8 home repairs to keep wildlife outside
May 12, 2011
Have you ever heard that unique sound of squirrels scratching in
your attic? Or seen that slithery snake disappearing underneath the
washer in the basement? Wildlife can easily get through the tiniest
hole or crack in your home's structure--and that can mean trouble
for you and your pets.
Home repair: how to keep the critters out
The first step to protecting your home and yourself is making
sure pesky wildlife
can't get into your house in the first place. These tips can
help:
- Prevent snakes from making their home in your cozy abode by
sealing any foundation cracks that are more than 1/4 inch. Keep
your yard tidy, and take great care when entering crawl
spaces.
- Keep alligators at bay by installing a mesh wire fence around
your property. Install a high gate around your pool and take care
to keep the doors to your house closed. Most of all, don't feed
them!
- Bears can be more than a nuisance; like alligators, they can be
deadly. Never put meat or food scraps in your compost bin, keep
garbage tightly closed in bear-proof containers, and never feed the
bears.
- Brown recluse and black widow spiders can pack a deadly bite.
They love dark places, so proper illumination in your home is key
to keeping them at bay. Take further precautions by never allowing
placement of furniture to create a dark corner in any room.
- Repair exterior holes or slits, especially under the eaves of
your home, to avoid inviting bats in to nest. This same home repair
works well to keep squirrels out of your attic.
- Keep scorpions out by cutting trees back from your roofline,
mowing your grass short, and leaving firewood outside until right
before you burn it. If you think you might have scorpions in your
house, invest in a small blacklight--they glow under it.
- Avoid mice infestation by sealing up all the cracks around
plumbing, heating and cooling vents, and the like. Keep pet food in
a tightly sealed container, and keep your trash cans closed as
well.
- Discard anything that can be a safe haven for bees or wasps,
such as old tires. If they can get into the nooks and crannies on
your porch, eaves, or deck, they can build large nests rather
quickly. Watch for them, and hire an exterminator at the first sign
of trouble.
Protect your home by watching out for the critters before they
have a chance to set up shop. Simple home repair moves can do the trick!
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