{"id":6861,"date":"2014-08-31T08:21:23","date_gmt":"2014-08-31T13:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/tips\/?p=6861"},"modified":"2025-11-05T13:55:35","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T13:55:35","slug":"animal-and-rodents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/animal-and-rodents\/","title":{"rendered":"Animal and Rodents in your Attic"},"content":{"rendered":"[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;3.22&#8243;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;row&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.9&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|10px||10px|false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<h1><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Animals &amp; Rodents in Your Attic<\/span><\/h1>\n<p>Animals and Rodents in your attic can create a mess that can be expense to reslove. \u00a0They can damage your wiring, ducts, insulation and leave behind their toxic feces. \u00a0Here are some common types and tips for removing them from your home.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>BATS<\/strong> &#8211; The last thing any home buyer wants is to find unwanted pests living in their home. Houses, unfortunately, can provide the ideal home for animals and rodents to take up residence. Your Home Inspector will look for the signs and indications of these pests and provide you the basic information you need to start the removal process. This article will discuss some of the more prevalent pests you may find. Bats are a naturally scary animal to most humans. They are often related to vampire stories and getting into a person\u2019s hair. Both these are fictional but there are some hazards associated with bats that some people are not aware of. Bats, although being beneficial by eating insects, can be a health hazard due to spreading rabies and respiratory diseases to humans and pets. Bats are attracted to areas with long grass and standing water. These are the types of locations that insects will breed in and bats live off insects. If your home has gaps in attic louvers or the roofline, combined with a attractive insect population, the odds are bats will occupy your home if allowed in. Adding screens and sealing openings can effective prevent the entry of bats. If you notice bats flying in or out of your home you should immediately contact a \u201cbat professional\u201d to investigate and remediate your home as soon as possible. Bat guano droppings can be hazardous to breathe and should not be disturbed by home owners.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>RACCOONS<\/strong> &#8211; These masked marauders can be the peskiest of animals to remove from your home. If you have a female raccoon in your house there is a good possibility that she may have babies. The best thing to do is wait until<a href=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/inspecting-homes-attic\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/animal-feces-in-attic.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" alt=\"animal feces in attic\" class=\"wp-image-12649 alignleft size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/225;\" \/><\/a> the babies are old enough to leave with their mother or else they will not survive. Closing all entries is usually best done using wire mesh or metal flashing. Raccoon feces can contain \u201croundworm eggs\u201d and should be cleaned up by a professional. Trapping and relocating raccoons is one of the easiest ways of ensuring your neighborhood raccoon won\u2019t return.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>Mice<\/strong> \u2013 Most homes have mice living in their attics. Mice enjoy nesting in attics that have fiberglass insulation installed. Using blown cellulose insulation is an alternative solution as mice tend not to enter attics where it is installed. Mice can access your house through vents, gaps in soffit, open holes or pipe penetrations. After you have sealed up all the entrance points you can then start removing mice by trapping them. You have to set your traps where the mice run and in some attics you might require more than 10 or 12 traps. Check your attic after a period of time to ensure that the mice have not returned, you will have to re-seal exterior of house if more mice have entered your home.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>Squirrels<\/strong> &#8211; Removing squirrels from your home is very similar to removing mice. You first have to seal up and protect any openings that the squirrel has used to enter the home. Steel is the best material to use as squirrels will chew<a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/common-home-inspection-defects\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Rodents-in-Your-Attic-300x190.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"190\" alt=\"Rodents-in-Your-Attic\" class=\"wp-image-12648 alignright size-medium lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/190;\" \/><\/a> wood or other materials. The main concern with squirrels in your attic is that they will chew electrical cables, exhaust ducts and any other material in your attic. This is a real concern as chewed electrical wires create a fire hazard.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>Clean Up<\/strong> &#8211; Any animal living in your attic will leave waste products behind. There will be nesting debris, droppings, urine and body hair that will have to be cleaned up. In most cases it is better to hire a professional to clean up and remove debris and waster from your attic. They will remove large items by hand, vacuum small droppings etc and chemically treat problem areas of insulation. This will be expense and highlights the importance of sealing your home so that the critters do not return.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>When buying a new home call the <a title=\"The Barrie Home Inspector\" href=\"http:\/\/napoleon.cc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Barrie Home Inspector<\/a> to prevent unwanted surprises or financial set backs. \u00a0As always \u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><em><strong>CAVEAT EMPTOR &#8211; BUYER BEWARE<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><em><strong><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Helpful Articles for Home Owners:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/air-conditioner-basics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Under Standing your Air Conditioner\">Air Conditioner Basics<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/soffit-baffles-protect-your-attic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Soffit Baffles Protect Your Attic\">Soffit Baffles Protect Your Attic<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/bremont-homes-tarion-warranty\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Bremont Homes - No Tarion Warranty Inspection\">Bremont Homes &#8211; Tarion Warranty\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/home-inspections-building-department\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Municipal Building Department Inspections\">Municipal Building Inspections<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/wett-inspections-and-chimney-inspections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"WETT Inspection of your Chimney\">WETT Inspections and Your Chimney<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/alliston-wett-inspector\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Alliston WETT Inspector\">Alliston WETT Inspector<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/barrie-wett-inspector\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Barrie WETT Certified Inspections\">Barrie WETT Inspector<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/prepare-for-winter-tips-for-home-owners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Preparing for Winter Tips\">Prepare For Winter Tips for Home Owners<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/mould-in-your-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Mould in Your Home\">Mould in Your Home<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/electrical-issues-home-inspections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Electrical Issues and Home Inspections\">Electrical Issues in Your Home<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/fire-prevention-week\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Fire Prevention Week\">Fire Prevention in Your Home<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/top-five-deal-breakers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Top Five Real Estate Deal Breakers\">Top Five Deal Breakers &#8211; Real Estate<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/medical-marijuana-building-inspections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Medical Marijuana Building Inspections\">Medical Marijuana Building Inspections<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/inspecting-older-homes-orillia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Inspecting Older Homes In Orillia\">Inspecting Older Homes In Orillia<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/alliston-home-inspections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Alliston Home Inspections\">Alliston Home Inspections<\/a><\/p>\n<p><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4&#8243; make_equal=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.7.7&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#0400f0&#8243; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;2560px&#8221; min_height=&#8221;422px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px|auto|-10px|auto|false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px||false|false&#8221; global_module=&#8221;12574&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.7.6&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|20px||20px|false|false&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;]<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #edf000;\"><strong>Sitemap<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Return to Home Page\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Home<\/a><br \/> <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/about-barrie-home-inspector\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"About Barrie Home Inspector\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">About Us<\/a><br \/> <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/home-inspections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Your Home Inspection\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Home Inspections<\/a><br \/> <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/free-thermal-imaging-inspections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Free Thermal Imaging\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Infrared Inspections<\/a><br \/> <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/wett-inspection-barrie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Barrie WETT Inspections\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">WETT Inspections<\/a><br \/> <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/trades\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Trades Persons for Your Home\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Helpful Resources<\/a><br \/> <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/contact-form\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Contact the Barrie Home Inspector\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Contact Information<br \/> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/asbestos-testing-service-barrie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Barrie Asbestos Testing\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Asbestos Testing<br \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/air-quality-testing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Air Quality &amp; Mould Testing\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Air Quality Testing<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/century-home-inspections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Century Home Inspections\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Century Home Inspections<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/commercial-building-inspection\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Commercial &amp; Industrial Building Inspections\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Commercial Building Inspections<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.7.6&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|||&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;]<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #edf000;\"><strong>Contact Information<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>Roger Frost<\/strong><\/span><br \/> <span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"> <strong>Certified Building Code Official<\/strong><\/span><br \/> <span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"> <strong>Certified Master Inspector<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>Phone: 705.795.8255<br \/> Email Roger<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/home-inspections\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/alliston-home-inspector-90x90-1.jpg\" width=\"90\" height=\"90\" alt=\"barrie home inspector\" class=\"wp-image-11607 aligncenter size-thumbnail lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 90px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 90\/90;\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.7.6&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;3px||||false|false&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;]<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #edf000;\"><strong>Inspection Areas<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/angus-home-inspector\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Angus Home Inspections\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Alliston<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/angus-home-inspector\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Angus Home Inspector\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Angus<\/a><br \/> <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"The Barrie Home Inspector\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Barrie<\/a><br \/><\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/innisfil\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Innisfil Home Inspector\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Innisfil<\/a><br \/> <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/orillia-home-inspections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Orillia Home Inspections\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Orillia<\/a><br \/> <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/midland-home-inspector\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Midland Home Inspector\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Midland<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/penetang-home-inspections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Penetang Home Inspector\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Penetanguishene<\/a><br \/><\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/newmarket-home-inspections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Newmarket &amp; Bradford Home Inspector\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Newmarket<\/a><br \/> <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napoleon.cc\/wasaga-beach-home-inspections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Wasaga Beach Home Inspector\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>Wasaga Beach<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.7.7&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|20px||20px|false|false&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;]<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ffff00;\"><strong>Certifications<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-418 size-full lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 90px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 90\/60;border: 1px solid #000000;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Certified-Master-Inspector.png\" alt=\"Barrie Certified Master Inspector\" width=\"90\" height=\"60\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-420 size-full lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 90px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 90\/60;border: 1px solid #000000;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/WETT-Certified-Inspections.png\" alt=\"Barrie WETT Certified Inspections\" width=\"90\" height=\"60\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-421 size-full lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 90px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 90\/60;border: 1px solid #000000;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Certified-Building-Code-Official-1.png\" alt=\"Ontario Building Officials Association\" width=\"90\" height=\"60\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-422 size-full lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 90px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 90\/60;border: 1px solid #000000;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/napoleon.cc\/tips\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/InterNachi.png\" alt=\"North American Certified Home Inspectors\" width=\"90\" height=\"60\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;3.22&#8243;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;row&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.9&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|10px||10px|false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;] Animals &amp; Rodents in Your Attic Animals and Rodents in your attic can create a mess that can be expense to reslove. \u00a0They can damage your wiring, ducts, insulation and leave behind their toxic [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Animals and Rodents can create a mess of your attic. &nbsp;They can damage your wiring, ducts, insulation and leave behind their toxic feces. &nbsp;Here are some common types and tips for removing them from your home.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>BATS<\/strong> - The last thing any home buyer wants is to find unwanted pests living in their home. Houses, unfortunately, can provide the ideal home for animals and rodents to take up residence. Your Home Inspector will look for the signs and indications of these pests and provide you the basic information you need to start the removal process. This article will discuss some of the more prevalent pests you may find. Bats are a naturally scary animal to most humans. They are often related to vampire stories and getting into a person\u2019s hair. Both these are fictional but there are some hazards associated with bats that some people are not aware of. Bats, although being beneficial by eating insects, can be a health hazard due to spreading rabies and respiratory diseases to humans and pets. Bats are attracted to areas with long grass and standing water. These are the types of locations that insects will breed in and bats live off insects. If your home has gaps in attic louvers or the roofline, combined with a attractive insect population, the odds are bats will occupy your home if allowed in. Adding screens and sealing openings can effective prevent the entry of bats. If you notice bats flying in or out of your home you should immediately contact a \u201cbat professional\u201d to investigate and remediate your home as soon as possible. Bat guano droppings can be hazardous to breathe and should not be disturbed by home owners.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>RACCOONS<\/strong> - These masked marauders can be the peskiest of animals to remove from your home. If you have a female raccoon in your house there is a good possibility that she may have babies. The best thing to do is wait until the babies are old enough to leave with their mother or else they will not survive. Closing all entries is usually best done using wire mesh or metal flashing. Raccoon feces can contain \u201croundworm eggs\u201d and should be cleaned up by a professional. Trapping and relocating raccoons is one of the easiest ways of ensuring your neighborhood raccoon won\u2019t return.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Mice<\/strong> \u2013 Most homes have mice living in their attics. Mice enjoy nesting in attics that have fiberglass insulation installed. Using blown cellulose insulation is an alternative solution as mice tend not to enter attics where it is installed. Mice can access your house through vents, gaps in soffit, open holes or pipe penetrations. After you have sealed up all the entrance points you can then start removing mice by trapping them. You have to set your traps where the mice run and in some attics you might require more than 10 or 12 traps. Check your attic after a period of time to ensure that the mice have not returned, you will have to re-seal exterior of house if more mice have entered your home.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Squirrels<\/strong> - Removing squirrels from your home is very similar to removing mice. You first have to seal up and protect any openings that the squirrel has used to enter the home. Steel is the best material to use as squirrels will chew wood or other materials. The main concern with squirrels in your attic is that they will chew electrical cables, exhaust ducts and any other material in your attic. This is a real concern as chewed electrical wires create a fire hazard.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Clean Up<\/strong> - Any animal living in your attic will leave waste products behind. There will be nesting debris, droppings, urine and body hair that will have to be cleaned up. In most cases it is better to hire a professional to clean up and remove debris and waster from your attic. They will remove large items by hand, vacuum small droppings etc and chemically treat problem areas of insulation. This will be expense and highlights the importance of sealing your home so that the critters do not return.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When buying a new home call the <a title=\"The Barrie Home Inspector\" href=\"http:\/\/napoleon.cc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Barrie Home Inspector<\/a> to prevent unwanted surprises or financial set backs. &nbsp;As always &nbsp;<span style=\"color: #ff0000\"><em><strong>CAVEAT EMPTOR - BUYER BEWARE<\/strong><\/em><\/span>\t\t<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-home-inspection"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Animal and Rodents<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Animal and Rodents in your Attic can do a lot of damage to 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