There are many do-it-yourself solutions to wildlife removal. Understanding how animals are getting into your home is the best place to start. One-way doors that allow wildlife to exit your home for food or water but prevent re-entry can be useful and inexpensive, but they can also cause unexpected complications for DIY pest controllers.
What are one-way doors?
Generally, one-way doors are used to evict wildlife. They’re contraptions installed over common entry points. When the intruding animal leaves the house the door slams shut behind them. When they return the door is locked and blocks their access back in. It forces them to move on to one of their other den sites in the neighbourhood.
Do-it-yourself pest control is common. One-way doors come up frequently during online research. They’re easy to make out of things found at home and are relatively inexpensive to buy. They are sold as a humane way to remove larger mammals such as raccoons, squirrels and bats.
A raccoon entry area through a damage soffit.
Do-it-yourself wildlife removal has its risks
Removing and controlling wildlife isn’t as simple as it might seem. A good understanding of wildlife behaviour and biology can go a long way toward avoiding unforeseen problems.
In most cases, pests find entry to your home for the purpose of having and raising babies. Your attic, walls or chimneys are all safe places to stash vulnerable babies. Depending on the species, mating season can span from March to September.
Installing a homemade one-way door without determining if there are babies involved can lead to the injury or death of the animals and increased property damage.
One-way doors can separate mothers from their babies and that usually results in two outcomes for homeowners:
- A mother squirrel or raccoon frantically ripping, tearing and chewing at your roof and
- Starving death of a litter of babies somewhere inside your walls or attic.
Although do-it-yourself wildlife removal sounds like a good idea it’s important to be mindful of baby season. Wildlife babies that aren’t mature or strong enough to use a one-way door must be removed from the home by hand and re-united with their mother on the outside of home so that she can relocate them to another den site in the area.
Finding and handling wildlife babies takes a level of skill and experience that most homeowners just don’t have. To avoid inhumane situations and needless property damage seek out a professional wildlife control service.
In the meantime, here are some tips to prevent wildlife intrusion:
- Remove and control food sources.
- Seal and repair holes and cracks.
- Maintain your roof, outer walls and foundation.
- Keep your property clear of woodpiles, overhanging branches and other debris.
- Clean your home of clutter and mess.
- Commercial and natural pest deterrents.
- Call a professional.
Ottawa animal removal
Discovering wildlife in your home can be very stressful but, it’s important to consider all possibilities before tackling the situation alone.
Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control specializes in removing and excluding wildlife from homes. During the birthing season we will humanely remove mothers and reunite them with their babies outside your home. We also make sure your home is secure against reinfestation.
If you’re living with wildlife inside your home trust the pros to get it done right the first time.
Call today 1-888-592-0387
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