How To Repair Damage From Unwanted Wildlife

1. Repair your chimney.

Your chimney is one of the prime attractions to wildlife on your property. Many critters, such as raccoons, mice, and squirrels, make their nest inside your chimney, which of course poses a fire hazard (sine the nest is made out of twigs and other flammable material) as well as a danger to the animals themselves, since some might not be able to get out and save themselves in case of fire.

The amount of reparation needed will depend directly on the damage, of course. One of the dangers is the accumulation of water in and around the nest, which promotes the appearance of rust in metal chimneys. There is also the risk of structural damage, particularly with brick and mortar chimneys, but these are considered easy to spot by a wildlife removal professional. So, one of the first things you should do after removing wildlife pests is repair your chimney.

2. Thoroughly clean the affected area.

After you’ve discovered an unwanted critter camping out inside your home or anywhere on your property, there are two things you must do: first, get rid of the critter humanely and quickly. And second, make sure you thoroughly clean the area it inhabited, so as to reduce the risk of disease.

Often, it won’t be enough to simply remove the droppings, feathers, nest materials, and so on and you might need to invest in some potent cleaning products to remove any lingering bacteria. Some wildlife droppings can not only cause disease in your pet or in yourself but can actually lead to property damage. For example, bats will damage your attic because the feces of bats is considered corrosive and as such, a danger for the very structure of your house and furniture.

3. Fix up any holes or cracks.

If you’ve discovered wildlife living inside your home or under it, it’s more than likely that it came through some crack or hole in your walls or fence. Obviously, this is a problem you need to fix, often even before you set about cleaning or repairing the damage produced by the intruder.

Why?

Because the longer that hole is there, the more likely it is to attract new unwanted intruders. The other animals will sense that there is no other critter inhabiting the area anymore and will swarm to the warmth and food your property provides. So, you need to fix up the hole or crack as rapidly and as well as possible.

Wildlife removal experts recommend using a bit of steel wool to fill in the cracks because steel wool is hard (if not impossible) to chew or scratch through, so it will keep the vast majority of critters out of your property, even if they do take it into their heads to try to get in. Of course, fixing any holes or cracks should be done after the wildlife intruder is removed. For the best results, find professional help in your area.

4. Insulation repairs.

When you’ve got an unwanted intruder nesting in your attic, chances are they’re doing some considerable damage to your insulation. Squirrels and mice, in particular, are known for chewing and trampling around your insulation, as well as bringing in various insects that then make a home inside your insulation. Another problem carried by these critters is that their urine dampens the insulation and encourages the appearance of mold.

So what can you do?

Once you’ve rid the attic of said critter and fixed the entry point thoroughly, run a good, thorough assessment of the insulation, look for mold, holes, damage, bites, etc., and ideally, replace the whole thing, even if you don’t see any damage. Often, the bacteria and insects carried in by the rodents can be invisible to the eye, yet nevertheless there.

5. Check your roof.

Depending on the type of critter you’re dealing with, you may or may not also have roof damage, if the critter spent time up there or if that’s where they entered the house. Holes in the roof can lead to water leaking, of course, but that should be the least of your concerns right now. Pests on the roof can cause shoddy shingles, which may pose a threat when they fall. But most importantly, pests on the roof can cause some serious damage to the wires and pipes up there. Chewed electrical wires are a serious fire hazard and should be regarded accordingly. You should have an expert check them out if you’ve recently had pest problems up there. Better safe than sorry.

6. Sturdy structure is paramount.

One critter we haven’t talked about in this article is one of the most common across the country - termites. These pesky intruders will chew through your floor, as well as through the structure of your house, which is obviously a big danger for you and your loved ones, as termite chewing can cause parts of the structure to collapse.

Unfortunately, the moment when most homeowners realize they have termite issues is when a part of their property collapses, so that’s no good. This is why you should have an expert examine your home and always be on the lookout for signs of termites on the property (such as hollow timber, droppings, and so on) and if you notice anything, make sure you call someone in immediately.

We wouldn’t suggest trying some DIY control methods and delaying calling an expert, because this can further damage the structure of your house, so you’ll end up paying a lot more than you would have if you’d called the pest control company immediately.

Make sure you check your home regularly for any pest damage!