As the weather gets colder, wildlife animals seek safe, dry and warm places to escape winter. Crawlspaces can be particularly vulnerable because they often have at least some small openings and are infrequently monitored. They make an ideal winter home for animals that like to burrow.

Dangers of Wildlife in the Crawlspace

While some homeowners don’t mind co-existing with critters and are content to let them be until spring, wildlife in your crawlspace can cause problems. They bring food into your crawlspace—into your home—that can draw additional critters. The animals leave urine and droppings that can make the area smell. They chew on wood, plastic, insulation, wires and any other material, damaging property. And, if they are sick or injured and don’t recover, you’re faced with the unpleasant task of dead animal removal.

MORE: Animal Removal From Crawl Space

If you notice holes, chewed materials, droppings, or a distinct odor inside the crawlspace or small patches of grass ripped out or long underground burrows outside the crawlspace, you probably have a critter inside.

One way to determine the type of critter is to examine the size of any noticeable hole.

• Less than 1 inch: mice and voles
• 1-2 inches: chipmunks
• 2-3 inches: rats
• More than 3 inches: raccoons, woodchucks, opossums, house or feral cats, foxes, and skunks.

Getting Rid of Animals in the Crawlspace

The easiest way to get rid of critters in your crawlspace is to prevent them from coming in. For some animals, patching holes and sealing possible entrances can keep wildlife out, but more work is needed to deter burrowing animals. These animals are good diggers and can go under barriers to get into the crawlspace. For this type of problem, use a barrier, like a mesh fence that goes 18 inches underground, with a bottom edge that curves outward to discourage animals from clawing their way in.

When you establish the barrier, make sure no animals are trapped inside the crawlspace. Some animals, like groundhogs, may be hard to detect if they are hibernating.

Sometimes, despite efforts at prevention, an animal could still get into your crawlspace. If it’s a small critter, such as a mouse, rat or squirrel, you may be comfortable trapping and removing it. However, if it is a larger animal, such as a raccoon, skunk or fox, it’s prudent to contact the experts for assistance. At Critter Control of the Triangle, we specialize in helping homeowners in throughout North Carolina remove wildlife, clean up any mess and prevent the critters from returning. If you suspect you animals burrowing their way into your crawlspace, please give us a call at 919-382-0651. We service the Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Apex, Morrisville and surrounding Wake County areas.