10 Ways to Wildlife-Proof Your Home Before Problems Start

The most effective wildlife removal is prevention. Once animals establish a den or nesting site in your home, removal becomes more expensive, more complicated, and more disruptive. These 10 steps — recommended by our licensed wildlife technicians — will significantly reduce your risk of an infestation.

Roof vents are the #1 entry point for squirrels, raccoons, and birds. Standard plastic or aluminum vent covers are easily chewed through or pried open.

What to do:

• Replace plastic vent covers with galvanized steel mesh covers
• Use hardware cloth with ¼-inch openings — small enough to exclude squirrels and birds
• Inspect vent covers annually, especially after storms

Target animals: Squirrels, raccoons, birds, bats

An uncapped chimney is an open invitation for raccoons, squirrels, and birds. Raccoons in particular favor chimneys as denning sites — a female raccoon with kits in your chimney is a complicated and expensive removal.

What to do:

• Install a commercial chimney cap with a spark arrestor
• Choose stainless steel over galvanized (longer lifespan)
• Inspect annually for damage or displacement

Target animals: Raccoons, squirrels, birds, bats

Overhanging branches are the highway that wildlife uses to access your roof. Squirrels, raccoons, and even opossums use branches to bypass ground-level deterrents and reach your roofline directly.

What to do:

• Trim all branches to at least 6–8 feet from your roofline
• Remove dead trees near the house — they attract woodpeckers and provide easy climbing access
• Trim branches annually; they grow back quickly

Target animals: Squirrels, raccoons, opossums

Soffits and fascia boards are common entry points, especially where they meet the roofline or where wood has rotted. A gap as small as 1.5 inches is enough for a squirrel; 4 inches for a raccoon.

What to do:

• Inspect soffits and fascia annually for rot, gaps, and damage
• Repair or replace damaged sections promptly
• Seal gaps with galvanized steel mesh before applying caulk or wood filler — caulk alone will be chewed through

Target animals: Squirrels, raccoons, bats, birds

Unsecured garbage is the single biggest attractant for raccoons, opossums, and skunks. Once wildlife associates your property with a food source, they'll keep returning — and eventually find a way inside.

What to do:

• Use garbage cans with locking lids (bungee cords are not sufficient — raccoons figure them out)
• Store cans in a garage or shed until collection day
• Clean cans regularly to reduce odor
• Never leave pet food outside overnight

Target animals: Raccoons, opossums, skunks, rats

Snakes, mice, and rats enter homes through surprisingly small gaps at ground level. A gap under a door of just ¼ inch is enough for a mouse; ½ inch for a rat.

What to do:

• Install door sweeps on all exterior doors, including garage doors
• Seal gaps around utility penetrations (pipes, conduit, cables) with steel wool and caulk
• Inspect the foundation for cracks and seal with hydraulic cement
• Screen crawl space vents with ¼-inch hardware cloth

Target animals: Snakes, mice, rats, chipmunks

Bird feeders, fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and compost piles all attract wildlife. This doesn't mean you have to eliminate them — but managing them reduces your risk significantly.

What to do:

• Use squirrel-proof bird feeders (baffled pole-mounted feeders)
• Clean up fallen fruit promptly
• Use a sealed compost bin rather than an open pile
• Harvest vegetables regularly; don't leave ripe produce on the vine

Target animals: Squirrels, raccoons, groundhogs, deer, bears (in applicable areas)

The space under decks, sheds, and porches is prime real estate for groundhogs, skunks, opossums, and raccoons. These areas provide shelter, warmth, and protection from predators.

What to do:

• Install L-shaped hardware cloth barriers around the perimeter of decks and sheds
• Bury the barrier 12 inches deep and bend it outward at a 90-degree angle underground — this prevents animals from digging under it
• Use ¼-inch hardware cloth for smaller animals; heavier gauge for raccoons

Target animals: Groundhogs, skunks, opossums, raccoons, cats

Many wildlife infestations go undetected for months because homeowners rarely visit their attic. A brief annual inspection can catch problems early — before significant damage accumulates.

What to do:

• Inspect in late fall (before animals seek winter shelter) and early spring
• Look for droppings, nesting material, chewed insulation, and entry holes
• Check the underside of the roof deck for staining (indicates urine soaking)
• Note any unusual odors

What to look for:

• Raccoon droppings: 2–3 inches, tubular
• Squirrel droppings: ½ inch, oval
• Bat guano: small, dark, crumbles to powder when dry
• Mouse/rat droppings: ¼–½ inch, pointed ends

Even with all of the above measures in place, a professional inspection every 2–3 years is the most reliable way to catch vulnerabilities before they become infestations. Our technicians know exactly where to look and what to look for.

What a professional inspection includes:

• Full exterior inspection of the roofline, foundation, and all potential entry points
• Attic inspection for signs of current or past activity
• Written report of vulnerabilities and recommended repairs
• Quote for any exclusion work needed

Wildlife-proofing your home is an investment that pays for itself many times over. A single raccoon removal and attic cleanup can cost $1,500–$5,000. The prevention measures above cost a fraction of that.

Call (800) 319-1556 to schedule a professional wildlife inspection. We serve 32+ cities nationwide and provide written quotes with no obligation.

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