—including a mouse! For some homeowners, this revision of the classic holiday tale isn’t fiction—it’s all too true.

With winter’s freezing temperatures, combined with the unpleasantness of ice and snow, it’s no wonder that everyone—including wildlife—seeks the warmth, safety and comfort of being inside. For many animals, attics provide just the right place to snuggle undetected.

Mice

Mice can be relentless in seeking a dry haven in winter. They can find a hole—as small as a dime—and as long as they can squeeze their heads in, their bodies will follow. That means any tiny gap or opening is an invitation inside. During winter, mice and rats are drawn to a warm environment, up high and away from predators—and your attic fits the bill. You’ll know you have rodents in your attic if you hear scurrying noises or see droppings, gnawed cords, insulation, or wood or greasy fur marks along well-traveled paths.

Squirrels

Squirrels have litters twice a year: spring and fall. That means that at least two times a year, squirrels seek your attic because it’s a safe place to give birth. Squirrels often climb trees and bushes, gaining access to your roof. From there, they commonly enter your attic through gaps or holes in the roof, or cracks and openings above the gutters and dormers. Once squirrels make their home in the attic, they continue to chew holes, creating more entry points. Homeowners may still not realize they have a problem until the litter grows and becomes active. That fall litter begins scampering around the attic in winter and the scrambling noise indicates a problem.

Raccoons

Raccoons are intelligent, crafty creatures that are most likely to enter your house in winter or spring. They look for openings where building materials join, such as dormer junctions, or where areas have weakened, and squeeze in. Raccoons usually seek a temporary home and will leave once their babies are grown, or once the weather is milder. In the meantime, however, their droppings, chewing and noise create a disturbance and a mess. In addition, if they make their way out of the attic into the rest of your house, they could be dangerous.

When homeowners discover a critter has made its home in the attic, the first order of business is to get rid of the animal. But that’s not the end of the job. It is essential to remove any babies and eliminate the entryways throughout the roof and attic that the critters use, otherwise, the critters will just return.

If creatures in your attic prevent you from enjoying your long winter’s nap, call Critter Control of the Triangle. As experts in wildlife control, we rid your home of critters, and provide cleanup and remediation services. Please call Critter Control of the Triangle at 1-800-CRITTER or 919-382-0651 in Raleigh, Durham, Apex, Cary NC and the Triangle area.