| By :
Nick Messe
Are you hearing scraping noises from your attic or within the walls of your home? Are your kids convinced that there are ghosts haunting your home thanks to the noises they are hearing as they're trying to fall asleep. If so, you may have unknowingly set up a little wildlife refuge in your attic. You may not have realized you were putting out the welcome mat, but they recognized easy access to your attic and took full advantage. Trees are great for shading your yard on hot summer days. They're also great for providing launch pads, bridges and full service thoroughfares onto your roof. And once critters are on your roof it's a short trip into the attic. Under your eaves that are often gaps where squirrels, rats, mice, opossums and even raccoons find their way into your attic. They have the ability to squeeze themselves into gaps you would never believe they'd fit through. Corners where eaves meet are a common entry point for these furry little invaders and destroyers. They can also chew access holes behind or around roof vents and gutters. Crawlspaces also provide access to chimneys and from the chimney it's a short trip up into the attic. You can rent humane cages to try and capture the critters. However, keep in mind that you will need heavy gloves for moving the cages so you don't get scratched. You will also need to move the animals several miles away to prevent them from coming right back to your attic. The best bet for reclaiming your home from nature's little woodland creatures is to bring in a professional. An ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure, so once you have removed the invaders from your home you will want to remove the welcome mat. Trim tree branches back away from the house and search along the eaves carefully for any gaps or cracks. Remember, a rat can squeeze into a gap the size of a quarter. To be sure that you have all the holes sealed up you are going to have to go up on a ladder and carefully inspect all areas of your eaves. Pay special attention to the areas behind gutters and in corners. Grease stains along the eaves indicate that rats or mice have been squeezing through and such areas must be sealed up to prevent re-entry by the offending critters. Good choices for sealing up access holes include heavy gauge metal meshing, sheet metal, cement and mortar. These items will resist being pulled out or simply chewed through again. While the eaves of your house may not be something you give much thought to, they are extremely important. The eaves are what should keep critters and animals from getting into your attic. These animals can cause extensive damage to insulation and wiring, not to mention the health issues they pose. Prevent them from turning your home into a critter motel by taking care of the eaves and other access points of your home.
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