Nuisance Animals in Attic
When nuisance animals are suspected of moving into the attic, there is often the temptation to follow them there. In fact, some clients expect us to set traps in the attic or go looking in the attic to make sure they are there. When informed that we try to avoid attics if at all possible, they are sometimes surprised as it seems counter-intuitive. If that’s where the animals are…. Right? No?
For the most efficient removal of nuisance squirrels and raccoons that have moved into an attic, we we recommend that humans stay out of the attic when inspecting or trapping.
Stay Out of Attics if Possible
For reasons that Ryan explains in this video post, inspecting and trapping should be accomplished without going into the attic in the majority of nuisance animal scenarios. Its usually not necessary and going in attics often makes the removal process way less efficient.
Check out this sage advice:
Removing Animals from Attics
Instead of going into the attic for squirrel and raccoon removal it is best to capture them where they enter and exit the house on the outside of the structure. As Ryan remarked in the video, getting into the attic (the SAFE SPACE) puts the animals on high alert. Animals on alert bring on a host of problems.
In addition to the mess of climbing in and out of attics, inspecting and trapping on the inside also require the nuisance trapper and the homeowner to sync schedules for trapper entry. This is not convenient for either party. Traps need checked in some way on a daily basis and the process can last for multiple days.
Working only from the outside is better for all parties.
Occasionally, an attic entry is necessary and called for. But, it is not the norm. The rationale for attic entry should be thoroughly explained if it is what your nuisance animal professional suggests.
As an example, in last week’s blog there are pictures and video from INSIDE an attic.
Doesn’t Ryan being in that attic go against what this post is recommending?
No. He inspected from the outside and tried to determine how the flying squirrels were getting in but just kept coming up empty. So attic inspection became necessary in this case to find out the flying squirrels were getting in via the soil stack (an unusual entry point indeed).
Sometimes the attic is what works.
Professional Animal Removal | Akron, Canton, Kent Ohio
In our younger, less experienced years we went into more attics. But as experienced and professionalism were gained, we realized the necessity and effectiveness of doing so were dubious.
If you are hiring a company to get animals out of your attic and the first strategy is to put traps in your attic, there is a good chance you may not being dealing with the most experienced of trappers. Ask a lot of questions about why this is necessary because over 90% of the time, the most efficient results will be gained from the outside.
