In the Northeast, we find a variety of different animals frequenting homes. From tiny house mice to coyotes, wildlife utilizes homes for a variety of reasons including shelter and food. The most common species we find as unwanted roommates are mice, rats, squirrels, raccoons, birds, bats, and snakes.
Most critters want to stay away from any human activity. They will utilize areas like attic spaces, wall voids, subfloors, and basements/crawl spaces to seek shelter and escape the elements. On occasion, a critter may find its way inside the living area but will probably spend its time trying to escape.
When Critters are Active in the Northeast United States
Raccoons, skunks, and opossums are all nocturnal. You will rarely encounter these animals but that doesn’t mean they aren’t living around your property! They tend to sleep during the day and are most active in the middle of the night. Squirrels on the other hand are diurnal, or active during the day. They are very quick and excellent climbers and therefore do not need to hide from predators by feeding in the dark.
Most critters want to stay away from any human activity. They will utilize areas like attic spaces, wall voids, subfloors, and basements/crawl spaces to seek shelter and escape the elements. On occasion, a critter may find its way inside the living area but will probably spend it’s time trying to escape.
Skunks in the Yard
Skunks are impressive diggers commonly found denning under porches, decks, garages, and even the foundation of the home. The best solution to get rid of them is to perform preventative exclusion. We recommend installing underground fencing around the permitter of these structures. A licensed nuisance wildlife control operator should remove the current inhabitants before any exclusion so as not to enclose any wildlife under the structure. Can you imagine an angry, stuck skunk under your porch?
Skunks can spray up to 10 feet with an accuracy of a couple of inches, and the smell can be detected for over a mile! They are also immune to snake venoms and are known to sometimes kill and eat venomous snakes.
Raccoon Pests
Raccoons have very high IQ levels and have been known to learn behaviors from humans as well as demonstrate critical thinking skills like opening traps or doors. Raccoons are extremely skillful and resourceful, can adapt to live almost anywhere and absolutely thrive in urban environments.
It’s no secret that raccoons, aka “trash pandas” love garbage! The best solution is to use garbage cans with secure lids and keep any dumpsters closed and locked. A motion sensor spotlight can sometimes help deter them during the night.
Raccoons are adept climbers capable of scaling most homes and businesses. Raccoons have dexterous hands and powerful jaws. Once on the roof, they often break into and enter attics. From there, they often have free roam of the ceiling and wall voids.
Bats in the Attic
Bats can be hazardous animals to have in your attic, for multiple reasons. Bats often carry rabies and if scratched or bitten by a bat, you will need a rabies vaccine as soon as possible. Their bat guano is also hazardous and can cause respiratory problems including histoplasmosis or scarring of the lungs. If bats are discovered in your attic, it is best to stay out of the attic, make sure the attic door is shut tight, and call professionals. Bats are very beneficial to the environment and need to be treated with care, while also protecting those who live in the home.
Snakes in the House
To many homeowners, there’s not much scarier than the idea of a snake getting into their house. Fortunately, there are plenty of things to be done to help prevent them in the first place.
- Firstly, get rid of any conducive habitat close to the home. Keep shrubs and bushes trimmed 2-3 feet away from the foundation and move any log piles or debris away from the home.
- Second, make sure any gaps along the foundation and roofline are properly sealed or covered.
- Third, get rid of their food source! Snakes are our natural pest control eating mice, rats, and a variety of insects, however, to prevent the snakes from in turn becoming the pest, we recommend having your home inspected for rodents and bugs by pest control pros.
When Should Homeowners Call Critter Control
Homeowners should call Critter Control at the first sign of a critter problem. People usually notice strange sounds, bad smells, droppings, or physical damage. The longer an animal infestation is ignored, the more entrenched these critters can get. The longer pests are in the house, the more damage they cause.
Rory Smart currently leads the Northeast region which includes Virginia, Maryland, DC, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, Delaware, and New Jersey. He has experience as a wildlife control specialist helping homeowners with nuisance wildlife problems, division recruiter, and region service manager.
Carving pumpkins is one of the most popular activities in October. But jack o’lanterns aren’t just a symbol for Halloween, they also are critter magnets. We asked Meg Pearson, wildlife training manager, for her insights on what pests are attracted to pumpkins and tips on how to stop squirrels and critters from eating your pumpkin.
Why are pests attracted to jack o’lanterns?
Though your annual jack o’lantern is a fun, temporary piece of autumnal decor, it can essentially act as a free meal, served on a platter for the local critter community, most of which is constantly on the prowl for their next meals. The fact that the pumpkin is carved up only makes it easier for local wildlife to access its tasty insides, which many animals will happily chow down on, regardless of whether it’s fresh or rotting.
What serves as a festive decoration for us, is seen as an outdoor buffet to the local wildlife population.
Which pests are attracted to jack o’lanterns?
Many smaller animals, like mice, rats, and squirrels, will be interested in eating your jack-o-lantern, but it may also attract larger animals, including raccoons, opossums, deer, and more.
What are the best ways to deter them from gnawing on them?
The best way to keep local animals from approaching your home and eating your jack o’lantern is to keep proper care of your lawn: keep it mowed and be sure to regularly rake your leaves, as many smaller animals thrive in areas with unkempt lawns.
You may also want to keep your jack o’lantern on some sort of elevated surface that may be difficult for a mouse, rat, or squirrel to access, possibly deterring them from trying after a few attempts.
You must keep animals from approaching your house, in search of food, because after they finish scarfing down your jack o’lantern, they may decide to see if they can enter your house in search of even more food, and then you’ll have a much more serious critter problem on your hands. Be sure to seal any cracks or gaps in your home’s foundation this fall, as many animals will be looking for a warm place to live through the winter, especially if it serves as a consistent food source.
Other seasonally appropriate preventative measures to stop critters from entering your home?
One of the best things you can do to keep nuisance wildlife away from your home and yard is to keep a clean, sealed space. For your yard, this means raking leaves and trimming branches and bushes. This prevents the animals from burrowing and climbing. You’ll also want to seal up any gaps in or around your home such as areas under decks, any sort of visible gaps in the foundation or outside of your home. Critters seek shelter and warmth, and openings in your house provide that for them. Finally, keeping trash tightly sealed and bringing in pets’ water and food dishes will deter critters from your property.