What Is Animal Exclusion?

Animal exclusion is a crucial method for preventing wildlife from entering your home by identifying and sealing off entry points. By addressing potential access points such as gaps in the foundation, vents, chimneys, or damaged roofing, animal exclusion ensures that critters like squirrels, raccoons, and rats are humanely prevented from re-entering. This process is not only about removing current infestations but also about long-term prevention and safeguarding your home against future issues.

Why Do You Need Animal Exclusion Services?

Wildlife, while beneficial to the ecosystem, can cause severe damage when they make their way into homes. Animals looking for shelter may damage insulation, chew electrical wires, or create entry points that allow other pests to enter. Common species such as raccoons, squirrels, rats, and birds are notorious for finding small openings and turning them into major entryways.

Exclusion services are necessary because:

• They prevent damage to your property by stopping animals from gaining access.
• They promote health and safety by minimizing exposure to diseases carried by wildlife.
• They ensure humane treatment of animals, focusing on prevention rather than extermination.

If you’re dealing with unwanted wildlife in your home or business, professional animal exclusion can be the most effective solution.

Common Entry Points for Wildlife in Homes

Most wildlife enters homes through small, often overlooked openings. Some common entry points include:

Attic Vents and Rooflines

Animals like raccoons, squirrels, and birds often enter homes through poorly sealed attic vents or gaps in the roofline. Roof damage, such as missing shingles or holes, can also serve as access points for wildlife.

Chimneys

Chimneys are attractive to wildlife, especially birds and raccoons, as they offer warmth and shelter. Installing a chimney cap can help prevent these animals from entering.

Foundation Gaps

Cracks in the foundation or poorly sealed areas near the ground can allow rodents and other small animals to slip inside. Rodent exclusion techniques like sealing gaps with steel wool or metal flashing are essential.

Siding and Soffits

Damaged or loose siding can create gaps where animals can enter, especially insects and smaller critters like mice. Soffits, the underside of your roof’s overhang, can be another vulnerable point for wildlife entry.

The Process of Animal Exclusion

Animal exclusion is a multi-step process to ensure that every possible entry point is found, sealed, and repaired. Here’s how a typical animal exclusion service works:

1. Inspection

The first step involves thoroughly inspecting your home, focusing on the interior and exterior. Trained professionals from Cypress Critters and Pests will identify any active entry points and potential vulnerabilities where animals could gain access.

2. Sealing Entry Points

Once all entry points are identified, they are sealed using appropriate materials that prevent animals from chewing or clawing through them. Common materials include:

• Steel wool and hardware cloth for small openings.
• Chimney caps to block access.
• Metal flashing for large gaps in the roof or foundation.

3. Exclusion Devices

In some cases, exclusion devices such as one-way doors are used. These allow animals to leave the property but prevent them from re-entering. This method is especially useful when active nests or young animals are inside.

4. Repairing Damage

Exclusion often involves minor demolition to access entry points or remove wildlife. For example, cutting holes in walls or ceilings may be necessary to evict animals. Once the exclusion process is complete, our team will repair any damage caused during the exclusion or by the animals themselves, restoring your home to its original condition.

5. Final Check and Maintenance

After the exclusion work is completed, it’s essential to reinspect the property to ensure that all entry points are properly sealed and no new issues have developed. Preventative maintenance, such as reinforcing certain areas or installing deterrents like mesh over vents, can further protect your home.

Types of Wildlife That Require Exclusion

1. Raccoons

Raccoons are common in urban areas and are adept at prying open loose soffits, tearing through weak spots in roofing, or using chimneys to enter homes. They are known to cause significant damage to insulation and can be carriers of diseases like rabies.

2. Squirrels

Squirrels often enter homes through roof vents or small openings in the roofline. Once inside, they can chew through insulation, wires, and wooden structures, creating fire hazards and costly damage.

3. Rats and Mice

Rodents like rats and mice can squeeze through incredibly small gaps (as small as a quarter for rats and a dime for mice). These pests are notorious for gnawing through insulation, wires, and food packaging, leading to contamination and structural damage.

4. Birds

Birds, especially starlings and pigeons, often nest in chimneys, vents, or attic spaces. Their droppings can cause unsanitary conditions, and nests can block vents, creating fire hazards.

Humane Wildlife Removal and Exclusion Practices

At Cypress Critters and Pests, we prioritize humane wildlife removal. Our exclusion methods are designed to prevent harm to the animals while ensuring they are safely removed from your property. By focusing on exclusion rather than extermination, we aim to reduce the impact on the local wildlife population while keeping your home safe and secure.

Why Choose Cypress Critters and Pests for Animal Exclusion?

At Cypress Critters and Pests, we have years of experience providing humane and effective animal exclusion services in Spring, TX and the surrounding areas. Our approach ensures that wildlife is safely removed from your property and prevented from returning, giving you peace of mind.

Benefits of Our Services:

• Comprehensive Inspections: We find every possible entry point.
• Expert Repairs: We exclude wildlife and repair any damage caused by the exclusion process.
• Ongoing Support: We offer maintenance and follow-up inspections to keep your property wildlife-free.

To protect your home and family from the dangers of wildlife intrusion, trust Cypress Critters and Pests. Visit our homepage for more information or to schedule an appointment today.

Call us today at Cypress Critters and Pests to learn more about protecting your home from wildlife with professional animal exclusion services!