In summer, homeowners are on the lookout for when pesky flies and bees enter the house. But in winter, the animals that sneak in are bigger, make more of a mess, are harder to get rid of and are, in general, peskier.

When it’s warm, animals and insects approach your home in search of food. But when it’s cold outside, these critters come looking for a warm, safe, and dry place to live—indefinitely. Areas like attics, crawlspaces and basements are popular because the animals can nest undetected, at least initially.

What’s Up—In Your Attic?

Bats, squirrels, raccoons, mice and rats like to make their way inside houses, especially in winter. Mice, rats and squirrels make up 80% of home invasions by animals. High above the ground and away from predators, these critters tuck away in the corners of dark and quiet attics. There, they give birth to litters. Many of these critters chew and gnaw their way through electrical cords, insulation, wood and even metal. And all of them leave trails of droppings in their wake. These droppings are smelly, messy and can even cause illness in humans.

What’s Down Below—In Your Crawl Space?

While some critters seek high ground, others enjoy the entry or lower level of a crawlspace (or crawl space). Snakes seek warmth in winter since they can’t regulate their body temperature. So they enjoy the heat that may come from a house, often entering through cracks in the foundation or near the crawlspace. Mice and rats are very adaptable and can thrive in a crawlspace as well as in an attic.

You may not immediately notice a single critter hiding in your home, unless it’s a relatively hefty sized one, with loud footsteps. It might not be until you have a family of squirrels or numerous bats that you notice the scratching or scurrying sounds, distinct smells, or copious droppings that indicate a pest problem.

Getting Rid of Pests In Winter

The cold weather presents unique issues in getting rid of wildlife in the house.  Not only must you capture the critter and clean up its mess, you also have to find out how it entered in the first place, and figure out a way to close off that entryway.  To do this properly, you’ll need to examine the outside and inside of your house from top to bottom for holes in the foundation, gaps in window and door frames, missing chimney caps, and damaged or rotted material on the roof and siding. Winter, with its accompanying snow, ice and rain, can make this inspection difficult, if not dangerous, especially when ladders are involved.

If you suspect that pesky animals have invaded your home, don’t try to address the problem alone. Call Critter Control of the Triangle. Our wildlife professionals have years of experience in safely removing critters from homes. What’s more, we are experts in identifying and eliminating entryways, whether high or low, to keep critters from returning. Call us today at 1-800-CRITTER or 919-382-0651 in Raleigh, Durham, Apex, Cary NC and the Triangle area.