While winter is often associated with hibernation, not all animals run for cover come the cold winter months. In fact, chipmunks, raccoons, and skunks don’t hibernate at all, leaving your home exposed to wildlife all year long. 

So how do you keep NJ wildlife out of your home? Since wild animals in your attic and home can cause significant damage, it’s essential to understand why they enter your house and how you can keep them out. 

This article walks you through ways to keep mice out of your house, along with other critters. Keep reading to learn more. 

Food Scarcity

As the weather grows colder, food grows scarce for NJ wildlife. This leaves them vulnerable and in search of alternative food sources. Your home is often the first place they look. 

If you’re looking to keep animals out of your house, start by securing your home’s exterior food source. This means bringing trash cans inside your garage or shed, preventing animals from accessing them in the first place. 

Something as harmless as food on countertops can also draw critters inside, so be sure to keep food covered at all times. If you have a seasonal vegetable garden, be cognisant of leftover vegetables as they’ll attract a myriad of wild animals in NJ. 

Animals such as squirrels, raccoons, and bats eat the same foods we do. This includes: 

• 
  Fruit 
• Bread/cereal 
• Meat 
• Vegetables 
• Beans and nuts

Unsecured garbage can also attract insects such as spiders and roaches. Rodents eat these bugs, so your garbage should be secured and away from your home’s entry points. 

It’s best to hire a professional pest control company to check your home and its perimeter, looking for entry points that wildlife can use to enter your home. 

Seasonal Dens

Although not all animals hibernate, they do seek warm areas to build their winter dens. Just because they become less active come winter months doesn’t mean the damage they do to your home is any less severe. 

Bats are an example of wildlife that need to be prevented from entering your home, as most wildlife control technicians aren’t allowed to remove them once they’ve set up shop for the winter. This is due to their protected status. 

Seeing as bats carry rabies, you need to take preventative measures to keep them from entering your home. This is why you need a professional pest removal service. 

Female bats search for a warm place to build their winter dens, bearing and nursing their young. Your attic is perfect for this type of infestation, so take action today. 

Protection

Protection from predators is another driving factor for wildlife in your attic or within your walls. If you notice mice in your house, they may be seeking protection from larger animals. You can keep mice out by doing the following: 

• 
  Seal entry points
• Cover your food (and your pets)
• Elevate firewood
• Remove clutter from your home
• Maintain your landscaping

Prevent Wildlife Infestations

To prevent wildlife infestations, you need a proper inspection of your home and property. A professional pest removal company will identify and seal points of entry before a problem arises. 

If your home has gaps along its foundation or pipe openings, they’ll require a careful inspection as well. If suspicious spots are identified, they’ll be sealed to protect your home from unwanted visitors.

Along with a proper seal-up, small pests, such as mice, are best dealt with by lowering the population that lives around your home. This can be achieved by implementing a rodent baiting program to eliminate mice before they enter the home.

Rodent baiting stations would be placed around the exterior perimeter of the home and be maintained every 60 to 90 days to assist in proper protection all year round. In addition, small baiting stations can be placed inside the home to monitor where mice are traveling to help find and eliminate future entryways that may not be found on an initial inspection. 

Larger animals, such as raccoons, squirrels, and bats, require proper inspection of ridge caps,

gutters, and soffits. Luckily many options now exist for pest control operators. They’re able to close these openings to keep your home pest free. 

A pest management professional can also install gutter guards, attic vent covers, gable vents, crawlspace screens, and even foundation caps to aid in the protection of your home.

Protect Your Home From NJ Wildlife

With winter right around the corner, it’s essential to prevent NJ wildlife from entering your home, especially squirrels in the attic and other damage-causing pests. These animals can cause significant damage and often carry disease. Protect your family with preventative measures, starting with a thorough inspection of your home and property. 

Serene Property Services has the knowledge and expertise to help you with all your pest control issues. Contact us today to discuss our wide variety of pest control services.