Because the animal was never the whole problem. The opening it used is. Trap a raccoon, a squirrel or a roof rat and the gap in the soffit, vent or roof return is still there, still smelling like the animal that lived behind it, and the next one finds it. The fix is exclusion: catch what is inside alive, then seal every way in and repair the damage. Michael Gerbino of Cypress Critters & Pests does both parts himself, from Tomball and Cypress to Spring and north Houston. Call 713-775-8799.
Why does another animal show up after the first one is caught?
An attic in this part of Texas is warm, dry and quiet, which is exactly what a raccoon, a squirrel or a rat is looking for. Once an animal has lived there, it leaves a scent trail, droppings and nesting material behind. To other animals in the neighborhood, that smell says this place is safe and the door is open. So when a trap takes one animal away, the space does not stay empty for long.
The neighborhood matters too. Mature trees over the roof, a greenbelt behind the fence or a creek nearby means there are always more animals close by. Taking one away does not change how many live around the house. It only changes who lives in the attic next.
How can you tell the problem was never fixed?
- The noise comes back a few weeks after the trap was picked up.
- New chewing or tearing shows up right beside a spot that was patched.
- The same trap keeps catching animals, one after another.
- Fresh droppings appear in the attic after it was cleaned.
- A smell starts in a wall, which can mean an animal or its young were left inside.
Any one of these means the house still has an opening, or more than one.
What does exclusion add that a trap does not?
| Part of the job | Trap only | Trap plus exclusion |
|---|---|---|
| Animal inside the attic | Caught and taken off the property | Caught alive and taken off the property |
| Entry points | Left as they were | Found on a full inspection and sealed |
| Young in the nest | Easy to miss | Checked for before anything is sealed |
| Damage | Left for the homeowner | Torn soffits, vents and screens repaired |
| The next animal | Finds the same open hole | Finds metal mesh, flashing and caps |
That second column is the whole idea behind animal exclusion and humane live trapping. The trap is one step. Sealing is what ends it.
Why do rats and mice need sealing more than any other animal?
Rodents breed fast and fit through small gaps. A roof rat can squeeze through a hole about the size of a quarter, and mice through smaller ones, so there is always another one ready to come in through the gap around a pipe, an AC line chase or a garage door corner. Traps inside the attic will catch rats for as long as the traps are there, and the house keeps letting new ones in. That is why rat and mouse control starts with sealing the outside of the house, not with setting more traps.
Trapped something before and the noise came back? Call Michael at 713-775-8799.
Why not just trap the animal and move it somewhere else?
Moving the animal does nothing to the hole in the roof, and in Texas it is not a simple choice for a homeowner. The Texas Department of State Health Services says live raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes may not be transported from, to or within Texas, except by certain exempt groups. For other fur-bearing animals, such as opossums, Texas Parks and Wildlife says relocating one takes authorization from the department and permission from the owner of the property where it would be released. Animals Michael catches are removed alive and handled following Texas rules. Then he seals the house, which is the part that keeps the problem from returning.
When to call
If a trap has already been tried, or you hear an animal and want it handled once, call for a full inspection. Raccoon work is on the raccoon removal page. In Tomball, read about animal exclusion in Tomball and raccoon removal in Tomball. The older post on animal exclusion covers the background. Call or text 713-775-8799.
Questions people ask about trapping without sealing
I trapped a raccoon last month. Why is there another one?
The opening it used is still there, and the attic still smells like a raccoon lived in it. To another raccoon nearby, that is an open invitation. Until every entry point is found and closed with material a raccoon cannot pull apart, a trap only empties the attic for the next one to move in.
Can I just seal the hole myself after the animal is gone?
You can close an opening you find, but two things often go wrong. The hole you see is rarely the only one, and an animal or its young may still be inside. Sealing an animal in sends it chewing through a new spot or leaves it to die in the wall. A full inspection first avoids both of those problems.
Does trapping rats in the attic ever work by itself?
It thins them out for a while. Rats keep coming in from trees, fence lines and the roof through gaps around pipes, vents and the roofline. Unless those gaps are sealed from the outside, the traps keep catching rats and the house keeps letting new ones in. Trapping and sealing together is what ends it.
Why not trap the raccoon and let it go in the woods?
The Texas Department of State Health Services says live raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes may not be transported in Texas except by certain exempt groups, so that is not an option for most people. Letting it go also leaves the opening in your roof open for the next animal. Raccoons Michael catches are removed alive and handled following Texas rules.
Sources
- Texas Department of State Health Services, transport of animals under the statewide quarantine: dshs.texas.gov/animal-safety-zoonosis/laws/transport
- 25 Texas Administrative Code Sec. 169.34: law.cornell.edu/regulations/texas/25-Tex-Admin-Code-SS-169-34
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, nuisance fur-bearing animals: tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/fur-bearing-animal-regulations/nuisance-fur-bearing-animals
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Sec. 71.001 (fur-bearing animals): statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PW/htm/PW.71.htm
