Where Do Wildlife Go In The Winter?

You might associate the presence of nuisance wildlife like squirrels, raccoons and skunks with the hot temperatures and longer days of summer, but where do they go during the colder, snowy months? While some critters like snakes and groundhogs go into torpor and hibernation, squirrels, raccoons, rodents and skunks will stay active throughout the winter, trying to get inside your attic or crawl space, or ripping up your yard in search of food. If you are dealing with nuisance wildlife causing problems on your property in Westchester, then contact the experts at Westchester Wildlife. We offer safe, humane, wildlife trapping and removal services in the Westchester, Dutchess, and Putnam County areas.

Squirrels

Squirrels stay active throughout the entire fall, scavenging for nuts and seeds they can store inside piles of food called “caches” that they hide around their territory. Squirrels can hide their food inside hollow tree cavities, inside holes in the ground, or sometimes even inside attic spaces or wall voids. During the winter, squirrels will begin retrieving food from their caches, while also searching for warm, safe places to spend the winter. Unfortunately, this often means squirrels will set up shop in your attic. Squirrels inside the attic will rip up your insulation to make their nests, often soiling it in the process with urine and droppings.

Raccoons

Similar to squirrels, raccoons will gorge themselves on food during autumn, building up fat reserves to protect them during the winter. However, raccoons do not build up food caches and instead must continue searching for food throughout the winter. This won’t be too hard for the crafty raccoon, as these scavengers eat pretty much anything. Raccoons will become more desperate for food during the winter, and more willing to invade your property to dig through your trash can, raid your bird feeder, or eat out of pet food bowls that have been left outside. Raccoons do not hibernate, but they may den together to conserve body heat and enter a state of lowered activity called torpor when the temperatures go below 20 degrees. Raccoons will also seek out shelter within your home, getting inside your attic where they will tear through insulation and HVAC ducts. Raccoons also dig latrines inside insulation, where the waste can build up in such large quantities that it can begin to seep through the ceiling.

Mice and Rats

Mice and rats have evolved to live alongside humans, and the warmth and food associated with our homes often draws these rodents inside when the temperatures drop. Mice might huddle in their outdoor nests and slow down their activity when the weather begins to get really frigid. Rats cannot survive without people, and will die in the winter if they can’t find shelter or food. Rodent activity will ramp up as the temperatures plummet. You might see greasy marks alongside the baseboards of your home that are left by rats brushing their fur up against it. Rats and mice need to gnaw to keep the length of their ever-growing teeth down, so they will chew holes in cabinet doors, wooden support beams, and the rubber covering around wires, which can expose the bare wiring and pose a fire risk. Mice will also tunnel through your insulation, which can affect its ability to resist heat. One of the main reasons why rodents are attracted to your home in the winter is because your home is often full of food. Whether it be spills and crumbs in the kitchen or dry, prepackaged food in the pantry, your home provides a banquet for hungry rodents in the winter. You might spot chewed holes in paper, soft plastic, or cardboard food packaging. Cleaning up all spills and crumbs immediately and keeping your prepackaged food in sturdy, hard plastic containers can help keep rodents out of your food supply.

Snakes

Snakes are cold-blooded and are less adapted to staying active during the winter. Snakes often brumate, or enter a period of lowered activity, during the winter. Snakes often brumate together in burrows, groundhog tunnels, fox holes, leaf litter, or even inside tree stumps or dead logs. While snakes generally stay away from homes during winter, they might set up shop inside your crawl space, especially if you have a steady population of mice and rats for them to eat.

Groundhogs and Skunks

Groundhogs actually DO hibernate, staying asleep in their underground tunnels from October to late February. When hibernating, a groundhog’s heartbeat slows to 4-10 beats per minute, and their breathing rate slows to one breath every six months. Groundhogs won’t be digging up your yard during the winter, but you might have to deal with another digging critter.

Skunks are scavengers that continue searching for food throughout the winter. During winter, as food sources become more scarce, skunks will be drawn to your property, searching for food within your trash cans. Skunks will also rip up your lawn to find beetle larvae known as grubs to eat. If your property provides enough food sources, skunks might dig out dens underneath your deck or porch, which can increase the likelihood of a spraying incident, especially because skunks spray to mark their territory.

Wildlife Trapping and Removal Near Me

If you are dealing with raccoons, squirrels, mice, rats, snakes, groundhogs or skunks on your property in Westchester County, contact the experts at Westchester Wildlife. Our team can protect your home from these pests and nuisance wildlife this winter. Once these critters have been removed from your property, we can provide you with exclusions and seal-outs to prevent them from returning. Contact our team to get started today with a FREE estimate at (914) 760-5713!

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