Winter Mice Prevention: 5 Simple Steps That Work

When winter arrives in Westchester County, mice begin searching for warm, sheltered places to spend the colder months. As temperatures drop, homes in the area naturally become more attractive to rodents looking for food, heat, and quiet spaces to nest. This shift in weather often leads to more mouse activity around foundations, attics, and other hidden spots. The good news is that a few simple and proactive steps can make your home much harder for mice to enter and much less appealing as a winter hideout. Taking action early helps you stay ahead of the problem and protect your home throughout the season.

If you suspect you have a mouse problem, contact the mice control professionals at Westchester Wildlife today by calling 800-273-6673 or filling out our contact form to get started with an inspection in Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties.

#1: Seal Every Gap

Mice can slip through holes as small as a dime, so sealing even tiny openings is one of the best ways to keep them out. You can start by checking the exterior of your home and then move indoors:

• Doors and windows: Replace old weatherstripping and tighten frames so mice can’t enter through small spaces.
• Utility openings: Seal areas where pipes, cables, and gas lines enter so rodents can’t follow these paths indoors.
• Siding and trim: Repair cracks or loose sections so mice have fewer opportunities to sneak in during colder months.

#2: Protect Attics & Basements

Attics and basements are warm, quiet, and full of materials mice love, making them top targets during winter in Westchester. A few simple steps can help protect these areas:

• Sealed storage bins: Keep items stored in sturdy plastic bins so mice can’t access soft materials inside.
• Better insulation: Replace damaged insulation so it stops heat loss and doesn’t provide easy nesting spots.
• Moisture reduction: Improve airflow or use dehumidifiers so the area stays dry and less appealing to rodents.

#3: Store Food the Right Way

Even a small amount of food can attract mice quickly – keeping your kitchen clean and food sealed makes your home far less appealing. Here are a few ways to store food properly so your home is less attractive to rodents:

• Daily cleanup: Wipe counters and sweep floors to remove any food or crumbs that can draw mice into your kitchen.
• Secure trash: Use trash cans with tight lids and empty them regularly so smells do not attract rodents.
• Sealed containers: Use sturdy plastic or glass containers so mice cannot chew through food packaging.

#4: Strengthen Crawl Spaces & Foundations

Crawl spaces and foundations are common entry points in Westchester, especially in older homes. Mice love dark, quiet areas that allow them to move around unseen. There are a few ways you can help block their entry:

• Foundation repairs: Seal cracks so mice cannot slip through tiny openings in the structure.
• Secured covers: Install tight-fitting crawl space doors and vent screens to block wildlife access.
• Moisture improvements: Reduce dampness with proper drainage or vapor barriers so rodents are less likely to nest there.

#5: Cut Back on Clutter

Indoor or outdoor clutter can provide easy hiding spots for rodents, so reducing clutter makes your property far less appealing to mice during winter. You can implement a few simple changes to reduce the chance of mice moving into your home:

• Firewood distance: Keep woodpiles several feet away from your home so mice can’t nest near entry points.
• Yard cleanup: Remove leaves and debris so rodents have fewer hiding places around your property.
• Garage organization: Store tools and boxes neatly so mice can’t hide behind or inside cluttered piles.
• Indoor tidiness: Keep floors, closets, and storage areas clear of loose bags, piles of clothing, cardboard boxes, or stacked papers so mice can’t use them as hidden pathways or nesting spots.

Best Mice Removal & Exclusion Services in Westchester, NY

Even with good prevention habits, winter mouse problems can still happen – especially in busy neighborhoods across Westchester County. At Westchester Wildlife, our experienced rodent control professionals offer detailed inspections to find where mice are getting in, remove the rodents safely, and install durable exclusion barriers designed to keep them out for good. We understand Westchester’s home styles and common rodent entry points, helping us deliver long-term solutions that truly work. Our specialists also explain every finding in clear, simple terms so you know exactly what’s happening in your home. We focus on solving the problem at its source, giving you lasting peace of mind and helping prevent future infestations.

If mice are already sneaking inside your home, or if you just want a professional inspection before winter to prevent mice from moving in, the mice removal and exclusion team at Westchester Wildlife is ready to help. Call us today at 800-273-6673 or complete our contact form to get started with an inspection in Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties!

Are Birds in the Attic Dangerous?

Birds in your attic or vents might seem like a small annoyance at first, but what starts as a noise issue can quickly turn into a much bigger, more serious problem. Birds can bring hidden dangers to your home, your family’s health, and even your overall safety. Because dealing with birds in your attic can be more complicated than it seems, it’s safest to leave the job to trained professionals who know how to handle the problem quickly and protect your home.

If you think you have birds in your attic, contact Westchester Wildlife for expert bird removal services today at 800-273-6673 or fill out our contact form, to get started with an inspection in Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties.

More Than Just A Nuisance

When birds settle into your attic, the flapping, fluttering, and constant chirping can be frustrating, but the bigger concern is the serious risks they can bring with them to your health, safety and home.

• Health risks: Their droppings and nesting materials can spread mites, parasites and bacteria that can create health risks for your family. 
• Fire hazards: Birds often enter through chimneys or small gaps in soffits, eaves, and rooflines, and once inside, they build nests with dry, flammable materials like straw, twigs, leaves, and dead grass, creating a real fire hazard.
• Property damage: The droppings they leave throughout the attic can also lead to stains, strong odors, and even damage to your insulation over time.

Health Risks from Birds in Your Attic

Birds nesting in your attic can create several health risks for your family, especially when their droppings and nesting materials start to build up.

• Risk of Histoplasmosis: Bird droppings can carry spores that may lead to the fungal lung infection histoplasmosis, and once dried droppings are disturbed, those spores can become airborne.
• Triggering allergies and asthma: Dried bird droppings can also trigger and worsen allergies and asthma. 
• Spreading pests: Birds can bring a host of secondary pests with them, including bird mites, fleas, and ticks that they can spread to the rest of your home.

Fire Hazards from Bird Nests

Bird nests can create several hidden fire risks throughout your home, especially when they end up in common entry points like your attic.

• Attic: Birds often build nests in your attic near wiring, where dry debris can catch fire if the wires spark – and this danger grows even more if rodents like mice, rats or squirrels  are also present, since they can chew through the wires and create exposed, risky spots.
• Chimney: Nests in your chimney are also dangerous because the dry materials can ignite as soon as you use your fireplace. 
• Dryer Vents: In addition, birds also like to nest inside dryer vents, which can block airflow, causing heat to build up and increasing the risk of a fire. 

Long-Term Damage to Your Home

Birds can cause more than just short-term problems – they can leave behind long-lasting damage that affects your home’s structure, comfort, and overall safety.

• Contaminated insulation: Bird droppings can soak into your attic insulation, often requiring sections to be removed and replaced.
• Lingering stains and odors: Without proper cleaning and deodorizing, stains and strong smells from droppings and nesting materials can persist for months or even longer.
• Damage to building materials: The acidic nature of bird droppings can corrode wooden beams, shingles, and other structural elements, leading to repairs or replacements much sooner than expected.

Professional Bird Removal and Prevention

Because of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, trying to remove birds on your own can be unsafe and illegal. That’s why it’s best to trust trained professionals like the team at Westchester Wildlife for bird removal. Our expert technicians provide humane bird removal along with high-quality exclusion services to keep birds from coming back. This includes installing chimney caps and vent guards, and sealing any openings in the soffit or roofline that birds may use to get inside.

Best Bird Removal in Westchester County

Birds nesting in your attic or vents may seem like a small issue at first, but they can quickly bring serious health risks, fire hazards, and damage to your home. What starts as a little noise or mess can turn into costly repairs if it’s not handled early. If you think you might have birds nesting inside your attic space in Westchester, Putnam, or Dutchess County, contact the experts at Westchester Wildlife today at 800-273-6673 or fill out our contact form to get started with an inspection!

Signs of a Raccoon Problem vs a Squirrel Problem

It’s easy to mistake a raccoon for a squirrel in your attic – to the untrained ear, both just sound like scratching or scurrying. But telling them apart matters, as each of them can cause different kinds of damage, pose unique health and safety risks, and require its own removal approach. There are a number of telltale signs that can determine whether you have a squirrel or raccoon on your hands, and by the end of this post, you’ll have a better idea which animal you’re most likely dealing with.

If you suspect you’re dealing with nuisance wildlife, Westchester Wildlife offers the best wildlife trapping, removal, and exclusion services in the Westchester, Dutchess, and Putnam County areas! Call us today at (800) 273-6673 or fill out our contact form to schedule an inspection with our wildlife removal experts.

Noises You Hear in the House

One of the first signs homeowners notice is sound. If you know what to listen for, you’ll find that the noises raccoons and squirrels make as they move around are quite different:

• Raccoons: These animals are big enough to make heavy noises. You’ll hear loud thumping, dragging, or even growling and chattering. Most of this activity happens at night, since raccoons are nocturnal.
• Squirrels: By contrast, squirrels are much lighter and faster. Their noises sound like quick scurrying, scratching, or chewing. Activity is usually heard during the day, especially early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

Entry Points and Access

Both raccoons and squirrels are skilled at getting into homes, but they do so in different ways:

• Raccoons: They are strong enough to tear through soffits, vents, and even roofing shingles, and they can also climb right down chimneys. The openings they leave behind are large and easy to spot.
• Squirrels: On the other hand, squirrels rely on chewing to make their way inside – you’ll want to look for gnawed edges on fascia boards, roof corners, and attic vents. The openings are usually smaller, often just big enough for their bodies to squeeze through.

Damage Patterns

Once they are inside, each animal leaves its own type of damage behind:

• Raccoons: They can cause a great deal of damage by ripping apart insulation, knocking over ductwork, and destroying shingles or wood siding. Outdoors, they’re notorious for tipping over garbage cans and digging up lawns while foraging for grubs.
• Squirrels: These rodents constantly chew to keep their teeth short. They’ll gnaw on wires, creating a serious fire hazard, and they also chew beams and shred insulation to build nests.

Droppings and Odor

Both raccoons and squirrels are skilled at getting into homes, but they do so in different ways:

• Raccoons: They are strong enough to tear through soffits, vents, and even roofing shingles, and they can also climb right down chimneys. The openings they leave behind are large and easy to spot.
• Squirrels: On the other hand, squirrels rely on chewing to make their way inside – you’ll want to look for gnawed edges on fascia boards, roof corners, and attic vents. The openings are usually smaller, often just big enough for their bodies to squeeze through.

Day vs Night Activity

Another difference between squirrels and raccoons is that they are active during different times of day:

• Raccoons: Raccoons are primarily active at night. If you’re hearing heavy movement after dark, raccoons are likely the cause.
• Squirrels: Squirrels are most active during daylight hours. Scurrying sounds in the morning or late afternoon are a strong sign of squirrels.

Visible Clues Outside the Home

Sometimes, your yard will show clear signs of whether you’re dealing with raccoons or squirrels:

• Raccoons: Tipped-over trash cans, paw prints in the soil, torn-up gardens, or pieces of sod that are flipped over are all red flags.
• Squirrels: Chewed tree branches, visible nests high in trees, and squirrels frequently darting along your roofline can point to a squirrel issue.

Health and Safety Concerns

Having a squirrel or raccoon problem can also create different health risks to you and your family:

• Raccoons: They can carry rabies and are more likely to become aggressive if cornered. Their droppings can also contain raccoon roundworm, which is dangerous to people and pets.
• Squirrels: While less aggressive, squirrels can carry fleas and mites. The biggest safety threat they pose inside homes is electrical fires caused by chewed wiring.

When to Call a Professional​

Whether it’s a raccoon or a squirrel, wildlife inside your home isn’t a problem you should tackle on your own. Both animals can bite or scratch if threatened, and in New York, there are legal restrictions on trapping and relocating wildlife. Professional removal ensures that the animals are handled humanely, the entry points are sealed, and your home is protected from future invasions.

At Westchester Wildlife, our team has decades of experience safely removing raccoons, squirrels, and other nuisance wildlife across Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties. We specialize in humane removal methods and prevention strategies that keep your home secure year-round.

Best Wildlife Trapping and Removal in Westchester, NY

Raccoons and squirrels may seem similar when they invade your home, but the signs of their presence are very different. From the noises you hear to the damage they leave behind, recognizing the difference can save you time, money, and stress. If you suspect a raccoon or squirrel problem, contact Westchester Wildlife for fast, professional, and humane wildlife removal services in New York and Connecticut. Call us today at (800) 273-6673 or submit our contact form to schedule an inspection and protect your home!

Why Fall Is the Peak Season for Wildlife Infestations in Westchester Homes

When the cooler nights and shorter days of Autumn arrive, nuisance wildlife like squirrels, raccoons, bats, and rodents will search for safe, warm places to spend the winter. Fall is often the most active time for wildlife problems across Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties, as these critters begin breaking into attics, basements, crawl spaces, and more. This blog will help you determine what types of animals to look out for, and how you can protect your property.

Seasonal Behavior of Wildlife in Fall

During the fall, nuisance wildlife will begin preparing for winter, searching for places to nest and storing food to retrieve later. There’s also a drop in natural food sources, as berries, insects, and crops become scarce, pushing animals towards homes that are full of easy food sources. Additionally, the plummeting temperatures will drive wildlife into warm attics, crawl spaces, and basements. 

Common Wildlife Intruders in Westchester During Fall

• Squirrels: these rodents will be seeking shelter inside your attic space, and may also store nuts and seeds inside your attic space or wall voids. 
• Raccoons: looking for warm, safe attics to spend the winter in. Will also raid trash cans and steal pet food. 
• Bats: hibernation season starts in the winter, so bats will spend the fall searching for a place to hibernate. 
• Mice and Rats: rodents need to stick close to humans to survive, and their population will explode while they nest inside your home. 
• Skunks: during the winter, they will dig underneath decks and sheds, and they will rip up your lawn to find grubs to eat.  

Why Homes Are Attractive in Fall

During the fall, homes are attractive to raccoons, bats, squirrels and more. Attics are similar to tree hollows and caves, and crawl spaces and basements provide shelter from cold and predators. Chimneys, vents, and gaps in roofing act as easy entry points, and our properties often provide reliable food sources in the form of trash, pet food, and bird feeders. 

The Risks of Fall Wildlife Infestations

When nuisance animals invade your home, they can create serious health risks. Squirrels and raccoons can spread diseases like tularemia and leptospirosis. Bats and raccoons are both common carriers of the rabies virus, and mice can spread hantavirus. They can also create serious property damage, chewing through wires and contaminating your attic insulation. Raccoons can tear through HVAC ducts, and rodents will gnaw through drywall and wooden support beams, potentially weakening crucial support structures. Nuisance animals can also disrupt your sleep and your peace with their consistent scratching, thumping, and odor problems.

Prevention Tips for Homeowners

In order to prevent nuisance wildlife from getting into your home, make sure all the entry points and potential entry points are sealed and fortified. This can include seemingly minor cracks and gaps in your roofline and soffit. Installing chimney caps and vent covers is also important to keeping out nuisance wildlife, as these are some of the largest, most obvious entry points. Secure your trash cans with tightly fitting lids, remove birdfeeders, and don’t leave bowls of pet food overnight to limit the food sources on your property. 

Why Professional Wildlife Removal is Essential

Attempting to remove animals from your attic by yourself is never recommended, as wild animals are unpredictable and may lash out with sharp claws and teeth when confronted, especially if they are with their babies. Additionally, bats are protected under New York law and must be handled safely and humanely by professionals. Westchester Wildlife can help, our expertise and experience with local species and their seasonal behaviors means we can provide you with long-term solutions to your wildlife problem.

Best Wildlife Removal in Westchester County

Remember: fall is the most important season to stay proactive about wildlife prevention. Act now before the cold weather really begins to set in, or you might end up sharing your attic space with a mother raccoon or a colony of bats for the winter! Westchester Wildlife is here to help, our team can carefully inspect your attic for nuisance wildlife, humanely trap and remove any critters we find, and then perform exclusion work to ensure that they can’t come back. If you think you may need wildlife removal services in Westchester, Putnam, or Dutchess Counties, call us today to get started at (800) 273-6673!    

Bat Maternity Season is Over! Now’s the Time for Removal and Exclusion!

Bat maternity season is when bats are giving birth and raising their flightless pups, and the end of bat maternity season is marked by the pups learning how to fly and leaving the nest. Removing bats during the maternity season will often lead to deaths of the pups, which is why bat removal is illegal during this time. However, it is also illegal to remove bats during their hibernation season, as this can also kill them. Late Summer and Early Fall is the perfect sweet spot to remove bat problems, as it’s right between the end of maternity season and the beginning of hibernation season. Westchester Wildlife can help, we can safely remove and exclude bats from your property in Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties.

What is Bat Maternity Season?

Bat Maternity Season is defined as late spring through early summer. Typically, bat maternity season will start in the middle of April, when pregnant female bats begin roosting together and preparing to give birth. When the bats are born, they are flightless and rely totally on their mother. Throughout the summer, the baby bats will get stronger and more capable, and the maternity season ends when the baby bats are able to fly on their own. This is usually around mid-to-late August, and by the time September rolls around, bats can be safely removed from your attic space in Westchester.

Why Bat Removal Must Wait Until After Maternity Season

Bats cannot be removed during the maternity season, as it runs the risk of orphaning the pups or trapping the pups inside your walls where they will most likely die. Bats and their pups are under federal protection, due to their ecological importance and their endangered status. Bats are crucial for pollination and seed dispersal of our most precious crops, and they are also fantastic pest control agents, eating up to thousands of mosquitos per night. Unfortunately, their habitat is shrinking due to deforestation, and their population is in danger due to the onset of white nose syndrome, a fungal disease that can take out entire cave’s worth of bats. Protecting healthy bat populations is important, which is why it is highly illegal to remove bats during their maternity or hibernation season. 

Why Right Now Is the Best Time for Bat Removal

September is the perfect time for bat removal, as both adult bats and their pups are able to fly, making safe exclusion possible. As September arrives, the colder weather of fall is not far behind, and this cold weather will make bats seek out places to hibernate for the winter. Removing the bats from your attic and sealing up all the entry points can ensure that you aren’t hosting a colony of hibernating bats all winter. 

Signs You May Have Bats in Your Attic

Bats are nocturnal, and will be most active at dusk and dawn when they are entering and exiting your attic space. During these times of day you might hear high-pitched squeaks or fluttering and flapping noises coming from your attic space. You might spot guano piles in your attic insulation, or staining/grease marks around rooflines and vents. Bat guano and urine can leave a strong, foul ammonia-like smell coming from your attic space. 

How Professionals Remove Bats Safely

Westchester Wildlife is your number one team of bat removal and exclusion professionals in the Westchester area. Company owner Jim Driesacker invented the Batcone and Pro-cone, which are industry tested humane bat removal and exclusion products for both residential and commercial use. These products are placed on the main entry point used by bats, and it allows the bats to exit the attic space, but not get back inside. The bats will move on and find a new home, with no harm done. After the entire bat colony is removed, our team will seal up the main entry point, excluding the bats and ensuring that they can’t get back inside. 

Preventing Future Bat Infestations

The best way to prevent future bat infestations is to have bat experts like Westchester Wildlife install chimney caps and vent covers, and to seal roofline gaps. Having regular roof inspections done can also keep a lid on the situation, as we can seal up any gaps before they become a potential problem. Regular seasonal checkups before the blackout periods of maternity season and hibernation season can give you peace of mind that you don’t have a bat colony roosting inside your home.

Best Bat Removal in Westchester County

Now is the perfect time for safe, effective bat removal services in Westchester County. Maternity season has ended, and the pups are now able to fly, but we also haven’t quite hit the cooler temperatures that mark the beginning of hibernation season. Westchester Wildlife are your number one bat experts in the Westchester County area. We can safely and humanely remove and exclude bats from your attic space, ensuring that they are not harmed. Contact us today to get started with a FREE estimate at (800) 273-6673!

Skunks Under the Deck? Here’s What to Do (and What Not to Do)

Imagine it’s a nice summer night, you go out to enjoy your deck, only to be hit with the overwhelming smell of skunk. It’s more common than you might think! Skunks will nest underneath decks, sheds, and porches in the suburban areas of Westchester County, and when they decide to settle down in your yard, they will spray around your property to mark their territory. This blog will cover what attracts skunks, the common signs, what to do if you notice a skunk problem, and how professionals like Westchester Wildlife can solve your skunk problem safely and carefully. 

Why Skunks Choose Decks and Sheds in Westchester

Skunks are nocturnal, reclusive critters that are drawn to dark, warm areas, preferably close to the ground, where they can dig out their dens. Underneath your deck, shed, or porch therefore provides the perfect habitat for skunks. If your yard is littered with dead leaves and wood piles, this can provide skunks with extra cover, as well as attract insects for skunks to eat. Unsealed crawl spaces can also let skunks inside, providing another source of shelter. If you leave bowls of pet food out, these can also attract skunks to your property. Much of the Westchester suburbs are close to the edge of forests, which can make it a hotspot of wildlife activity.

Signs There’s a Skunk on Your Property

• Skunk spray odor: often in the yard or underneath the home 
• Visible burrows or disturbed soil around deck or shed: skunks dig underground to nest and find grubs to eat 
• Nocturnal rustling sounds: skunks are more active at night, so you might hear them moving around under your house 
• Pet agitation or recent outdoor skunk encounter: if your dog is acting upset or comes in smelling like skunk, they most likely found the den in your yard.

What NOT to Do if You Suspect a Skunk

Don’t try to block the den entrance, as you might accidentally trap a mother skunk inside with her babies. The only thing that smells worse than a skunk spray is a dead skunk. Don’t attempt to scare the skunk out, as they can spray when frightened, and may lash out with claws and teeth. Don’t use poison or repellents, as they are inhumane, ineffective, and often illegal. The number one thing you should NOT do if you have a skunk problem is ignore it, as the problem can get worse if left unaddressed.   

What You SHOULD Do Instead

Instead of trying to remove the critter under your deck, you should observe from a distance, noting the time of activity and where the entry points are. Then, call a professional like Westchester Wildlife for safe, humane skunk trapping and removal services. Our first step will be scheduling an inspection, so we can determine if the skunk has babies and how to proceed. Next we remove the skunks, perform exclusion work, and repair any damage done, ensuring they don’t come back.

Preventing Future Skunk Problems

The best way to prevent future skunk problems is to call Westchester Wildlife for professional exclusion services. We will bury hardware cloth around decks and sheds to prevent skunks from digging underneath them. You can also secure trash cans, compost piles, and bowls of pet food to limit their food sources, and remove yard debris and wood piles to limit their shelter.

Why Choose Westchester Wildlife

Westchester Wildlife is the best skunk trapping and removal company in the Westchester County area. Our team has years of experience removing skunks from homes in Westchester, so you can count on us getting the job done right. All our wildlife removal practices are safe and humane, ensuring a safe environment for your home without harming the animal in any way. Our services go beyond removal, we also offer cleanup and exclusion services to get your home back in shape and protect it from more wildlife problems in the future. Contact us today to get started with a FREE estimate at 800-273-6673! 

Wild Neighbors: How Raccoons Thrive in Westchester’s Suburbs

Raccoons are one of the most common wildlife species that you might encounter in the suburbs of Westchester County. These intelligent, nocturnal critters are known to raid trash cans for food, nest inside your attic space, spread diseases, and leave waste behind everywhere. Raccoons are very adaptable, and the conditions of the suburbs are optimal for their survival. Understanding how and why raccoons are thriving in Westchester can help you understand how to keep them out. And if a raccoon has already made its way inside your attic space, you can call Westchester Wildlife for safe and humane trapping and removal services.

Why Raccoons Love the Westchester Area

Raccoons love Westchester because of the abundant sources of food. Raccoons are omnivores that eat whatever they can get their paws on, but many man-made structures in the suburbs provide easier ways for a raccoon to score a quick meal. Trash cans, compost piles, gardens, birdfeeders, bowls of pet food left outside; all of these can feed a hungry raccoon. In addition to an abundance of food, raccoons in Westchester also have plenty of places to seek shelter, like inside attics, crawl spaces, and chimneys. If that weren’t enough, the suburbs also provide refuge from the raccoon’s natural predators, like coyotes, bobcats, and cougars.

Common Signs of a Raccoon Problem

Loud stomping and shuffling sounds coming from inside your attic space or walls, especially at night, are a common sign of a raccoon problem. If you notice torn shingles, soffits, or siding, this can mean raccoons have ripped their way into your home. If your outdoor trash cans or outdoor pet food bowls are tipped over and raided every night, a raccoon is probably living on your property. Raccoon droppings around your yard or attic space are a common sign as well, but use caution when cleaning it up (or wait for professionals), because raccoon droppings can spread raccoon roundworm.    

Raccoon Behavior in Westchester

Raccoons commonly nest inside your attic space, ripping through shingles, soffits, and siding to get inside. Once inside, raccoons will rip apart your insulation to add to their nests, often digging latrines within the insulation to deposit their waste. Raccoons will also chew through wires and tear through HVAC ducts. It’s not recommended that you try to remove raccoons yourself, as they might become aggressive when cornered (especially if accompanied by their young) and may lash out with their sharp claws and teeth. Not only can they seriously injure you, raccoon bites and scratches can also oftentimes spread the rabies virus.    

How Westchester Wildlife Handles Raccoon Removal

Our first step when removing raccoons is to conduct a thorough inspection of your property, looking for raccoon nests inside attics and crawl spaces. We also check for entry points on roof vents, soffits, chimneys, and more. Then, we begin safely and humanely trapping and removing the raccoons, ensuring that we remove the mothers with their young. After the raccoons are gone, we perform exclusion work to make sure that they don’t come back, and then clean up any mess left behind.  

Preventing Future Raccoon Intrusions

Westchester Wildlife can remove raccoons from your property, and once they are gone, we will perform exclusion work to keep them out for good. Exclusion work is the process of locating and sealing off entry points like soffit holes, missing shingles, and missing siding. Exclusion work can also include installing vent guards and wildlife barriers, as well as performing crawl space repairs. Even if you don’t currently have a raccoon infestation, our team can perform exclusion work to ensure that your home doesn’t become a target. 

In addition to exclusion work, you can take some additional steps to make your property less inviting to raccoons. Secure trash cans with a tightly-fitting lid and bring in bowls of pet food before bed every night. Trim tree branches that are too close to your home, as they can make it easier for raccoons to get on your roof. Removing food and water sources from your yard will go a long way in making your home less habitable to nuisance wildlife. 

When To Call A Professional

When DIY methods of prevention fail, and a raccoon has gotten inside your attic space or wall voids, it’s time to call a professional. Raccoons are unpredictable wild animals with sharp claws and teeth, so always leave raccoon removal to the experts. Westchester Wildlife can help, we offer the best raccoon trapping, removal, and exclusion services Get in touch with our team today to get started with a FREE estimate at (800) 273-6673!

What Does It Mean When You Hear Noises in the Walls at Night?

Nothing’s more unsettling than hearing something moving around inside your home’s walls or attic space at night. You might hear scratching or scurrying, or maybe loud stomping and shuffling. Don’t worry, it’s probably not a ghost! Just a nuisance critter that may be ripping up your insulation! Thankfully, you can quickly identify what type of animal is in your attic by listening carefully for the noise, and then get rid of it by contacting Westchester Wildlife for safe, humane trapping and removal services in the Westchester area.

Scratching, Scurrying, or Pattering Sounds

If you are hearing scratching sounds, scurrying sounds, or faint pattering sounds coming from inside your walls or crawl space, you most likely have mice, rats, or squirrels. Squirrels are diurnal, so you are more likely to hear them during the day, while rats and mice are more active after dusk or before dawn. These sounds usually indicate that a squirrel is settling down and building a nest, often ripping out your insulation in the process. It could also indicate that rats or mice have gotten inside your house. It’s important to call a wildlife company like Westchester Wildlife as soon as you notice these noises, as rat and mice populations can explode into massive infestations seemingly overnight. Even worse, rats, mice and squirrels can chew on the rubber covering surrounding wires, which can create a potential fire hazard.

Thumping or Slow Movement

If you are hearing thumping, slow moving, or shuffling, especially at night, you might have a raccoon moving around your attic space. Mother raccoons often break into attic spaces to have babies, as your attic is safe, warm, and secluded. However, raccoons will rip up your insulation to make their nests, often digging latrines in the insulation to deposit their waste in. Raccoons can also tear through HVAC ducts and spread raccoon roundworm. Always leave raccoon removal to the professionals, as these fierce animals can lash out with their sharp claws and teeth when cornered, and may transmit the rabies virus.

High-Pitched Chirping or Squeaking

If you’re being annoyed all night by incessant high-pitched chirping or squeaking noises coming from behind walls, inside attic vents, or near chimneys, you might be hearing bats or baby squirrels. Bats are known to squeak, and unfortunately, bats don’t come alone, as they often nest in large groups, roosting and depositing their guano into your insulation. Squirrels will use your attic as a place to give birth and nurse their young, so high pitched squeaking can also be an indicator of a squirrel nest. No matter if its bats or squirrels, these sounds are an indicator that its time to call a professional.

Gnawing or Chewing

If you are hearing gnawing or chewing sounds coming from inside your walls or attic space, you most likely have rodents like rats, mice, or squirrels. These critters will gnaw at the tiniest gaps and openings to get inside your home, so you might hear them chewing around gaps in your roofline or foundation to get inside the home. Rodents have teeth that never stop growing, and in order to keep the length of their teeth manageable, they will gnaw on baseboards, drywall, cabinet doors, and any other hard surface they can find in your home.

Fluttering or Light Scratching

If you hear fluttering or light scratching sounds coming from inside your walls or vents, you might have birds or bats trapped inside your walls. You don’t want these critters dying in your walls, as they will quickly begin decomposing, creating an awful smell in your home.

What NOT To Do

If you hear animals coming from your walls or attic space, it’s important to NOT seal up the entry points before removing them, as you might trap the critter within the home. Removing wildlife yourself isn’t advisable, as wild animals are unpredictable and can bite or scratch when confronted. Avoid using poisons, as they can just lead to dead animals stuck in your walls or attic, and poisoning some animals like bats is highly illegal. And definitely DON’T just assume that the animal will go away on its own!

What You SHOULD Do

What you SHOULD do when hearing strange sounds in your walls or attic at night is contact a professional wildlife removal service like Westchester Wildlife. Additionally, listening closely to the animal sounds to identify patterns like the time of day, type of sound, and the frequency can help you identify the animal sooner.

How Westchester Wildlife Can Help

If you have nuisance animals inside your crawl space, contact the experts at Westchester Wildlife. Our team of experts will conduct a thorough inspection of your property to locate the animals and where they are getting in. Next, we will safely trap and remove all the nuisance critters from your property. Finally, we will repair any damage done by the animals and seal off their entry points, fully excluding them from your home. Contact our team today to get started at (800) 273-6673!

Top 5 Backyard Features That Attract Wildlife

Are you dealing with nuisance critters like raccoons, squirrels, birds, and more causing issues on your property in Westchester? Your backyard may be attracting them without you even realizing it. It’s important to locate the sources of food, water and shelter that are attracting critters to your backyard so you can take the proper preventative steps to protect your home. In addition, Westchester Wildlife also offers wildlife trapping and removal services to remove animals that have already set up shop on your property.       

1. Bird Feeders

Bird feeders are an obvious one, as these containers full of nuts and seeds provide an easy meal for both birds and squirrels. While bird feeders don’t guarantee that a squirrel will break into your attic or a bird will nest inside your dryer vent, a steady food source certainly makes your home more appealing as a long-term home. 

2. Compost Piles and Open Trash Bins

Discarded food attracts all kinds of wildlife, especially raccoons, so it’s important to secure your food trash to prevent wildlife problems. Compost piles are a great way to return organic waste to the earth and fertilize your plants, but they also provide a veritable buffet for a hungry raccoon. Instead, secure your compost in a raccoon-proof compost bin. 

If your outdoor trash cans are left open or unsealed, you might wake up to trash strewn all over your lawn by a raiding raccoon. Keeping your trash cans sealed with a tightly-fitting lid, especially overnight, can help prevent raccoons from getting into your trash and viewing your property as a source of food.

3. Pet Food Left Outdoors

If you leave bowls of dog food out on your back deck for your furry friend, or if you leave out cat food for the neighborhood stray, you might be unknowingly providing a meal for a raccoon, skunk, rat, or other passing critter. Make sure you bring all pet food inside before nighttime to prevent nocturnal critters from setting their sights on your property.  

4. Overgrown Vegetation and Brush Piles

If your backyard is covered in dense, overgrown vegetation and tall grass, it provides plenty of places for groundhogs, snakes, rats, shrews, and more to shelter and nest. Animals feel safer with some level of cover, so trimming bushes, clearing brush piles, and keeping your grass cut short (especially near your home’s foundation) can make your backyard feel less safe for passing animals. 

5. Sheds, Crawl Spaces, and Woodpiles

Sheds, unsealed crawl spaces, and wood piles in your backyard provide a dry, hidden nesting or denning site for skunks, opossums, chipmunks, rats, and snakes. Having Westchester Wildlife install wildlife barriers underneath your sheds and around your home’s foundation can keep these critters out. 

Honorable Mention: Backyard Water Sources

Sources of water in your backyard can also attract passing wildlife like raccoons, deer, squirrels, and more. Birdbaths and ponds are common sources of water near homes, but even clogged gutters with rain collected in them can provide water to a thirsty squirrel. Ensuring you carefully maintain water fixtures on your home and regularly drain standing water can help keep these critters out.  

When It’s Time To Call A Professional

It’s time to call a professional about a wildlife problem as soon as you notice the signs: persistent scratching, scampering, stomping, or flapping noises, visible droppings, tracks, chewed wires, and less effective insulation (due to wildlife nesting). If you need wildlife trapped, removed, or excluded from your property in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, or Fairfield, call the experts at Westchester Wildlife today for a FREE estimate at 800-273-6673!  

Top 5 Entry Points Wildlife Use to Invade Homes

Your home provides a perfect sanctuary for wildlife, as it is warm and safe, protected from predators and harsh weather. These conditions also make your home perfect for animals to have their babies in. Some of the most common nuisance critters you might have nesting inside your home in Westchester County include raccoons, squirrels, bats, birds, groundhogs, skunks, snakes, and more! Give us a call to get scheduled at (800) 273-6673!   

Number One: Roof Vents and Soffits

Roof vents or soffits provide easy access for squirrels and raccoons to get inside your attic space. Ridge vents and gable vents can also let in bats, who can fit their bodies through very small gaps. Raccoons and squirrels can enter through these vents as well, but they will typically gnaw and scratch at the vents until they have openings wide enough to fit through. Raccoons and squirrels will similarly gnaw and scratch at gaps and cracks in your soffit until they can fit themselves into your attic space.

Number Two: Chimneys

Some of the common chimney invaders include raccoons, birds, and squirrels. These animals can create dangerous conditions by clogging up your chimney with their flammable nesting material. Chimneys can also be used to directly access the living space in some cases. Having a chimney cap installed can keep critters out of your chimney while allowing the chimney to function as normal.  

Number Three: Gaps Under Roof Eaves or Fascia Boards

Gaps underneath roof eaves or fascia boards can be exploited by squirrels, bats and birds to get inside your attic. Squirrels will often chew at these gaps to widen them, which can leave it open to be widened further by raccoons. Using metal flashing and sealing these gaps with wildlife-grade materials can keep them out in the future.

Number Four: Crawl Space Vents and Foundation Gaps

If your crawl space vents are unsealed, they can let in skunks who will use your crawl space as a denning site. Skunks tend to dig out their dens which can damage your foundation, and they will spray around their denning site. The awful smell of the skunk spray can then drift upwards into the home. If you have gaps in your foundation, this can let in rats who will breed very quickly, and then snakes aren’t far behind, as they will go where the food is. 

Number Five: Gaps Around Pipes, Cables, and Utility Lines

The penetrations where pipes, cables, and utility lines pass into the house can have small gaps around them, which is where smaller wildlife like mice and rats can enter the home. Snakes can also fit through these tiny gaps, entering your home in search of rodents to eat.

Honorable Mention: Garage Doors

If your garage door isn’t fully touching the ground, critters like raccoons can squeeze their bodies underneath the door to enter your garage, especially if your garage contains trash cans they can raid for food.

Why Professional Exclusion Matters

If you have wildlife causing problems on your property in Westchester, it’s important to not just seal off the entry points and call it a day, as you might trap nuisance wildlife inside your home. Instead, contact the experts at Westchester Wildlife for wildlife trapping, removal, and exclusion. Our technicians start off by thoroughly inspecting your home for wildlife, making sure to note the current and potential entry points. Next, we safely and humanely trap and remove all critters from your property, always ensuring the babies are removed with their mother. Finally, we perform exclusion work on all the entry points, ensuring that the animals can’t get back inside your home. Give our team a call to get started today with a FREE estimate at (800) 273-6673!